Great post Atlas!

I also enjoy tracking my prey after the moment of truth. It feels more rewarding this way. My bow buck had to be left overnight last year because of a shot that was farther back than it should have been. If not for this forum and John Trout that deer would be a skeleton in the dirt.

Heres a few things I have learned over the years that may help out some fellow hunters. Don't soley rely on blood. Watch out for scattered leaves, broken twigs/saplings, footprints, ants, etc.

Ants you may think? Well, I've used ants to help me find my deer before. No, I didn't have special tracking ants in a jar stored away for this occasion.I lost the blood trail one night and was on my hands and knees. Well, I noticed a bunch of ants crawling a few feet away. I went over there and sure enough found more blood thanks to these little guys.

I read on here a month orso ago about someone that carries a brightly colored arrow in their quiver during season. When they shoot a deer they would immediately shoot this brightly colored arrow at the same spot the deer was standing when initially shot. This way, it was much easier to find the beginning of the blood trail. Pretty neat idea.