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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
That is a great idea gr8.
One thing I found to help me out are glow sticks. I use them to mark the trail as I track. I get mine from Grainger but I have use the cheap glow necklaces also. It just helps if you lose the trail you can look back and get a direction of the deer. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: Copper31 That is a great idea gr8. One thing I found to help me out are glow sticks. I use them to mark the trail as I track. I get mine from Grainger but I have use the cheap glow necklaces also. It just helps if you lose the trail you can look back and get a direction of the deer. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
That is a good idea for tracking in the dark.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Can you see the blood with a glow stick? I've never heard of this.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Like I said before Rob very informed post thanks---
And every body has some good ideas to go with it --- Something I do is take a compass reading after the shot beforeI get out of the stand---Things look different when you 15/20 foot up a tree--I usually mark the route the deer took and alsoI listen for the crash and take a reading of that too-- A few years ago this came in handy while hunting in a flooded area--No blood trail--knee deep water around the ridgeI had a stand on--killed two does one in the morning one in the afternoon--listen for the final splash-took reading got down and walked straight to them!! |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: nybowhunter Can you see the blood with a glow stick? I've never heard of this. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Got a blood trail story for you. Shot a big buck off my food plot in 'Bama with my .270 and he ran off with several other bucks that were in the plot. In afew minutes, the other bucks came back in the plot, minus big boy. I was sure of the shot but waited 'til dark, eased out, got my brother-in-law and came back with the truck to run the other deer off and pick up my buck. We looked and looked in the plot and finally found where the deer kicked out and ran. There was no blood for the first fifty yards or so and I was beginning to doubt myself. As we started into a hardwood bottom following the running tracks, my brother-in-law let out a silent but deadly fart and never said a word. When I walked into his scent stream I said, "man, do you smell that? I have gut shot that deer!". After a few more yards we found my buck shot right behind the shoulder. My brother-in-law started snickering and I called him a few choice names. I have to excuse him, after all, he's a yankee!
One real tip for bowhunters is if your broadheads won't shave, don't shoot 'em!!! It'll make your trail jobs a lot shorter and easier. Think about it. If you cut yourself shaving, it's hard as heck to get the bleeding stopped. The reason for that is that when a vein, artery or capillary is cut clean, there isnothing for the blood to adhere to and clot. On the other hand, a cut from a dull knife usually stops bleeding in short order because of the jagged edges on blood vessel endsthat allows blood to clot quickly. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: TEmbry15 ORIGINAL: LebeauHunter The toughest scenario to me would be an unsure shot at dusk and its 80+ degrees. Knowing the meat probably won't be good in the morning would make that a tough call. Second, Rob's #8 comment on pushing the animal to bleed out. This may be overlooked some, especially when an animal is hit in the shoulder and there is little penetration. If you do have some penetration and there is a slight blood trail, I think pushing the deer to keep it from clotting is the best thing to do. Anyone disagree? Feel free to comment on my thoughts/opinions...I am by no means the expert. |
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
You got it, MJ. Here in North Florida in bow season you'd better be on the blood trail pretty quick. Our woods are absolutely infested with bears and it is rare that a dead deer will make it 'till morning without being devoured. If it does, there's a good chance it will be bloated and spoiled. I even had a grey fox eat a large portion of a ham off a deer I didn't find until a couple hours after dark, would've thought it was a 'yote if I hadn't seen him. Anybody else ever had a fox eat part of a deer?
