HuntingNet.com Forums - View Single Post - HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HIT A DEER
View Single Post
Old 10-15-2006 | 08:46 AM
  #6  
bucksnbeagles
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Ramsey,Indiana
Default RE: HOW TO KNOW IF YOU HIT A DEER

Sounds like a gut or liver shot. Its critical to find your first arrow. Chest shot deer 98% of the time bolt before giving up the ghost. I shot a 10 pt last year that scored 147 5/8 Pope and Young. I hit the buck thru liver the diaphram and then part of gut. He hunched up run 15 to 20 yards and stopped. No shot of course. The buck slowly walked off with back hunched up like a cat.Set in stand for 2 hours before getting down and recovering arrow. As he walked off I knew I had gut shot but when I found my arrow it was blood soaked. I then knew I had to have hit liver. I then had to make a decission to wait or pursue. That morning was warm with temps. for the day upper 70's. I chose to wait until late that afternoon taking a chance on loosing the buck to spoilage. Best move made as I recovered the buck the next evening. If you got liver shot you need and or gut you need to back off and give it time. You are doing the exact thing I would do especially overnight with cold temps. The buck I shot had dark blood for about 60 yards then nothing. The gut contents plugs the animal not to allow external bleeding. He went about 300 yards from where I shot him before recovering. That was a long 2 days of tracking and looking. Again critical to find arrow. It will give you the tell tell sign on where or if you hit the buck. I always look for shaft unless I see deer go down. Hope this helps. Good Luck. Look for closes water as a Liver or Gut shot animal will pursue water.
bucksnbeagles is offline  
Reply