First annual: Shot one, now what....answered.
08-26-2006, 11:46 PM
#11
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jackson, Missouri
Posts: 7,051
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
one thing I always do is to shoot an arrow in to the ground where the deer was standing when I shot it.It always looks differant from the ground.
08-26-2006, 11:49 PM
#12
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Jackson, Missouri
Posts: 7,051
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
Most of us hunters if we've been at it long enough have put a bad shot on an animal. The difference between the real hunters and the others is how much effort you put into finding it.I've done it too made a bad shot and not recovered the animal and that still makes me sick today and for 2 days after I shot that deer I was in the woods for atleast 6 hours each day looking even after I had lost any sign just doing the needle in a haystack search. But that's why I shoot all summer to practice because I respect my game enough to give it my all not to repeat that mistake, and I know there are a ton of people in this forum that do the same and I applaude all of you, and if don't do everything you can to keep from making those mistakes don't call yourself a real hunter
08-27-2006, 12:29 AM
#13
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TX Panhandle
Posts: 620
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
I lost the very first deer I ever shot, and it made such an impression on me I have not lost another one yet, although I realize it is probably enevitable. I came close to losing another one early in my career, but found it halfway through thenext day, through sheer determination. I now approach tracking as a puzzle that can and must be solved,with all the information there if I can just find it and unravel the threads. Not just a physical but mental exercise. As Greg has stated, half the battle is proper mental attitude...
With that said, I think most people would be much better prepared if they thought much more about tracking their deer before they ever took the shot. I am thinking about tracking before the arrow ever leaves my bow. I mean, obviously not to the point it affects my shot concentration, but to the point my mind is prepared to absorb the rapid post shot evaluation of what is occuring in that compressed time frame when the deer runs off. Where it was standing, what my shot looked like, how the deer reacted, how did it travel, landmarks it passed and so on. I never can understand how some of those guys on T.V. spin around and start talking to the camera before the deer is even out of sight (but I digress...).
Give it a few minutes after the shot, then calmly get down and find your arrow for evaluation if possible, and sit on the ground with it for a good while, just thinking about all the information you have. Then and only then will you have what you need to determine your course of action from there on out. Unless of course your deer is dead within sight, in which case you should be taking pics to enter in the contest.
But seriously, I bet I would not be half the tracker I am now if I hadn't lost that very firstone. I have made many mistakes, but learned from every one.
With that said, I think most people would be much better prepared if they thought much more about tracking their deer before they ever took the shot. I am thinking about tracking before the arrow ever leaves my bow. I mean, obviously not to the point it affects my shot concentration, but to the point my mind is prepared to absorb the rapid post shot evaluation of what is occuring in that compressed time frame when the deer runs off. Where it was standing, what my shot looked like, how the deer reacted, how did it travel, landmarks it passed and so on. I never can understand how some of those guys on T.V. spin around and start talking to the camera before the deer is even out of sight (but I digress...).
Give it a few minutes after the shot, then calmly get down and find your arrow for evaluation if possible, and sit on the ground with it for a good while, just thinking about all the information you have. Then and only then will you have what you need to determine your course of action from there on out. Unless of course your deer is dead within sight, in which case you should be taking pics to enter in the contest.
But seriously, I bet I would not be half the tracker I am now if I hadn't lost that very firstone. I have made many mistakes, but learned from every one.
08-27-2006, 12:44 AM
#14
Typical Buck
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location:
Posts: 781
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
ORIGINAL: bawanajim
The biggest thing that causes lost deer iseager bowhunters.If you are not 100% sure your shot went through the heart or lunges or you seen the deer fall wait till morning or if you shot it in the morning give the deer time.Your chances of finding a deer after you jump it from a bed are real slim.
one thing I always do is to shoot an arrow in to the ground where the deer was standing when I shot it.It always looks differant from the ground.Or in the morning.
After the shot slip out of the area andthink things through.
If in dought wait it out!!!!!!!!!
The biggest thing that causes lost deer iseager bowhunters.If you are not 100% sure your shot went through the heart or lunges or you seen the deer fall wait till morning or if you shot it in the morning give the deer time.Your chances of finding a deer after you jump it from a bed are real slim.
one thing I always do is to shoot an arrow in to the ground where the deer was standing when I shot it.It always looks differant from the ground.Or in the morning.
After the shot slip out of the area andthink things through.
If in dought wait it out!!!!!!!!!
08-27-2006, 01:10 AM
#15
Fork Horn
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Northern IL
Posts: 276
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
One word.....
WAIT
Year after year, I always see this. Not on the forums, but in person. People tend to rush finding the deer. In all fairness, even if you can see it go down, please give it respect and let it be.
Also, even if you KNOW 100% where the deer is, please still find and follow the blood trail. Especially for the learning experience. I like to see how my deer is bleeding out, any signs of hair, be it white, corse, smooth, all have a special meaning.
I, personally will sit in my stand for atleast two smokes before getting down. I don't go looking for the deer though. I will go inspect the shot scene. Again, I look for my arrow, look at the hairs, the blood, any urine, etc...That usually will dictate when I begin tracking. I then either go back into the stand, or head back to the truck. Time is your friend, relax, have a drink, make sure you have all the proper equipment.