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: dragonslayer1 You got it, MJ. Here in North Florida in bow season you'd better be on the blood trail pretty quick. Our woods are absolutely infested with bears and it is rare that a dead deer will make it 'till morning without being devoured. If it does, there's a good chance it will be bloated and spoiled. I even had a grey fox eat a large portion of a ham off a deer I didn't find until a couple hours after dark, would've thought it was a 'yote if I hadn't seen him. Anybody else ever had a fox eat part of a deer? |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Peroxide sounds great in following a blood trail that would even reveal the smallest specks of blood nice Post's guy's
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
agreed, since we'll be filming, ill just watch the tape. but if its too close to call, im pulling out. finding a deer with spoiled meat, is ALOT better than not finding one at all. ORIGINAL: TEmbry15 ORIGINAL: LebeauHunter The toughest scenario to me would be an unsure shot at dusk and its 80+ degrees. Knowing the meat probably won't be good in the morning would make that a tough call. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
I'd agree with Davidmil, and our moderator. I'm nota big advocate of waiting (my handle notwithstanding), especially in warm weather. I lost a deer to predators once that I left overnight, and I know that it died within minutes of the shot. I think broadhead design and sharpness should be emphasized more. I've been using bear razorheads for 15 years, and swear by them. I've recovered many deer that would be considered to be marginally hit. I sharpen the razorheads myself, and I'll admit that they are not always 100% perfect(sometimes the edge gets slightly deteriorated just from hunting), but they really do a good job. I never shoot a broadhead that has been shot and not resharpened. Another strong point to emphasize is not to give up on the blood trail. Often if you can't easily find blood it is tempting to just look for the deer. In most cases it is better to get down on the ground, find the blood and follow it. There will usually be blood if you look close enough. Having said that, I've recovered a couple of deer where I never found any blood. If you're sure of a good hit and you are using good sharp broadheads, don't doubt - just go find that animal. I'm always mystified by the horror stories, of people making good hits then jumping the deer hours later, not recovering them. It has never happened to me with a razorhead. It has been my experience that they die quickly or not at all.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Great post Rob!
I would like to ask though, what kind of hit would require you to "bleed out" a deer. Also, you were saying about a deers lungs working in a negative pressure environment, how does this make it possible for a deer to survive a single lung hit? Wouldnt both lungs collapse when the arrow penetrated the thoracic cavity? |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: BowHunter46 Great post Rob! I would like to ask though, what kind of hit would require you to "bleed out" a deer. Also, you were saying about a deers lungs working in a negative pressure environment, how does this make it possible for a deer to survive a single lung hit? Wouldnt both lungs collapse when the arrow penetrated the thoracic cavity? |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
hey guys.. my first post.... but ive been reading this forum for almost 2 years. . . just wanted to say hello. i am a fellow bowhunter from Northeastern Ohio.... 30min from Cleveland ( go tribe!) . . I have been bowhunting and bowfishing for about 15yrs. . .
i have always been a big advocate on using a game tracker string attached to my arrow... i know i know... its outdated ..blah blah blah.. though, ive never shot a whitetail further than 18yds... so i enjoy having the aide there while tracking. it doesnt impact my flight to 25yds either. anyways, heres a little military tip used to search for a blood trail on your next venture. we all know that peroxide will work... ive used that dozens of times on morning hunts in daylight.... but at night time, the age-old tactic was always a coleman lantern which makes blood 'glow' in its light...to a degree it works. well a more modern tactic im surprised no one has said is UV LIGHT , or ultraviolet light (purple black light) to aide in tracking. . it has been used for decades by the military and by forensic searches in crime scenes(and nasty hotel rooms) to detect bodily fluids. i just picked up a new 51 LED UV flashlight for 15$ .. . tracked a doe with it last saturday night... and the results are ridiculous! the beam is like a large flood beam rather than a narrow maglite. in northern ohio, our fall started real early this year, and leaves are turning early so it is dificult to see blood with a backdrop of red leaves. .. try the light. . sorry if this is a repost. . . happy slaying! |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
