When You Lose
 

When you lose the blood trail for whatever reason, the odds of you finding your deer go down to less than five percent.... depending on the terrain you are hunting. I believe you should.. if possible, never let the deer get out of your sight. I will continue to track a wounded animal immediately after the shot, even at the risk of pushing it. At least I can see where it is going and not risk losing the blood trail and not knowing where the animal went. Thoughts?
Live it up!
Doug

What's your approximate percentage of recovery with either method?

I have only lost one deer, and I believe it is because I pushed her. The blood trail was tremendous. You'd see where she would lay down for a rest until she either saw or heard me coming. Pools of blood. Until I came to the last pool. Not a drop of blood anywhere after that. Never found her.

Total rookie mistake my first season, but I was just doing what the other more experienced hunters who were with me did. I hadn't heard until later in the season that you should wait to track and the logic behind it.

I see your point though. And I move much more quietly than I used to, so I guess it could work either way.

I think what you say is valid except in the case of a gut-shot. The worst thing you can do is push it. Leave it be, come back a few hours later. It'll be 75-100 yds from where you last kicked it up.

Totally disagree. You can get away with that being a strickly gun hunting, but not archery. You will regret this decision.

I have pushed a deer over 2 miles due to rain. From that, I generally will not bowhunt in the rain.

Also disagree, Pushing a wounded deer is the worst thing you can do IMO. You'd be amazed at how far they can go on pure adrenaline even mortally wounded. Pull out, let them bed down and bleed out and you won't have to worry about trailing them very far.

also disagree,
pushing makes for lots of werk,
we will push a wounded hog to run the dogs, training if you will..
but otherwise, let em be..
i have done it both ways, i'd rather only have to drag em from where they 1st lie down..
to the guy that lost all the blood trail, yer doe was outta blood, she prolly only made it another 40 yards, laying in a heap of tree's and brush, see it all to often when we use the dogs,
the guys say we lost blood here, and booyah, the deer is in a gully, buried in bushes or something pretty close. it comes out to about $5 a foot..(jokes around the camp fire about hiring a blood dog)

I know that now, just at the time I didn't know anything about tracking deer and was relying upon the direction of the guys who were with me. Kinda sad, actually. Those guys have been hunting since they were kids and shoulda known better and taught me better.

I agree with that. Especially in mid rain and snow.
You wait too long deer start meandering into other tracks back tracking. I don't believe they bed down when they are wounded after
30 minutes.I believe they hightail it right out of country and only bed down when they expire or when they can no longer go any further.That can be miles that can be hours for a deer. At least when you chase a wounded deer they tend to go in a straight line for a longer distance before back tracking and following game trails and
hoping you get lost in them.Deer aren't intellegent they have advantage their 3 senses. Eyes ears and nose, you can't allow them
to use these against you. Hunters have intellgence and a weapon,
Adrenalin is a big thing it gives them a huge burst if strength and
will to get away initially, then they have an opportunity to use their senses and it gives them time for adrenlin to rebuild and they are gone again. Chase them right away they are running on one thing
adrenilon and not using any of their other advantages they have which are their 3 senses.

We all know that not all blood trails are the same. Even deer that have been hit well and hard might not have a good blood trail for one reason or another. And we all know that individual deer react differently after being shot... some might run like crazy, where others may jump only a few yards stop and stand there. Keeping a visual on your wounded animal is far better IMO than trying to rely on tracking from a blood trail that may or may NOT lead you to your game which is some cases may require a second shot. Some have said using dogs but that is not legal in all states. So I say again FOR ME I would rather take the risk of pushing a deer in order to keep it in sight then you have 2 things working not only do you have the blood trail but also a visual on your game. If you choose to wait 10 minutes before tracking all you have is a blood trail that could be good or your worst nightmare being the blood goes so far and then NOTHING. We have read it many, many times. I won't wait. Yes I have lost gut shot deer by pushing them BUT I'd would rather lose them that way other than waiting and never finding them because of a bad blood trail. And if I'm going to lose one I'm going down swinging!
Live it up! Doug

