Well I thought to go along with Robs thread it might be a good idea to list a few must have, or should have items to take with you on the trail of your bow kill.

1. Binoculars for scanning ahead while tracking.
2. Something to mark the bloodtrail with ( surveyors tape etc.)
3. Flashnight w/extra batteries (night tracking)
4.knife( for obvious reasons)
5. latex gloves
6. wet wipes
7. hydrogen peroxide for hard to find blood, or other known sprays
8. rope, something similar (makes dragging alot easier) and easy to tie the legs off if field dressing alone.
9. Bow-for follow up shots if needed
10.Saw for big game.


Feel free to add to this list, these are just a few things I thought of.
If I could give one tip on tracking, it would be this:

DO NOT WALK DIRECTLY ON THE BLOOD TRAIL.
Always stay to the side so you don't overlook, or disturb the actual sign. You may have to come back to reference a spot or a track a few times to determine where your quarry has headed. Happy Hunting this season.

Shane

also, a few willing buddies.

There ya go. I always go out with my one friend. He and I make a great tracking team. I don't like to many people there running all over the woods, only use that as a last resort myself.

Shane

I like to take plenty of water with me. 1) for them tracking jobs that take awhile and get me thirsty and 2) to wash the blood off of me when I'm done gutting.

A couple of plastic one gallon freezer resealable bags for taking the heart and liver home

Great post, I've hunted for years but this is my first year hunting behind a peep site. The tracking will be different than with a gun kill and you've help me prepare a little better! Thanks.

This year I've been working with one of my dogs. She is getting pretty good at trailing scraps of deer hide. I'll drag a scrap through pastures and woods and then put her on the scent a couple of hours later. She finds the scrap of hide probably 95% of the time. Check your state regs to be sure its legal to use a dog. I haven't used her in the past, this year will be a first, and only if I can't get the job done myself.

This is a great list. I like the addition of water.

I always seem to tag them at sunset, so I always carry a "Head Light" flashlight with me. It's great if your doing a field dressing alone in the dark.

Patience while tracking and right after the shot. Your time tracking can be greatly reduced by simply paying attention to where they animal was hit.

I take some toilet paper with me. Can be helpful in keeping up with a blood trail.