ORIGINAL: italianjeremy hey guys.. my first post.... but ive been reading this forum for almost 2 years. . . just wanted to say hello. i am a fellow bowhunter from Northeastern Ohio.... 30min from Cleveland ( go tribe!) . . I have been bowhunting and bowfishing for about 15yrs. . . i have always been a big advocate on using a game tracker string attached to my arrow... i know i know... its outdated ..blah blah blah.. though, ive never shot a whitetail further than 18yds... so i enjoy having the aide there while tracking. it doesnt impact my flight to 25yds either. anyways, heres a little military tip used to search for a blood trail on your next venture. we all know that peroxide will work... ive used that dozens of times on morning hunts in daylight.... but at night time, the age-old tactic was always a coleman lantern which makes blood 'glow' in its light...to a degree it works. well a more modern tactic im surprised no one has said is UV LIGHT , or ultraviolet light (purple black light) to aide in tracking. . it has been used for decades by the military and by forensic searches in crime scenes(and nasty hotel rooms) to detect bodily fluids. i just picked up a new 51 LED UV flashlight for 15$ .. . tracked a doe with it last saturday night... and the results are ridiculous! the beam is like a large flood beam rather than a narrow maglite. in northern ohio, our fall started real early this year, and leaves are turning early so it is dificult to see blood with a backdrop of red leaves. .. try the light. . sorry if this is a repost. . . happy slaying! |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Great advice, I don't believe it was touched on before. That's why I love this thread, lots of tips and I learn something every year. yeah, you can find the flashlights on ebay for under 20$ theyre fun to play around with in the house too... youde be surprised what you can find! but itll light up blood immensely. be sure to get one with atleast 30 led's |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Don't forget the most important task after the shot! Call someone form HNI to get the word out, and start the pre-post, Pre-pic,feeding frenzy :D
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
You'll be my call Bob....;) Will you do me justice?[8D] OF course you have to answer you damn phone, hey check your safety vest.;)
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Call me up man..I got it now ;).... I'll tell the world, you have one down..I won't be held responsible for thier early replies though...somehow I think the "supporting crew comments" might lean towards the gimpy legged guy who shot the half rack! [:-]
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
I was hunting witha real goomer this past week in SD for Mulie. Well he shot at a doe and like a moron I took his word that he said he had missed it. We walked about 5 miles and while crossing a fence line he handed me his bow and that was when I notices the hair on his broad head. I will end it at that and I won't go into detail the conversation that followed.
Check your arrow after you shoot. Even if you think you miss, check the arrow. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Great post. I sure most everyone has gotten in a hurry to track and deer and it has cost them. I know I have. Great advice.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
I saw bright white flashlights(not the yellow light bulbs). And Peroxide. I've used the tracking lights and honestly, a super bright white light with many LEDs is much better for tracking than one of those tracking lights.
Toilet paper. I usually carry a 1/4 roll of toilet paper in my pack. It serves a dual purpose. The 1st one is given. The second one is for tracking. I use small pieces of it for tracking. You can hang it on a tree or put a small piece next to your last blood. White stands out very good in the woods. I mostly use this for hard tracks. It's great for when you have to back track or you have to spread out in case the deer switched directions all of the sudden. I'm not sure if I would do this on public land as it may be considered littering, but after a few dewey mornings or a good rain, the stuff shrivels up, disappears and will degrade rather quickly. This is a great post with great information. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
is there any type of flash light that will shine on the blood
and say make it a florecent color for easy night tracking |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
yes, you can buy a UV blacklight flashlight. its typically 20-50 LEDs producing the famous purple or 'blacklight.' works great and is used every day at crime scenes to identify hard to find blood. you can get the flashlights on ebay for under 20$. this and a spray bottle of peroxide for daylight to hear the blood fizzing is a dynamite combo.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Ive got tabs you disolve in water which make body fluids glow in the dark. Just a light mist at chest level will give you a trail that you can follow in the dark without a light! A gut shotwill spray 5 feet across on a runner, and rain makes it easier yet.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Ok, are any of you other guys color blind? And if so, what do you use to help you with blood trails? I can usually work them out, but have some trouble, and it takes me a lot longer than most people. If it's wet out at all, just forget it. Really cuts down on my hunting time since I won't shoot one if its wet out.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Im as colorblind as a dog! Thats why I use Grim Reapers 1 7/8 inch. They leave a blood trail Jack the Ripper would be proud of!
