New to this forum I'm making my first post to chat for a bit about my no blood trail findings here in Michigan. For one reason or another we're all faced with that lethal shot that "oddly Enough" leads to zero, or almost zero blood trail.

My Experience - Over the last 20 years (now 33 years old) I have arrowed numerous deer and found myself scratching the sweat off my head alone in the woods.(in the dark)Wondering "How could this be?" I saw the arrow hit perfectly.

My opinions based on my ownexperience;

A pass through that goes through both lungs. If the deer does not expire in plain view I usually here a loud crash and a moment of silence within 40 yards and 7.5 seconds of releasing the arrow. (I love my NAP spitfire XP's)

Back to the no Blood Issue:----Over and over I continue to find deer by using the following method while tracking.

1) Stick on the deer runs. Deer will still use these after they are shot.
2) Stay on the deer run and understand where the thickest cover area is or fallin trees. A hurt deer will make a mad dash and pile up in thick cover or in fallin trees. (right off the edge of the deer run)
3) Water Holes - I have found numerous deer in water holes after hitting them and having no blood.

4) Most Importantly - Stop...turn your flash light off...and think about your land and its surroundings. I use my own instincts to guide me in the right direction. I develop an image in my head of the direction the animal has gone. I have found alot of deer 300 yards away in a swamp just byusing my own instincts. Its hard to explain but it works!

So these are my experiences that I pass along to you. Good Luck!

Good post! This year seemed to be an exceptionally bad year for lost deer through coworkers and locals....

Carp Master - I have 3000+ fish under my belt from 1989 - 2002. I have lost access to fishand the passion still lingers in my blood! Where do you fish in Michigan? I hit the Saginaw bay tournement in 2003 & 2004 but that was it. 2003 was insane. My buddy and I killed 2000 pounds on foot no boat...Good times in Caseville.

I try to hit all the BAM tourneys I can, but not the sag tourney due to it being an airboat ruled game there and it being a 2 man team, wehave a 3 man team.....my favorite haunts are the Grand, Musk Lake, White Lake, and Hardy.... I might try the Sag this year on foot(or semi-foot)if we can get a 4th guy and split up into pairs...

Thanks for the input. You should try it this year. Reason being...2005,06&07 were all wasted with weather. I'm thinking SAG is due for a turnout like 2003 with a full blown spawn. Thanks again.

Good post Michigan, Don't know if you've seen this one but yours would make a nice addition to it if you wouldn't mind. http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tm.aspx?m=2272257

Not sure how to get the posting there but by all means spread the word! Thanks!

Nice post, all great rules of thumb......

Something that I try to follow on the light blood trails, when hitting a deer later in the afternoon/evening, instead of pushing the deer while dark, let it sit for the night and come back and collect it in the morning. (assuming you dont have predators around that will make off with your deer)

With a mortal internal wound with no pass through, (say a low lung shot) the deer is yours, but it is easier to find when it lays down within a couple hundred yards of the shot versus pushing it and having it run the proveberial mile, and then find it while out looking for sheds (had that happen to a buddy 2 seasons ago....)

Had this problem last night. Buddy of mine shot a big doe, lost blood. The doe was facing him at 12 yards, and he took the neck/spine shot.....not what I would of done but he is by far a better marksmen then me. The deer drops, does some kicking and lays there. He waits about 10 minutes and desides to climb down, when he moves, the deer picks it's head up and looks right at him. She gathers herself and runs off, falls after 10 yards, gets back up goes 30 yards and falls again. Gets up again and takes off. I make my way to him and help track. The spot of the last fall was the last blood we found, looked for 2 hours and found nothing. We are getting out of work here shortly to go find her. Wish us luck!

To get back to the topic, we followed the runs and escape routes with no success. I'm thinking she pile up on her belly and was next to impossible to see in the dark without tripping over her. I did find a bedded buck while tracking, I'm thinking around 140'. I thought it was the dead doe till I got up close and personal, he stood up and kind of posed for me, as I almost s**t my pants. I know where my next stand location is!!