poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

So here's the deal, bear with me as my posts always seem to be long winded. I've been fortunate enough to take a deer each of the last 3 years, 2 does and a buck (my first). I hunt with a Remington model 7600 30-06 pump action, and have tried both 150 and 180 grain loads, cheapo winchester or remingtons i think. The problem i faced with both the does i shot was that there was very little blood, and what little blood there was didnt show up until right before the deer expired. so basically these loads have given me very poor blood trails. both shots were good hits, 1 heart shot and 1 single lung, both deer went less than 50 yards and left merely specks of blood, leaving me to follow only tracks. I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem, and if so what was your solution. I dropped the buck in its tracks, but it was a shoulder shot and i prefer to not aim for shoulders as it ruins too much meat. I do have a Remington 870 wingmaster 12 gauge, and i would consider getting a slug barrel for this gun, as i dont have any shots much further than 100 yards where i hunt. Any suggestions? thanks for the help, i love my 30-06, but would hate to lose the deer of a lifetime or any deer for that matter due to lack of a blood trail.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I hunted for 26 years with a Remington 700 in .308 (same as your 30.06 at the distance you are shooting)and used 180grnRemington Core-Lokts...Never lost a deer and the blood trails (the very few times I had to follow them) were very good...By cheap ammo are you using the full metal jacket bullets? because they won't expand which wouldn't give you a blood trail.

I had the same problem when I used Federal Fusion ammo in my .270wsm...Lost 2 deer due to poor expansion andNo blood trails...I switched toFederalpower point bullets and now thedeer just drop.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

The ole 06 is one of the best deer cartridges around, I agree with TPhunter I think your problem is with your ammunition.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

nothing wrong with the gun or the ammo you are using. it just happened you didn't get good blood trails,next time it may change. just keep shootin what you got.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

How high/low are you hitting the deer? I can't believe you are having unreasonably poor blood trails with that gun/bullet combo because it is a very common combination in the hunting world. What I am wondering is if you are hitting the deer higher up in the chest cavity which would cause the blood to bleed into the chest cavity before it reaches the height of the hole and begin pouring out....which would explain the more profuse blood trail near the deer.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I'd be hesitant to blame your ammunition, since there are more than a couple variables at work once a bullet strikes an animal.

I've used "cheapo" CoreLokts and PowerPoints, not to mention Hi-Shoks, for years in .30-06 and .243 and haven't had any issues finding game I've hit, minus one poor shot that was MY fault. It's hard sometimes, but it's been helpful to me to settle down a bit after the shot myself, noting where the deer was when I fired, and which general direction it left in. I'll generally mark the site of the shot with orange engineer tape, whether I find any signs of blood or not. From there, I'll look for tracks (generally kicked up leaves, other signs that a deer left in a hurry) as well as blood, going in the direction I saw the deer leave.

The worst effects I've experienced, though still resulting in a downed animal, were with handloaded Sierra GameKing BTs. They ALWAYS shed their jackets, scattering bullet fragments all over in a deer or antelope. I've since switched to "cheapo" Hornadys and haven't had any problems, but still wouldn't cancel a hunt if all I had on hand were CoreLokts, PowerPoints, or Hi-Shoks.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I'm not surprised with those hits. Heart shots often do not produce a great blood trail because if you destroy the heart it quits pumping, which means there is nothing to force the blood out of the deer. A single lung shot is not that great either. I shot a deer with a bow once and got a single lung and hit the heart. The deer ran quite a ways with a very sparse blood trail.

Something you need to keep in mind when hunting, even with a gun is where the exit will be. I always aim for the exit wound, not the entrance. Much more important with a bow, but I still keep it in mind with a gun ( I use shotgun or ML, no centerfire where I live). So you need to look at some pictures or diagrams of a deer anatomy and picture different shot angles and where the bullet path will go.

I personally like a bullet that will exit the animal. I like one that will expand, but not so much that it will stay in the animal. Pass through shots normally will give you a better shot at a blood trail. Or from what I have been told you can aim for a high shoulder shot and it usually anchors the deer where it stands. Never tried it to be honest though.