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
where did you get these tabs, my badger friend?
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
List of Distributors....
http://www.bluestar-forensic.com/gb/distributors/usa.php Here is one site I randomly pulled up. http://www.bloodfinderofnh.com/index.html Pictures of this stuff is VERY impressive. Ive never used it but would be interested in trying it. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Even stomach fluids glow without blood! Every time the deer bounces it sprays 4 feet on either side of the trail! Turn off all your lights and start spraying! You can follow a gut shot deer at a steady and fast pace.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Hey was just curious, is about six inches penetration when hitting the front shoulder good enough to maybe tap into the vitals. Deer is 4 1/2 and well over 200lbs. I have been hunting him for two years now and have his sheds from the last three. Tracked him about 200 yds before he entered his bedding area and I backed off. Very little blood sign and some of the blood was light color but there was also frost on the ground, it was jumping logs that had fell on the trail he was on. I don't think my rage penetrated that shoulder but Im acting like it did. My KE is about 68 with the Ibo and grain of arrow I shoot, but a shoulder hit is a shoulder hit. I limit myself to one hit a year if its good awesome if its bad I hang it up, so pretty much im done. This is a first for me, hitting the shoulder and so far I don't like it [:o]
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
If you got 6" of penetration, you did get the chest cavity, although likely only one lung on a big buck. I dont think that hide to ribs is more than 4" thickat the shoulder on even a big buck like that. Where in the shoulder did you hit him? blood does look light colored on frost but it also might mean a lung.
Iassume you are just waiting a bit before going back after him. if he is still alive and mobileafter 4 hrs with that kind of hit he will probably survive unless its a hard winter. The bad part is with a chunk of arrow in him(?) he will not want to stay bedded. He will keep moving around. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
I've had good results with shoulder hits with my Bear Razorheads. I use an ordinary compound bow, roughly 55 lbs draw weight, carbon arrows. On an adult doe at 16 yards, hit low and quartering slightly in, penetrated less than a foot, but good blood trail, 100 yds, dead. On large buck fawn, broadside < 20 yds, broke the humerus, no blood trail, found dead at 50 yds.
I've seen quite a few shoulder hits with conventional ferrule/insert blade type broadheads, with chisel tip or point, and with those type of broadheads I've never seen a successful result on a shoulder hit. Based on your description of the deer, the penetration, the blood trail, I'd be surprised if you find him. My guess is that he'll survive, maybe long term. By the way, I don't deliberately aim for the shoulder.My point of aim is dead center through the rib cage. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Yeah I waited and looked on our property for aboutfour hours and still didn't cover all of it. Saw a lot of deer and found around forty scrapes but not the buck I hit. Wednesday I'll sit in my gun stand and scope the area and see if he is running with any does...........that would be awesome. I had a friend look at the arrow and he thinks I only got one inch penetration with blood dripping down the shaft and that is what it looked like.
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
One other thing to consider when taking up trail ona deer. The wind!
I was on track of a doe I hit and the wind was so stong it would blow away and cover any leaves that had blood. Be sure to check the other vegitation for sign and don't be afraid to get onyour hands and knees and sort through the leaves. |
RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Rob You,re the cats
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RE: Recovery, What to do After the Shot.
Rob - Excellent post. I wish I'd have known about huntingnet.com and this annual post earlier in my bow hunting career. The first deer I shot 3 years ago in my first bow hunting season, the adrenalin was pumping and I absolutely couldn't make myself stay up the tree (definite lack of self discipline). The deer ran off with back humped and I could hear her stop a few yards into the brush. I got down after 15 minutes and the noise from my climber must have pushed the deer. I found blood in a couple of places but no trail and lost the animal. I felt so bad, I almost gave up hunting altogether to keep from injuring another animal. I got my first kill this year finally and the experience and humility of that first hunt made me stay put long enough for the deer to expire. I hope this post keeps someone else from getting that feeling. Thank you.
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