Need some advice, tracking in the rain?
#12
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,926
Four years ago; wonder if he's still hunting
Maybe we're too nice to fellow hunters. Maybe some go for years and just assume they're going to have to track a deer or have to track them far .
Maybe some really downgrade the necessity of practice, practice, practice.
My hunting career would have ended years ago, if I ever assumed I never needed practice. I learned in swamps and hardly had time to learn swamp hunting. Practice before the hunt was more important than the hunt. There was no time to assume I was a good enough hunter. I learned accurate shooting; where on the anatomy of a deer to get an instant kill shot. There are some shots approved by some, I still don't make.
My first tracking was on an archery shot deer. I knew I made a good shot. Knew the deer should have been 50 to 100 yards away. Not 300 yards.
When it was the place of last sighting, I took a compass reading. I didn't look for a blood trail in the thick brush; I looked for a whole deer. I stayed on the original compass reading and found the whole deer fifty yards away. At one point I couldn't see the stand or the location of the deer. I found the deer then some fifteen yards later. It was laying in some thick brush.
Practice, practice, practice had payed off. Never did need a trailing dog. My requirements were tougher. I never sought an easy way. Never hunted an easy way.
Maybe some really downgrade the necessity of practice, practice, practice.
My hunting career would have ended years ago, if I ever assumed I never needed practice. I learned in swamps and hardly had time to learn swamp hunting. Practice before the hunt was more important than the hunt. There was no time to assume I was a good enough hunter. I learned accurate shooting; where on the anatomy of a deer to get an instant kill shot. There are some shots approved by some, I still don't make.
My first tracking was on an archery shot deer. I knew I made a good shot. Knew the deer should have been 50 to 100 yards away. Not 300 yards.
When it was the place of last sighting, I took a compass reading. I didn't look for a blood trail in the thick brush; I looked for a whole deer. I stayed on the original compass reading and found the whole deer fifty yards away. At one point I couldn't see the stand or the location of the deer. I found the deer then some fifteen yards later. It was laying in some thick brush.
Practice, practice, practice had payed off. Never did need a trailing dog. My requirements were tougher. I never sought an easy way. Never hunted an easy way.
Last edited by Valentine; 02-06-2015 at 04:44 AM.
#14
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Allegan, MI
Posts: 8,019
Isn't it amazing how a newbie can come on this site and go back in the archives to bring back a dead thread that is 4 years old and sometimes a lot older! I wonder why that is when there is plenty of current stuff within the first couple pages on each Forum. Maybe they do a search for a certain topic like this rain deal and when something pops up they don't even look to see the thread dates and the OP may be dead, LOL!
Last edited by Topgun 3006; 02-06-2015 at 05:30 PM. Reason: Spelling
#15
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: North Idaho
Posts: 1,071
Isn't it amazing how a newbie can come on this site and go back in the archives to bring back a dead thread that is 4 years old and sometimes a lot older! I wonder why that is when there is plenty of current stuff within the first couple pages on each thread. Maybe they do a search for a certain topic like this rain deal and when something pops up they don't even look to see the thread dates and the OP may be dead, LOL!
#20
Spike
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 11
unless its a pouring rain or poor shot/minimal blood it shouldn't be a big deal........wet leaves can sometimes actually help show contrast whether its blood, actual tracks, grass disturbance or a deer outline laying in the forest.....as someone mentioned earlier try a dog ...people don't realize most dogs naturally want to track fresh sign/fresh blood ....an untrained dog will often follow a fresh trail and lead you to your deer. Jus tkeep in mind they will also disturb and overturn leaves in the process so use it as last resort