Oh and don't forget to ruin your friends hunt by having them help you drag your deer out! Nothing makes me laugh harder
WAIT
Year after year, I always see this. Not on the forums, but in person. People tend to rush finding the deer. In all fairness, even if you can see it go down, please give it respect and let it be.
Also, even if you KNOW 100% where the deer is, please still find and follow the blood trail. Especially for the learning experience. I like to see how my deer is bleeding out, any signs of hair, be it white, corse, smooth, all have a special meaning.
I, personally will sit in my stand for atleast two smokes before getting down. I don't go looking for the deer though. I will go inspect the shot scene. Again, I look for my arrow, look at the hairs, the blood, any urine, etc...That usually will dictate when I begin tracking. I then either go back into the stand, or head back to the truck. Time is your friend, relax, have a drink, make sure you have all the proper equipment.
Oh and don't forget to ruin your friends hunt by having them help you drag your deer out! Nothing makes me laugh harder
08-27-2006, 01:13 AM
#16
Typical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: uniontown, kentucky
Posts: 570
RE: First annual: Shot one, now what....answered.
YOU ARE 100% RIGHT, WE OWE IT TO OUR SPORT AND OUT OF RESPECT TO THE GAME WE HUNT. I HAVE NOTICED OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS SOME YOUNG HUNTERS HAVE NOT PICKED UP ON THE RESPECT WE MUST HAVE FOR THE GAME WE HUNT. PURSUEING WILD GAME FOR OVER 20 YEARS NOW I FEEL THAT WE MUST DO EVERYTHING POSSIBLE TO HELP THEM AS MUCH AS WE DO TO HARVEST THEM.
GOOD HUNTING.
GOOD HUNTING.
08-27-2006, 01:43 AM
#17
Fork Horn
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Posts: 213
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
ORIGINAL: Washington Hunter
A perfect example is a doe my dad shot last december. It was what looked like a perfectly placed shot, ample blood trail, everything pointed towards a dead deer. Six hours and two miles later, we had yet to find her.
There were spots where the blood was litterally pooled in the snow/ice. She would lay down every 200 yards and spew blood, freeze the wound, and then continue on. After she would lay down the blood trail would thin to almost nothing because the wound would freeze. Eventually it would unthaw and the trail would pick up, then the same thing, a pool of blood followed by a thin trail.
A perfect example is a doe my dad shot last december. It was what looked like a perfectly placed shot, ample blood trail, everything pointed towards a dead deer. Six hours and two miles later, we had yet to find her.
There were spots where the blood was litterally pooled in the snow/ice. She would lay down every 200 yards and spew blood, freeze the wound, and then continue on. After she would lay down the blood trail would thin to almost nothing because the wound would freeze. Eventually it would unthaw and the trail would pick up, then the same thing, a pool of blood followed by a thin trail.
08-27-2006, 07:49 AM
#18
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location:
Posts: 11,472
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
Every year I fail to understand why people just don't wait. Unless the deer is deadwithin sight, why not wait? When I am 99.9% sure I made a perfect shot and the deer is dead, if it's not laying on the ground in my view I'm going to sit in my stand and wait. The deer isn't going anyplace if it is dead. With the .1% chance in my mind that I may be wrong or something freaky happened it's worth 2 or 3 hours of my life to wait it out before starting the blood trail. Then make my determination depending on the bloodtrail to confirm the hit I think I made. If I start the bloodtrail and have an inkling of doubt with the type of blood I have, I'll back off and wait longer. We all owe it to the animal.
08-27-2006, 09:00 AM
#19
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
I'm with Washington Hunter. THis should be a place for newbies, old hands or whatever to come seeking guidance, help and wisdom. Tred Barta and I have each shot over 80 whitetails with the bow. I've had defeates and successes anad I know some day I'm going to have another problem. Point being, in 35 years of bowhunting I've seen just about everything that can happen in bowhunting. I would hope my experiences could be put to use or at least used as a source of information for things to DO and things NOT TO DO. When I started bowhuntingthere really weren't hardly any bowhunters. Myself and the guy that introduced me to the bow were the only ones I knew. There was no internet, no PETA, and no place to go for help and guidance. I literally hunted for the first 5 or 6 years without seeing another bowhunter in the public land woods. I've gotten better, bowhunters are better and we're undoubtedly the best hunters on the planet. We should share our knowledge, problems and experiences. If nothing more we can give hope and advice and maybe even an "I told you so" if appropriate. Screw PETA and the Antis. Just because you don't say it doesn't lessen their determination. Hunts and impact shots are all over the TV. They have all the ammo they need. All they need are a few bleeding hearts(maybe even from our own ranks with the "don't tell" mentality). I say screw 'em. You got a problem finding or determining what happened, come and ask. Sometimes we're our own worst enemy. For example, I was ask to remove my old signature picture because some found it offensive. I ask you, what could be more positive about a bowhunting than a perfectly executed shot.
08-27-2006, 09:10 AM
#20
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location:
Posts: 11,472
RE: First annual: Let's not post non recovery...
Screw PETA and the Antis. Just because you don't say it doesn't lessen their determination. Hunts and impact shots are all over the TV. They have all the ammo they need. All they need are a few bleeding hearts(maybe even from our own ranks with the "don't tell" mentality). I say screw 'em. You got a problem finding or determining what happened, come and ask.
