Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
11-15-2002, 01:18 PM
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Illinois
Posts: 1,862
Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
Increasingly, it is becoming very apparent that too many bowhunters are failing to recover a fatally wounded deer. A bad hit is a major contributing factor, but bad hits are to be expected no matter how skilled the shooter is. However, deer that are known to have been fatally hit are (also) not being recovered. It is my opinion, that in many of the cases the primary cause appears to be that the person that made the shot
1)is not sufficiently informed and/or skilled in all the necessary aspects of effective and successful tracking,
2) knows how to track but does not follow a set process
3) has developed bad tracking habits,
4) is impatient or too excited and detrimentally shortcuts a process, a process that will increase the odds of a successful recovery, or
5) all of the above.
At the risk of sounding conceited, I do consider myself an excellent tracker. My recovery success rate, not just for (my) deer, is high. I have 37 years of experience in tracking and locating wounded or dead deer. I also have 27 years of experience tracking and locating humans; most often alive, but sometimes wounded, sometimes deceased. I know some of you are now asking yourself, "Tracking and locating humans! What the hell is that all about, and how does tracking and locating humans compare with tracking deer?" That is another story for another time. At this time, you will just have to take my word that tracking and locating a wounded animal vs. a human does have comparative aspects and value.
Being a deer hunter, if you are not already, you will eventually be overwhelmed with advice and recommended tactics about how to track a wounded deer e.g., articles, books, verbally, tapes, personal experience, etc, Some of the information and tactics you read, hear, and see, will be valuable and useful. Some of it will not, or cannot, apply to you and/or your area and/or circumstances. In the end, the individual must decide what information and tactics are conducive to him or her and the area they are hunting.
Although there is no such thing as a strict set of rules you must adhere to when tracking a wounded deer, nevertheless, in order to avert a haphazard process that often brings about failure, you must create a process. As much as possible, learn how to knowingly and properly track a wounded deer, and create a standard and applicable tracking system/process that you will initially and consistently, with unwavering devotion, apply when you begin to track a wounded deer.
Think about the "system/process" as a set of assembly directions that came with a multi-component entertainment center. Although adhering to the step-by-step process might take longer, if you follow the directions by the numbers (chronological order), you will eventually have an assembled entertainment center standing before you (recovered deer). However, you might be experienced and skilled enough to shortcut the process and assemble the center without following each written step. But, should you make a mistake or become confused, you can always return to the directions (system/process). Skilled or not, if you do not follow any or some of the directions (steps), and/or you perform the wrong shortcuts, the odds of a having a successful assembly are against you (lost deer).
When tracking a wounded deer, I loyally and initially adhere to a consolidated system/process that consists of several distinct components of information based on various types of known and suspected behavior of deer and the habitat I am hunting in. I also use certain instruments that I have always found to be extremely useful when tracking.
I am preparing to leave for a scheduled hunt. When I get back, I am going start individual threads on the various phases of tracking that I believe are valid and well grounded. I hope other skilled trackers will participate. I am confident that any person whom truly desires to learn how to track in a manner that increases the odds in his or her favor, will benefit from the threads.
Until then, ponder this piece of information and see if you can conclude what the answer is:
"Tracking a wounded deer, fatal or not, begins long before you make the wounding shot."
The attached satellite photo of a section of the area I hunt is a clue to the answer. The marked activity is of the harvesting of the two deer that my nephew and I achieved and successfully tracked on Nov. 2 of this season. Yes, we (my crew) use satellite photos to recon our hunting areas and to track wounded deer.
Edited by - c903 on 11/15/2002 17:44:51
1)is not sufficiently informed and/or skilled in all the necessary aspects of effective and successful tracking,
2) knows how to track but does not follow a set process
3) has developed bad tracking habits,
4) is impatient or too excited and detrimentally shortcuts a process, a process that will increase the odds of a successful recovery, or
5) all of the above.
At the risk of sounding conceited, I do consider myself an excellent tracker. My recovery success rate, not just for (my) deer, is high. I have 37 years of experience in tracking and locating wounded or dead deer. I also have 27 years of experience tracking and locating humans; most often alive, but sometimes wounded, sometimes deceased. I know some of you are now asking yourself, "Tracking and locating humans! What the hell is that all about, and how does tracking and locating humans compare with tracking deer?" That is another story for another time. At this time, you will just have to take my word that tracking and locating a wounded animal vs. a human does have comparative aspects and value.
Being a deer hunter, if you are not already, you will eventually be overwhelmed with advice and recommended tactics about how to track a wounded deer e.g., articles, books, verbally, tapes, personal experience, etc, Some of the information and tactics you read, hear, and see, will be valuable and useful. Some of it will not, or cannot, apply to you and/or your area and/or circumstances. In the end, the individual must decide what information and tactics are conducive to him or her and the area they are hunting.
Although there is no such thing as a strict set of rules you must adhere to when tracking a wounded deer, nevertheless, in order to avert a haphazard process that often brings about failure, you must create a process. As much as possible, learn how to knowingly and properly track a wounded deer, and create a standard and applicable tracking system/process that you will initially and consistently, with unwavering devotion, apply when you begin to track a wounded deer.
