Are you marking your blood trail? This helps see how the animal is moving. Wet your finger and wipe it on some of the dried blood - it may not be blood at all.

I'd be willing to bet that you have pushed the animal and it has button hooked on you a time or two, and that you have been close enough to spit on it. I wish I were close enough to help.

A second pair eyes is an invaluable asset when tracking. You need to track with both your eyes and ears and be patient. A lack of patience is responsible for losing a lot of animals, but is sounds like this isn't a problem for you.

This deer is in it's home territory and it is unlikely it will leave.

Bowhunter

Thank you all for the help. Struck out today, but will be out looking again tomorrow morning. I am marking the trail with toilet paper so it is easy to follow and backtrack. Tomorrow my strategy will be to go to the fresh blood sign in the thicket and look for a new trail. The fresh blood stopped in the thicket. I marked it as the "last blood". There is a trail of old blood leaving from it, but not fresh. Maybe I missed the new trail.
It has now been 30 hours since the deer was hit. How long can a deer survive a single lung hit? Is it probable the deer is dead or alive? Thanks again.

They say a deer hit through one lung can survive.I have hit 2 deer{one this last season}through one lung,both died within 200 yards.

I've been using the same broadheads as you w/a 45lb recurve @ 28" draw for the past 3+ years & have NEVER lost a deer, just this year the buck I shot was shoulder hit & didn't go 300yrds & was done. I have come to beleave that if I hit a deer ANYWHERE near the vitals it's a dead deer! Keep looking.. Good luck & if you don't find her I'm sure the critters will! lol

If the deer is staying in the thick stuff why noy get a couple buddies and have them put a very slow push to you? Might just be able to get a finishing shot on the deer.

Sniper, You use mechs. out of a 45 lb recurve? What type of KE are you getting out of your set up?

Edited by - Charlie P on 01/12/2003 09:39:36

Charlie... he must be shooting some of those mop handles we hear about to get any kind of penetration with a mechanical and that set up.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

Well, it is day 2 and my luck is getting worse. I looked this morning and found no new sign. It has started snowing and we have close to an inch on the ground. Do you think at this point the deer is either dead, or if not, will survive?

Hi,

I agree with Krisken,I don't think you got a vital.

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i am just making a statement.when you hit a deer in the sweet spot you cannot beat a mech. broadhead.but if you don,t hit that sweet spot ,that deer is going to run for his life.because when that broadhead starts to open it runs till it falls over.ihave seen about10 deer hit with mechs. i won,t name any brand .out of those 10 deer i help track about 5 of them ,that we never found.i only shot fixed broadhead,and again i won,t name any name brand.