Color Blind
11-07-2019 | 06:19 AM
#1
Thread Starter
Spike
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Color Blind
Anyone else color blind out there??? I am and blood tracking is tough on a good day and impossible most of the time. Here's some history - I tracked and recovered a deer for the first time last year (I'm 53). It was a doe (morning shot) and she opened up pretty quick and ran a familiar trail. After I found first blood it was pain staking to get to the next and I marked with TP the entire way. After about 10-15 yards she opened up, which made it easier and obviously she was close. All told it was about a 40 yard recovery that took me the better part of an hour. A few weeks before that, I did recover my buck (morning shot), but I had an idea of where I thought I heard him fall. While my buddy was tracking I went ahead and found him. This year I double lunged my buck at around 6:30 pm, found first blood, went about 10 yards and then the weeds got high, the light faded, and I was done. I spent about 30-40 minutes on those first 10 yards and a buddy came and easily trailed it to about 60 yards away in about 15 minutes. So, what do all you other color blind hunters do? A friend got me a pair of glasses for color blindness. I've tried them a few times, but they just don't seem to do anything for me. I hate to interrupt my buddy's hunt, although we do for each other happily, I'd just like to figure a way to be more self sufficient. Any thoughts or suggestions are welcome!
11-07-2019 | 08:27 AM
#2
Typical Buck
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 556
Likes: 0
From: Orange County, Virginia....
I was hunting with some friends and one of them was color blind and I never knew. It was a rare occasion where we had snow on the ground during hunting season which is rare for this part of Va.. Heard him shoot and asked if he got anything and he wasnt sure. I was nearby so I came over to help him look. He told me he was color blind and couldnt tell if he hit the deer. I walked over to where he shot at it and there was spatters of blood that was easy for me to follow. The snow had been on the ground for a few days and the snow was dirty and he said the blood just looked the same as the dirt to him. That really opened my eyes to how difficult blood trailing is for a color blind person. I suggest you hunt with someone to assist in trailing or have a good friend who can come at a moments notice to help you when needed.
11-07-2019 | 08:49 AM
#3
Fork Horn
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 454
Likes: 0
I you're tracking at night, perhaps one of those color filtered tracking lights would help. If you have color vision, it "lights up" the blood spatters, but even if colorblind, I would suspect the difference in brightness would show up.
11-07-2019 | 10:31 AM
#4
Super Moderator
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 10,069
Likes: 29
From: Trumbull County, Ohio
I've never even considered that. But it would certainly be a challenge.
I've got one of those blood tracking lights and it does change the color and make it show up. Differently-not always better but it makes it different and your eyes can catch it.
Might be worth looking in to
-Jake
I've got one of those blood tracking lights and it does change the color and make it show up. Differently-not always better but it makes it different and your eyes can catch it.
Might be worth looking in to
-Jake
11-10-2019 | 03:20 PM
#8
Nontypical Buck
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 2,662
Likes: 0
From: Germany/Calif.
I've got bad eyes. I've had operations that improved my vision, but it still isn't good. I can't imagine hunting without a dog. The majority of the hunters here have a nose dog, I'd say 60% or more. It doesn't have to be a bloodhound, some of the best are Dachshund or smaller breeds. In my experience, many dogs aren't hard to train to blood track. The bigger problem is slowing them down. Here they only track on a long leash. My last nose dog was a Weimaraner and could track an almost invisible blood trail at a dead run (somewhere around 40 MPH) if you'd let him, Now I use a Plummer Terrier, they have some Beagle in their genes.
11-10-2019 | 04:16 PM
#9
Boone & Crockett
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 12,729
Likes: 4
From: Maine
I am color blind as well. My difficulty is on wet leaves and the like. Once the leaves have dried I can follow it.. On my moose hunt it wasn't bad as I had my sister start me on the blood trail and then I could follow it right along. So I know it can be difficult to follow. When I loose the blood trail I mark the last place I saw blood and start circling making each circle bigger while looking for where it may have run. I also look for a deer walking with his toes spread.. They tend to do that to help maintain balance when wounded..I hope this helps you.. I have recovered quite a few deer this way..
11-10-2019 | 06:18 PM
#10
Fork Horn
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From:
Its tough!!!! I love when I have a non colorblind friend with me. Except when they say "man you cant see that blood!!!!" I swear I wanna punch them lol
Ive bought all kind of gadgets that havent helped. I did buy a FLIR Scout and it helps me tremendously! Its very pricey at $500.
Ive bought all kind of gadgets that havent helped. I did buy a FLIR Scout and it helps me tremendously! Its very pricey at $500.