also disagree,
there is a difference between gun shot wounds and arrow wounds,
strictly speaking as a bow hunter,
depending on placement of shot, deer can go for miles on adrenaline if pushed,
my advise is to give them as much time as possible between the shot to the search, 1 hr sometimes is not enough time,
many times deer will settle down near water,
if disturbed they will get up and continue moving,
if given 2-4 hrs to settle down, chances are will find the deer within 100-200 yds of the shot,
if shot is late in the day nd dont want to search in the dark, start your search next day,

also as you said in re to not taking your eyes off the deer,
that should be done at the time of shot following the deer as it runs off, also making note of landmarks, as what you see from the stand will change once on the ground

Very misleading information.

While maintaining a visual on your game might be possible in some areas, it is completely out of the question in others. I'm lucky to maintain a visual for 2 seconds on a lung shot deer on my hunting land in Texas as it runs off into the mesquite. I'm not about to go stumbling around after it pushing it farther and farther away and ultimately off my property if I made less than a perfect shot. Generally they are piled up within 50 yards, but I'm not going to risk pushing one off because I had to go find it immediately.

Convential wisdom is to leave them alone and allow them to expire before attempting to recover them unless you are VERY sure of the shot and saw them crash or unless some other factor is going to take away your ability to trail them (raining, snowing, etc.).

It's called convential wisdom because that's the most commonly agreed upon way to do things. Not always the right way, but most of the time in most circumstances.

You are right and make some very good points! I took the time to bold a few words in your post. I agree with your point about keeping a visual in the scrub in Texas which is why I said Depending on terrain. I never assume that any deer hunt is going to be general as you said Generally. And just like you said conventional wisdom doesn't mean it's always right so I would call it common knowledge not really "wisdom" but that still doesn't mean it's right..for example for many years conventional wisdom said the earth was FLAT. I prefer NOT to follow the herd or common knowledge. That doesn't mean I'm always right. But I think it's always good to look at both sides of the coin. I don't believe there is an absolute right or wrong when talking about blood trails and how soon to pursue after the shot Because of all the variables involved, and because we are dealing with living animals that don't all act alike. I would agree that hunters need do what works for them in their area, and gives them the most success at recovering their game.
Live it up! Doug

I disagree.Poorly hit deer are found by using common sense and patience.I strongly feel that gut shot deer or other mortaly wounded deer should have near a 100% recovery rate.If you let them die,most should be found with or without a blood trail.

Maintaining a visual on a whitetail deer after the shot would seem to be more of an exception to the rule in most places where they are found. Maybe you are hunting open river bottoms in Kansas, but in the hardwoods in the Northeast and Midwest or the Pines of the South or the Mesquite in Texas (Basically where the bulk of whitetails live) you are going to have a very hard time maintaining a visual on a deer after the shot.

Convential wisdom in this case has been proven by years and years of people shooting deer and then either finding them or failing to find them. I personally see a lot more posts on "I started tracking my deer/elk/etc. and jumped it" than I see "I lost the blood trail and never found it".

Growing up in Northeast Montana we never bothered to wait to go after a deer or track it because on the open prairie you could see the deer laying there dead 100 yards away. Hunting in different circumstances now, I'm going to wait at least 30 minutes before going after a deer unless I see it hit the ground dead right there.

I think it is irresponsible to tell other people they should start going after them earlier and risk pushing the deer and losing it.

I agree with everything you said especially about it being irresponsible to tell other people what to do, that's why if you read my posts I say this is what I do, and as stated in my last post "I would agree that hunters need do what works for them in their area, and gives them the most success at recovering their game." I'm am not telling anyone to do what I do!
Live it up! Doug

Is there any truth to the idea that wounded deer will head to a near-by water source? Something I've heard but never tested.