Think about the "system/process" as a set of assembly directions that came with a multi-component entertainment center. Although adhering to the step-by-step process might take longer, if you follow the directions by the numbers (chronological order), you will eventually have an assembled entertainment center standing before you (recovered deer). However, you might be experienced and skilled enough to shortcut the process and assemble the center without following each written step. But, should you make a mistake or become confused, you can always return to the directions (system/process). Skilled or not, if you do not follow any or some of the directions (steps), and/or you perform the wrong shortcuts, the odds of a having a successful assembly are against you (lost deer).
When tracking a wounded deer, I loyally and initially adhere to a consolidated system/process that consists of several distinct components of information based on various types of known and suspected behavior of deer and the habitat I am hunting in. I also use certain instruments that I have always found to be extremely useful when tracking.
I am preparing to leave for a scheduled hunt. When I get back, I am going start individual threads on the various phases of tracking that I believe are valid and well grounded. I hope other skilled trackers will participate. I am confident that any person whom truly desires to learn how to track in a manner that increases the odds in his or her favor, will benefit from the threads.
Until then, ponder this piece of information and see if you can conclude what the answer is:
"Tracking a wounded deer, fatal or not, begins long before you make the wounding shot."
The attached satellite photo of a section of the area I hunt is a clue to the answer. The marked activity is of the harvesting of the two deer that my nephew and I achieved and successfully tracked on Nov. 2 of this season. Yes, we (my crew) use satellite photos to recon our hunting areas and to track wounded deer.
Edited by - c903 on 11/15/2002 17:44:51
11-15-2002, 03:33 PM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Earth City MO USA
Posts: 231
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
I say that yes, tracking starts before you leave the house! We have seen a few people shooting deer in the rain with archery equipment and losing blood trails here on the boards. I think knowing the forecasted conditions is important for this very reason. You have to ask yourself if you make a marginal shot, how much time am I gonna have to find this deer? With rain washing blood away, you might not have much time.
Anyway, looking forward to the threads.
From the map, it appears the buck ran back to his bedding area, where he feels safe. So knowing the bedding areas can help you recover a buck. It also looks like the doe was doing the same.
--Jim
Anyway, looking forward to the threads.
From the map, it appears the buck ran back to his bedding area, where he feels safe. So knowing the bedding areas can help you recover a buck. It also looks like the doe was doing the same.
--Jim
11-15-2002, 03:52 PM
#3
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 391
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
Thanks c903. I'm looking forward to your posts. This is only my 2nd year deer hunting & I have yet to take a shot. I've only had the opportunity to help track one time. We followed the trail of a doe nearly 250 yards from where she was shot and lost the trail in a wide open, well manicured, closely mown field. We searched several trails that split off from where we lost good sign but never found her. I've always wondered what we could have done to find her and where she might have gone. I can't wait to learn from what you have to share.
11-15-2002, 06:04 PM
#6
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Dover, PA USA
Posts: 5,497
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
c903,
I'm looking forward to your upcoming threads.....I also hope I can contribute to them.
I'm ALWAYS hoping to learn something new, and you certainly can't argue about the topic.....if there is a single topic more important on this forum than tracking right now I can't think of it.
I'm looking forward to your upcoming threads.....I also hope I can contribute to them.
I'm ALWAYS hoping to learn something new, and you certainly can't argue about the topic.....if there is a single topic more important on this forum than tracking right now I can't think of it.
11-16-2002, 11:40 AM
#8
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: East Yapank NY USA
Posts: 3,457
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
great post C903, You have to know where they want to be and where they will feel safe. If they had a plan before they where hit, they may very continue on that plan. Knowing what the plan was can be key in finding them.
Here is a good question, as far as where a hit deer may bed.
I have developed different plans depending on whether a deer was hit in mourning or hit in the evening.
What can be a difference? and Why?
Here is a good question, as far as where a hit deer may bed.
I have developed different plans depending on whether a deer was hit in mourning or hit in the evening.
What can be a difference? and Why?
11-18-2002, 12:52 PM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: comstock park mi USA
Posts: 22
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
11-18-2002, 01:33 PM
#10
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: SW Michigan
Posts: 1,906
RE: Tracking a wounded deer starts before you shoot
Interesting post, as I too am often called to help track. Although I think you skipped the first part, and that's know all the elements to your quary before you pursue.
Know how to track a deer without blood...know where they sleep, where they eat, which trails they use at certain times of the year with certain winds and most certainly where they feel safe. Safe havens don't have to be bedding areas, bedding areas offer much more than safety.
I personally believe if hunters spent more time devoted to tracking during the offseason, that not only would they see more deer but more deer would be recovered. Unfortunately, I just lost a monster due to "circumstances beyond control" (see my post), so I won't add much more to my humble pie...
Know how to track a deer without blood...know where they sleep, where they eat, which trails they use at certain times of the year with certain winds and most certainly where they feel safe. Safe havens don't have to be bedding areas, bedding areas offer much more than safety.
I personally believe if hunters spent more time devoted to tracking during the offseason, that not only would they see more deer but more deer would be recovered. Unfortunately, I just lost a monster due to "circumstances beyond control" (see my post), so I won't add much more to my humble pie...