Paul

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

Thanks for the help guys, i think PA Bow/Flinter hit the nail on the head.i guess i hadnt thought about that, and now that i do, the shot on the last deer i shot, the single lung, was a higher shot that exited a lil far back, and when i gutted that deer i remember the chest cavity was full of blood. That makes total sense. it seems i was too quick to blame the equipment and not myself. I'll look into some anatomy diagrams and work on my after the shot tactics. thanks again

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

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ORIGANAL: PA Bow.Flinter

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ORIGANAL: Paul L Mohr

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[/align]Good posts! I use Remington's 140 gr. Core lokts in my 280 Rem. and 150 gr. Core Lokts in my 308 Win. the main reason I use them is because they shoot very well in my rifles, which to me is very important. I am going to try and step up in bullet weight and use better constructed bulletsin both rifles. Not because I've had bad luck with the Core Lokts, but becauseI'm going to use this rifles for deer as well aswild boar and black bear, that's a different story altogether though.[/align][/align][/align]
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RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

Schobs, I forgot to ask, are you using expandable bullets like Core Lokts or Power Points, or are you using full metal jacket bullets?[/align]

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I agree with Paul. He has some great advise! I also agree that high shots can result in low blood loss too!

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I'm using core-lokts, fmj's are illegal in here in WI. Does anybody use some slightly more expensive shells that they have better success with? I know that shells shoot differently for every gun, but i'm looking for a bullet that'll leave a decent exit wound, not a grapefruit sized hole, but somethin bigger than a quarter like i've been getting from the core lokts. thanks again for the advice guys, only 11 more months until gun season starts up again!!

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

Here is a mule deer doe taken at a lasered 298yds. with factory 150gr. Winchester Power Point ammo out of a 270wsm. One shot through both lungs. She went 30yds. only with no blood trail. Seemed to do the job.
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg178/700xcr/1209070959-00-01.jpg
http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg178/700xcr/1209071041-00.jpg

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I think i can safely assume that mule deer was taken out west somewhere, where the terrain is a bit more open, however the area i hunt here in WI is much more dense, so much so that if a deer takes off aftera lethal hit and makes it 100+ yards, it could easily be in some really thick, nasty cover, where trailing without a blood trail is very difficult. It looks like the doe in the picture was hit a bit high as well, perhaps that's why she didnt bleed, just like mine. did you notice if the chest cavity was full of blood when you field dressed her? The ammo i've been using has been getting the job done thus far, i just think i owe it to the animals to try and recover wounded quarry 100% of the time, and a more distinct blood trail would really help.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

You are correct. Deer was taken in Washington State. In the picture it looks high but I was shooting down hill too.That is why leftentrance hole is higher than right exit hole in the picture.She had blood in her when I field dress her.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

You can buy more expensive bullets, but the Core-Locts and Winchester Power Points work just about as well 95% of the time! My two Winchesters love Core-Locts as much or better than the high dollar stuff and they perform well on game too! If you are not getting good accuracy with them, I'd try something else. If you are getting good groups at the range, I'd work on shot placement instead of new ammo!

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

i have the same gun i use winchester ammo 180 grain i usely dont have to track them
but if i do the blood trails are like a foot wide

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

I use 150 gr core locks in my .308, and I shoot behind the shoulder like you, and I often hit a little higher than optimum, and I often have sparse blood trail. I don't worry about it, the deer always die quickly, and I always find them. If there is a situation, say a longer shot, heavy cover, precipitation, late in the day, huge buck, etc, where I'm really worried about not finding the deer, I'll hold a little differently. In a situation as I described, I'll take a shot that will break the deer down, such asshoulder, base of neck, etc.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

The pin hole 3006 does that sometimes.... If your shots are less then 200 yards all the time... play with the 870. I have an H&R Ultra slug 12 gauge and I kill deer ever year out to 200 yards with the Hornady SST's 300 grain. Bring a range finder and zero the gun for 150 yards with a gun vice. If you are staying in the 150 yard range and sometimes at 200 you will never pick up the 30-06 AGAIN with an H&R (its a 350 dollar package with a scope). My H&R poors blood on everything...big holes make for big blood trails....

But- - The 30-06...Is an all around master of disaster....its that darn narrow bullet the leaves us wondering sometimes....I've seen moose flip with a 30-06 though...the joys of hunting and learning...see your local dealer about an H&R....broaden your horizons...this forum has helped me learn alot from people like you....

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

Im going to recomend going to a Federal 165 Gr in 30-06. We have been using these for many years and they have always done us well. Try em out you ll love em.

RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?
 

Schobs,as mentionedCore Lokts and Power Points should work fine most of the time. Try shooting them a little lower.[/align][/align]Also be careful shooting any slug gun 150 to 200 yards.I'm not saying it can't be done. But even the latest and greatest1900 to 2000 fps sabot slugs are tremendously effected by wind drift. With a 10 MPH crosswind most will be off 11 to 15 inches. Where a 30-06 will only be off 3 to 4 inches.
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RE: poor blood trails, switch gun/ammo?