I was reading on another thread about pass through and finding your arrow. I know bubblie blood means a lung shot. What else can you learn from your arrow to help you track your game, and what are some of your best tracking secrets?

Each year Rob/PA Bowyer posts a thread entitled " What to do after the shot". It has great info on trailing animals. Last year I hit a doe a little far back. I got one lung and liver. She went about 150 yds. That thread was instrumental in my succesful recovery of that deer. Look for it as we get closer to deer season.

if you are questioning the shot placement this will help in telling where it hit . example if there is green slime on it it was hit further back in the stomach . Maybe the color of if any hair on the arrow to possibly figure out was it hit high or low . you are looking for any forensic evidence to fill in the picture






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As to telling exactly where you hit, the arrow tells the tale.

Bright red blood in spots or sprays usually means a muscle hit, which is bad news (usually).

Dark red blood usually indicates a liver hit, which is good, but give a little time.

As to tracking, the best advice I can give is GO SLOW! I have tracked a heck of a lot of wounded deer for people, and have learned that you can infact track a deer when it stops bleeding, but you have to get on your hands and knees. And always mark your track! Knowing where you have been is as important as knowing where you are going. Wounded deer like to head for water, so try and determine exactly where the deer might be headed. Look for spots along the way that look like a deer would travel. If there is a deer path...thats usually a good indicator.....

Also, don't just look for sign on the ground. Lots of times, espeically in thick cover you can find blood on knee/thigh high foilage where the deer brushed up againest the vegetation on the side of the path.

Again, I cannot stress enough the importance of going slow! And nothing is worse than someone who thinks they know what they are doing and goes charging ahead and scuffs up the leaves on the trail....

Thanks for the input. I'll keep an eye out for Rob Bowers post on "What To Do After The Shot". In fact I'll be looking forward to it. I hope I'll get a chance to use what I learn in this coming season!

After your complettes a pass thru watch your game goes and wait for awhile.
Then look for your arrow if it looks like the photo below then you know it went thru both lungs.
The arrow in the photo has pink bubbles on it's shaft.

When tracking your game , walk in the direction the deer went and keep your eye's on the ground for a blood trail.
If you see a large spot of blood with bubbles in it like in the photo below , you'll know that deer won't be too far away.

Great pics RDHUNTER. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Anyone have anymore?

I agree with everything posted above.

But I do often find that archers forget one other tactic...smell.

Smell your arrow on a questionable hit before you start tracking. I have seen arrows with nice blood smell rank. I have seen archers push deer that they thought was a good lung hit only to drive that deer into the next county.

If your arrow stinks....wait another hour.

Very good point!