Tracking Tip?
 

I was reading while my daughter had her endoscopy yesterday and the article said that after you make the shot and the deer disappears out of sight, instead of waiting before tracking you should get down and put a marker at the spot where you hit the deer and then another marker at the spot you last saw the deer, and then wait. This will help keep you accurate when you start to track.

The other part that was interesting was while doing your search, glass thickets for horizontal lines of a deer laying down and antlers before you approach too close so if the deer is wounded and not expired yet, you are less likely to kick it up and have to track further.

What do you all think?

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I’m not so keen on marking the last place you saw the deer. I think a mental note is better. The deer could be bedded 10 yards from where you last saw it.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

They sound like good tips to me.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I do mentally mark both of those spots immediately (and continue to stare at them while I wait to ingrain them in my mind)- but wouldn't do it physically. The deer could be just out of sight and not done...could be detrimental to your track. Glassing thickets for horizontals is good for sure...and if you DO see the deer and its head is UP... or laying chin down (like a dog) it ain't done. Tread lightly...

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I'd rather just take a mental note of where I last saw the deer last and sit tight for a while if I did not see him go down.

Being cautious while trailing as explained in teh second PP is a good idea though.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I shoot a practice arrow into the ground where the buck was standing when I shot.
Things always look different from the ground or after darkness sets in.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I agree with RackLuster. I wouldn't try to approach the place where I last saw the deer. He could be very close to that spot. I always carry my little Knight & Hale "Beacon" light and hang it over the arrow and point the arrow in the direction the deer ran.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Exactly why there's always a fieldtip in my quiver.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Perhaps it's from years of birdhunting, mentally marking where a bird falls in an open fieldand doing the same with every deer I've shot. I don't think you need to get down right away and place a marker.What if the deer beds down right after you lose sight if it? If you move in right away...we all know what can happen.I think it's best to wait.As far as looking for horizontal lines and antlers, seems like common sense. Look for those same things while hunting too.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I cannot disagree more with the first one. Sit there and don’t move. Gather as many mental markers as you can regarding impact & last place seen. Physically moving to those spots to mark them is dumb.


Yes, its always a good idea to “keep your head up” while tracking incase the deer is still alive or just to save yourself time on the trail.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Stay in your stand. A hit deer is just as likely to backtrack or make a circle as anything else. You getting down could spook it badly.

I make lots of mental notes, though.....and inside 25yds....I think I can find the POI pretty easily (always have). I wouldn't mark the last place I saw the deer unless I KNEW I smoked it. Otherwise....I sneak out when I do get down....and come back later.

Discerning the condition of the arrow always tells me how far I can proceed.....but I've gotten to where I back out every time unless I see the deer go down.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Well, I sort of assumed that it was a "given" that your butt stays in your stand after the shot. That's just common sense. When I responded, I was talking about when you DO finally get down to check your arrow. I didn't see anywhere in the original post that said "immediately after the shot".

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I usually go to where I shot right after the deer is out of sight, at check the spot/arrow if I feel I hit him. Then I'll get back in the tree and wait, or back out depending on the situation.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Read it again.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Ah, I see where you're getting that now. I stand corrected. Well, actually I SIT corrected, but that's irrelevant.

For me, no matter how well I think I "smoked" the deer, I still stay in my stand for at least a half hour. THEN I get down and mark the shot location and point my arrow in the direction the deer traveled.

I always have to do this because I can't follow a blood trail by myself.[&o]

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Agreed.....unless I see it layin dead!

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I read that article in Field and Stream or Outdoor Life as well, and when I read "get down and mark the last spot you saw the deer", I immediately dismissed the article as hogwash.

I sit down and replay it over and over making mental notes as I do. There is always something you can use as a landmark as to where the deer was last seen...tree, branch, rock, etc. The field point arrow is an awesome tip though...I'm gonna put a field point in my pack tonight ;)

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

I agree with those that disagree with getting down immediately. That's very foolish for that to be printed as tracking tips. One could very well jump a deer that is just out of sight. Very bad tip.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

That's why it was in a Field & Stream magazine.;):D

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Heck, I have to sit in my stand for at least 1/2 an hour or I'll be shaking so badly I'll likely fall trying to climb down.:eek:

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

Great idea bwanajim!!! I'll be putting a practice arrow in my quiver. Things look sooooo different from the ground.

RE: Tracking Tip?
 

:D:D