The rut is on! It frosted a little last night, supposed to be 29 tonite (thats cold for Florida!) heavy frost. I shot the biggest 8 point I've ever seen around here this morning from 230 yds with my trusty Ruger .30-06. It knocked it down momentarily and I found a huge puddle of foamy blood where it stood by a fence it ran to, that should be a good sign. Tracked it to another puddle 10 yds away, then nothing! Im talking about two major piles of bright red blood. Followed its hoof prints for another 100yds (it just rained, so it wasn't that hard), with a speck of blood here and there, found two spots where it layed down, but I cant find the thing. I feel terrible for not getting the meat and for wounding him. I'll try again tommorow in good light, since I got the neighbors permission to be on his land. As I looked out over the field eating supper, I saw another one that must have been the grandaddy. He was 300 yds out, and I'm not that good of a shot! Plus, it was towards a dirt road. Anybody else ever lost the big one?
- Thread starter JBMac
- Start date
larry@stinescorner
Well-known Member
my friend lost one just like you described it . I dont know much about hunting, but I remember a hunter telling him that he should have waited a while before tracking it, because when you push it tracking it you can lose it and if you wait it lays down,
mnoliverguy
Member
Go back tommorrow to where you were standing when you shot it.Look for were it ran and go from there.Start by making a circle and get bigger as you go they usually don"t go as far as you think. Next time don"t push the animal it is natural for it to try to get away. You have to go slow and you could easily mis it if you don"t. Good luck, take your time and you will find that deer.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
I shot a deer once with a 44 magnum. Went right thru it's shoulder and out the other side. It ran about 400 yards across a big fleid until it stopped and someone else shot it with a 12 gauge. They pulled the trigger and saw it's belly. 1st and last time I hunted deer with a rifle. Never really saw the sport or hunting skills in having to shoot more that 50 yrds or so.
Hope you find it though.
Dave
Hope you find it though.
Dave
Georgetown
Member
I had one jump in a pocket in a creek once after I'd shot it. I looked all over he11 for it, and finally saw a patch of fur and one antler tine sticking out of the water.
It was a mess to field dress.
It was a mess to field dress.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Foamy blood suggests a lung shot and the animal is not long for the world. Clear bright red puddles lean more toward a gut shot or broken leg and who knows how far he could run. Did he look injured when he ran ? Given that he fell down and then laid down later I suspect you will find him not far from where you shot him. Check out the cover, that is probably where he was headed. Let us know how it goes. If it is below freezing and you find him in the morning I wouldn't worry about the meat being spoiled.
Traditional Farmer
Well-known Member
- Location
- Virginia
Your first mistake was to try to find it too quickly it would have most likely died where you found it laid down.Sounds like a lung shot so it can't be too far.A good little dog like a Rat terrier or Jack Russell would find it in a hurry.
old
Well-known Member
- Location
- Camdenton Missouri
One like that you glue your butt to the stand for 30 minute or more no matter what. Then and only then if you do not see it move do you get out of the stand. an hour is better. I have not lost one YET but I do have others that hunt my land that have and I have tracked for miles because they do not wait long enough
That's all good advice. I did let it sit for an hour, my dad tought me that was a minimum. I was a nervous wreck! It had a pronounced limp when it ran into the hedge row. I'll go to the last bit of blood I found and take it slow. I'm afraid maybe I hit a leg. I did find a round piece of bone in one of the spots where it layed down. My rifle is sighted in at 200 yds and I held a little high, but I had alot of adrenaline pumping and the crosshairs were jumping around a bit. It hit the ground and then got up and ran when the bullet got there. The foamy blood is keeping hope alive that I got at least one lung and there is no unnecessary suffering.
I learned a trick that works better than you'll believe. Wait 'til dark and use a Coleman lantern to locate the blood drops. Gotta carry the lantern by the side post to get the light where you need it. Fingers will suffer. You'll actually see blood spots that will disappear when you shine a flashlight on them. I've tracked them across a plowed field using a lantern after dark. No good in water, of course. Also - drop a quarter sized piece of toilet paper on a blood drop when you find one. You can look back and it will help keep you lined up with the direction of travel.
Hope you find him.
Paul
Hope you find him.
Paul
I often hunt a field surrounded by woods. Wounded deer will often follow a trail where other deer travel. Even if there is a minimal or no blood trail, I will follow any trails I find as far into the woods as I can. I carry a bunch of small washers with a couple inches of orange tape to throw down where I find blood spots. Especially useful to track where trail is sparse and you're tracking after dark with a hand light. Very easy to loose direction when you're working in a small circle of light. Also carry the brightest lights I can find - Maglites with white LED bulb.
Where I live, a 300yd. shot across a soybean/corn field is a yearly happening. I prefer those shots to close ones simply because the deer have no idea you are anywhere around and it gives you all the time you need to get in good shooting position on a rest and carefully line up the shot. It seems like close (under 50 yds.) shots nearly always mean the deer busts you and then you are taking a quick shot, which I don't like. No, I don't use a carbon suit and all that stuff either, too much cost and trouble to suit me.
Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
You did everything right. The right rifle, the right caliber,the right zero, the right hold. You had the right amount of adrenaline pumping and the cross hairs always jump around. I am 50 and killed my first deer and pronghorn when I was 14, and have hunted big game ever since. If the day ever comes when I don't get excited and can hold the perfect sight picture I am going to quit.
I never found any value in waiting 30 minutes or whatever, I take after them right away, espically if I am running out of daylight. But I am not saying those that do are doing it wrong.
Go find that buck!
I never found any value in waiting 30 minutes or whatever, I take after them right away, espically if I am running out of daylight. But I am not saying those that do are doing it wrong.
Go find that buck!
Ive helped a friend track a wounded deer.If I had to do it again I would use a dog.A dog can track an autombile.I had one that found me 2 miles from home.He had never been there before.Dogs have a very strong memory.If my Border Collie sees me pick up my check book or count money in my wallet he runs to the door.He knows I am going to use the truck.He loves to ride.
Blackhole49
Well-known Member
- Location
- White Lake MI
I use toilet paper to mark the trail when tracking. It works great during the day and even better at night. Way cheaper and lighter than washers. And yes, I have had them get away. Usually with the bow though. TP will allow you to look back and get an excellent line on them.
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