rockytop

It's muzzleloader time in tennessee and yesterday morning I shot a large doe. There was a 6 point with the doe, but what's the point of killing a 6 point when your wanting meat and a doe is standing there. Anyway, I shot the doe at 140 yards. After the shot, the doe ran across the power line I was on and entered the woods. I waited about 30 minutes and then went to where the doe disappeared. I picked up the blood trail, bright red, and figured I wouldn't have to go far to find her.
I was wrong, an hour later I had followed the trail to the edge of a 3 acre field and it looked like she might have gone across it. The grass in the field was about 6 inches high. I made a decision to back out about this time for a couple of reasons. First, it was getting hot and I had on way too much clothes, and second, I didn't think I was pushing the doe, she hadn't laid down any, but just to be sure and considering the heat, I went back to the house to give her some time. After changing clothes and eating some breakfast, I went back to the last blood I had marked on the edge of the field. By this time, the doe was barely bleeding. I was hoping she had not gone across the field because of the bleeding getting less and in the woods when I had lost her blood I had been able to follow her tracks in the wet leaves until I could pick up the blood again. A few times I had to do a little circling and back peddling to get back on the blood trail. Well, she went across the field and all I was seeing was tiny pinhead flecks of blood about every 10 feet or so. At first, I had a hard time because I kept losing the reference for the last blood. Then I remembered I had several paper towels in my pocket and I started marking each little fleck of blood with a small piece of white paper towel. After that, it was much easier to determine where the next fleck would be. Anyway, I trailed her across the field, basically on my hands and knees and found where the doe went back in the woods. From there, I was able to stay on the trail using her tracks, she was really walking heavy, and occasional blood. I found the deer about 100 yards into the woods. I found the deer 5-1/2 hours after making the shot. My shot had hit the deer in lower part of the left lung.
I tell this story because using the paper to mark the trail across the field allowed me to see any trends of her turning and kept me on track. I thought it might help someone in the future.
By the way the gun is an old hammer type smoke pole with a Green Moutain barrell with 1 in 28" twist. It shoots 2" groups at 100 yards and my shot at 140 yards dropped about 3 inches. I shoot 90 grains of Pyrodex and a 240 grain sabot.

Bionicrooster

Glad you found her, way to stick with it. We often use toilet paper to mark the blood spots, even in the woods, it helps you keep a good line on them so you can see where they are going. Also, I assume you only hit one lung on the doe? Even so, its amazing how far they can go with one lung.

texastracker

Congrats on your tracking job and the doe.

Tazman

Congrats on the doe and my hat is off for you not giving up on her! I hate to say this but there are some that would have thrown in the towel. You gave some good words of advice that can never be repeated to often, I always carry TP with me to mark blood with.

The Tazman aka Martin Price
Founder and President of
Virginia Disabled Outdoorsmen Club

bjk

Congrats on the doe and being persistant (and it appears, good)...great job!

rockytop

Thanks guys, my Dad taught me about 40 years ago to never give up on an animal that you've wounded. Sometimes things happen and you just can't find one but I think everyone should give it their best effort.
I'm pretty sure it was a one lunger. I couldn't find any damage on the other side. From the angle of the shot, I'm surprised I didn't get a little of the other lung. I guess the shot went under it. Anyway, I'm looking forward to tenderloin and biscuits when I get back from the woods in the morning. Wished you'll could join me.