HELP!! Wounded deer
 

Tonight I shot the first deer of my life with my bow. I shot him at 8 yards, and I am POSITIVE I put a decent hit on him. I heard a big thwack when I shot him, and he kicked and did a 180 and ran back from where he came. He ran in the only direction I can't see well, so I have no clue where he went after about 40 yards. I know he wasn't moving very fast though. I waited 45 minutes, got done, and looked for sign. Besides a tiny piece of white hair 10 yards from the spot where he was hit, there is nothing. The arrow is in him, and there isn't more than a few inches sticking out, so I know I got good penetration. But theres no blood, anywhere!! I gave up and walked out so I didn't push him. I have a pit in my stomache the size of a basketball. Any ideas on how to find him tomorrow?? Thanks!

How high up is your stand? What way was he facing when you shot him?

Where do you THINK you hit it? Post a pic.

Wait til the AM then just get on the trail best ya can.

Don't forget to look near all sources of water. When a deer is hit they begin to feel dehydrated and head to water. Also go where the deer should feel comfortable: That real thick crap! If you lose track of blood, go in circles looking for blood. Don't forget, it may circle back also!

Good luck!

My stand is about 25 feet up and his head was facing to my left. I thought I hit him a little bit forward into the shoulder blade (which could explain why I didn't get a pass through) but it still looked like a good hit. And for whoever asked for a picture, this is my best guess of where I hit him.

Just go back in the morning. Look HARD and you should find him. I found a buck last year after 12 or 13 hours of looking. I was mad until I found him, then was PUMPED!

If thats where you hit him he should be dead in under 100 yards!!

From 25 feet up and at only 8 yards and not getting a pass through i could see you not getting any blood. Im sure the blood started pooling up internally but it would take a lot to get it to come out that high up on the body. But from where you think you hit him id say he should be dead close by. Get out there in the morning and keep following the trail past where you last found him and he should be close by. Good luck

Right away I was sure he was a dead deer, but should not seeing any blood be a concern?

He is dead if you hit him there...BUT at 8 yards away and 25' up, the angle was steep, thats why you found the white hair, meaning the exit wound maybe plugged with fat, hair...etc etc...I shot 2 deer this year just like that, no blood whatsoever, but both died within 50 yards. Just grid search the area.

Thanks, I update you guys in the morning!

We had the same problem about two weeks ago, using the new rage 2 inch expandables. Holy cow did it put a hole in him, but with that hole came everything else, ended up plugging the hole on the exit side.

Just be prepared to put in some time on him tomorrow and good luck! The hit sounds like a dead deer. Get some pics up for us when you find him!

Thats the exact same broadhead I'm using. That makes me feel a lot better.

That's a dead deer. Sometimes it will take longer for blood from a deer hit high to bleed. Make sure to look up on brush and not just on the ground. Just look hard and mark your trail. It is very easy to get turned around and forget where you have walked when your head is to the ground. I take a roll of toilet paper when tracking deer. I hang it in tree branches as I walk when I find blood. It helps me keep track where I have been and where the blood is. It also makes your back trail very visible. Good luck! You will find him.

I got a doe early this season from about the same height/distance. Same thing, very very little blood and I was using the rage 2 blade. I was lucky enough to see the trail she ran on so I followed and didn't find blood for a good 40yds. She lay dead about 60 yards away, and the only blood was the last 20. The exit wound was huge but plugged up with all of the insides. I actually had to cut from the hole down when field dressing to get everything out because so much was on the outside of the hole. I got 2 other deer this year with the rage and both went no more than 40 yds and fell within eyesight, i think those steep angles are a sure way to plug the hole with Rage

Any update on this?

I agree, if you hit him there, you should find your deer. Hope you make out ok bud.

Shane

Well, I spent all morning looking for the deer with no luck. I combed every inch of the woods and didn't find hair, blood, tracks, or anything. I really feel awful, but without a blood trail I'm pretty much fishing in the dark. I'm not going to give up yet, and its been cold so I'm going to look again tomorrow morning.

Hopefully you find it!

Good luck! Keep us posted!

The buck in the picture traveled .77 miles (GPS tracked) before it died. There was no blood at all for a 1/2 mile where it crossed a cow and a horse pasture. I shot it at 7 yards and unfortuntely my arrow went exactly where I placed my 20 yard pin...low. With the aid of the GPS and the tracks function on I was able to see areas that I might have missed.



Good luck finding your deer. kl

IF what you say & show is correct-he should be close to where you last saw him.

Great advice Klundin! I will definitely use that tomorrow.

Just wanted to post a final update on the buck I shot Wednesday. I looked for a few hours again today, with no luck. There was simply too much woods to cover. Thanks for the help, I guess I'll chalk this one up as a good lesson learned.

"Besides a tiny piece of white hair 10 yards "
This would indicate alot of times a lower shot, maybe the exit hole came out low, or you hit him alot lower than you think.... i would think if you hit him where you posted the pic, and exited low, you would have possibly got a lung, maybe even a heart as well...
Same thing happened to me, hit in the same area you posted, and the arrow stayed in him... but found 0 blood, but did find him after 60 yards...
Sorry to hear, I know first hand how bad it feels when you realize...

i would get some friends together and spread out.. and cover as much ground as possible.. might be too late but thts just a suggestion

First of all a loud THWACK was you first indication of something wrong from the onset.

Sounds to me like, at best, a shoulder blade hit. What poundage bow ya shooting?

Now you owe it to the deer to put in the time. A large tract of land seems unsearchable, you have to break it down into small sections and search each thoroughly, before moving on to the next small area.

I'm sure if you hit it Weds..that the deer is wasted. look for crows or vultures over an area..it may bring at least a closing on this saga.

If you are sure that is where your arrow entered at that steep of an angle that deer is dead. I would go to the spot you last saw him with a buddy or two. spread out a little and walk in the direction you last saw him. I'll bet you find him pretty quick.

I would also look for a deer walking with it's toes spread apart. That is a sign of a wounded deer trying to keep it's balance. But as others suggested go to the spot you last saw him and tie a ribbon on a bush or tree branch ect.. Start making small circles and expand them out as you keep searching. If the deer is hit where you say it was it would be dead by now that is for sure. I shot one that ran roughly 300 yards on a double lung shot a couple of years ago. It was light rain that day and all the blood got washed away while I waited before searching. That one fell while trying to circle me but it took a couple of hours to find it.. I would also be trying to here crows fighting over it by now..