Yes Bill I've seen it happen!
Live it up! Doug

Doug, are you an archer or gunner? Yes, it makes all the difference.

Both I hunt all season every season. Archery, muzzleload, rifle, shotgun.The recovery on deer using a bow is 82% leaving 18% not recovered. Do you find 20% unrecovered deer acceptable? This tells me that conventional wisdom is not wisdom at all. This is from the following study:
http://www.marylandqdma.com/files/Download/Pedersen-31-34.pdf
We determined wounding rates of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) by bowhunters using modern (compound bow and crossbow) archery equipment. Our study relied on daily reports submitted by bowhunters who participated in managed hunts at the Naval Support Facility Indian Head at Indian Head, Maryland. Bowhunters were required to pass the International Bowhunter Education Program and an annual pre-season shooting proficiency test. During the 1989–2006 hunting seasons, 104 bowhunters failed to recover 162 of 908 deer hit by arrows or crossbow bolts, corresponding to an 18% wounding rate. There was no difference in deer recovery metrics between compound bow and crossbow users (χ21 = 0.01; P = 0.92). Bowhunters who harvested the most deer (>20 deer per hunter) had a lower pooled wounding rate than bowhunters who killed fewer deer (χ21 = 22.2;
P < 0.005). Based on our estimates, qualified bowhunters were able to recover 1 deer for every 1.4 shots using modern archery equipment.
---------------------------------------------------------------
This only tells me that recovery tactics need to be rethought! But do what works in your area and gives you the greatest success at recovering your game.
Live it up! Doug

mr.wild,
in no way is it better to start pushing a deer when its wounded.
but to each their own i guess.
i have lost 1 deer, and its because i pushed her. she jumped the creek onto lands i had no business being on. had i waited a lil longer, i would have that perfect record.
as lots of young hunters look to these forums to help them be a better hunter, i hope they take what you say with a grain of salt.

And I can say the opposite had I started the recovery process sooner I might have been able to see where the deer went instead of relying only on a blood trail that ended 60 yrds away. And after searching for over 3 hrs resulted in Zip. I do not try to push the deer, I stay a good distance kinda like a spot and stalk hunt. I'm not gonna run right after the deer like some crazy man.
Just try to keep the deer in my sight. Which is hard here too with thick under brush and grass taller than I am. Every situation is different and young hunters can and will learn from their own experiences and hopefully will do what works the best for their area. And no offense but if you only lost 1 deer you must not have hunted very much. And if you have very good for you! The statics speak volumes out of 908 deer hit 162 were not recovered, in the research area. So give me your thoughts on why that is!!!
Live it up! Doug

You guys must not understand my meaning. I said I'll pursue the deer at the RISK of pushing it. I'm still hunting and stalking the wounded animal. I'm not talking about walking through the woods like taking a stroll at the mall on Sunday. Stealth mode. Slow going, watching the animal and if you see it lay down stop and watch it. Even if the animal screams out of there as fast as they can go I'll still take it slow and try to locate the animal again. I have had this work for me and have even been able to put a second shot into wounded animals which if I had not started pursuing them when I did they would have no doubt wondered off miles from where they were first hit, and become another statistic of unrecovered deer because the blood trail ends and they are long gone. Maybe this explains it better!
Live it up! Doug

My guess is the less experience bowhunters made poor decisions which include taking bad shots and/or pushing the deer and not letting it bed down, bleed out and die.

Here's a quote taken from page 34 (4 of 4) on the link you posted:

"Secondly, a group of volunteer trackers provided help to any bowhunter requesting assistance with locating a hit deer. Experienced trackers could help novice bowhunters avoid mistakes that could affect deer recovery, such as taking up a blood trail too soon after a poor hit."

Yea I saw that and there is no dispute that is common knowledge. On a good hit that could be ideal, but on poor hits with the chance of the wounded animal continuing to leave the area and with little or no blood trail and many in need of a second shot, what works for me is trying to keep the animal in sight. Still the statistics speak for themselves.
Live it up! Doug

now your saying it works for you, but from your original post it is suggesting that everyone should push their deer, keeping it in sight, as to not let it get away. and this is definitely a "no no" when making an attempt at recovering game that is wounded and hasnt gone down somewhat "immediately".

I dont chase, but I will follow quietly. If i see the deer ahead, I stop till it moves again. I first watch and see as long as i can. I usually hunt smaller areas of land. 80 acres or less. The deer go to the beds when wounded bad. Its the safe place for them, and they are stressed out. I also look near water for gut shots if they happen. If all else fails, get a dog on him and leave the bow at the truck. I dont loose many, maybe 1 in 20 that I shoot each year.

Ya know it gets real old Always having to repeat myself I don't know if you just can't read or what but here is the original post:
Originally Posted by kswild
When you lose the blood trail for whatever reason, the odds of you finding your deer go down to less than five percent.... depending on the terrain you are hunting. I believe you should.. if possible, never let the deer get out of your sight. I will continue to track a wounded animal immediately after the shot, even at the risk of pushing it. At least I can see where it is going and not risk losing the blood trail and not knowing where the animal went. Thoughts?
Live it up!
Doug
------------------------------------------------------------------
Do you understand if possible? Do you understand even at the RISK? I suggest nowhere that people should push their deer. I am saying when I pursue a wounded animal immediately after the shot I do so even at the RISK of pushing the deer. Over and over again I say from post #2
We all know that not all blood trails are the same. Even deer that have been hit well and hard might not have a good blood trail for one reason or another. And we all know that individual deer react differently after being shot... some might run like crazy, where others may jump only a few yards stop and stand there. Keeping a visual on your wounded animal is far better IMO than trying to rely on tracking from a blood trail that may or may NOT lead you to your game which is some cases may require a second shot. Some have said using dogs but that is not legal in all states. So I say again FOR ME I would rather take the risk of pushing a deer in order to keep it in sight then you have 2 things working not only do you have the blood trail but also a visual on your game. If you choose to wait 10 minutes before tracking all you have is a blood trail that could be good or your worst nightmare being the blood goes so far and then NOTHING. We have read it many, many times. I won't wait. Yes I have lost gut shot deer by pushing them BUT I'd would rather lose them that way other than waiting and never finding them because of a bad blood trail. And if I'm going to lose one I'm going down swinging!
Live it up! Doug
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
From my 2nd post on this thread I say FOR ME! So please take the time to READ my posts before commenting and trying to make it look like I'm changing my position cause I am not.
Live it up! Doug

its very noticible you will keep defending yourself, but its in black and white right here, where you wrote it.
this is what you should not do.
maybe me asking you to take the advise myself and others are trying to share with you, but i have a feeling that is alot to ask for. i am not going to continue posting on this thread as i feel what i type is not sinking in, and ya cant teach an old dog new tricks. good day.

lhttp://www.huntingnet.com/forum/whitetail-deer-hunting/333973-nervous.html
Here ya go another case of a hunter watching his wounded deer run off then waits a couple hours to track and finds zip, zero. No blood. No arrow, No deer. I personally see more of these posts than someone saying they jumped their wounded deer. Just sayin! My azz is tracking that deer right away! I gonna find something. But that's just me. Even though everyone says " That's the wrong thing to do." "That's a no no." Right or wrong in your eyes it works for me. I never could see the logic in not trying to finish the hunt and put a second arrow in your game if need be. You guys say "No I'm gonna shot 1 time then wait 2 hours and hope the animal dies and I hope I can find a blood trail and I hope I can find my deer." Not me I'm finishing the hunt.
Live it up! Doug

You had to know that you would get this reaction when posting this thread.
Personally I agree with giving them time before taking up the trail.
I find it hard to believe you havnt lost more deer to pushing them than waiting awhile.