i got opening day blues =[

[heathcoerracin]

so today was alabamas gun opener,started off slow and cold. Well as the day went on and the temps warmed up, so did our drives. Well about 1:30, to make a long story short, after talkin to a guy who had just seen a big buck, i turned around to see an absolute giant for alabama crossin the road. After 5 shots from my benelli, i saw him go down in the brush. First hunt with my new gun too. Well, as we tracked it, even though blood was squirting out of him and looked like there was someone pourin the blood out, it stopped, stone cold. At the end of the day, i have no buck and no backstrap =[

I would love to go look for him 2mora, but being that my truck is broke down and had to bum a ride today, i cant. Im going to try to go and look asap as i get my truck fixed. Any ideas, suggestions on how/where i should look? I know he's hurt bad and that he's dead.

[stcif]

I wish I could give some good advice, but really can't. I lost an 8 point this year. I hate that feeling. A few suggestions -

1. tracking dogs if available and legal, that is the best bet. 2. check out the book called "Finding Wounded Deer" by John Trout Sr., it is a good book and just about anybody can get something out of it.

3. Just comb the woods in an organized manner, like a grid search, the more eyes, the better.

Best of luck.

[Illinois59]

Found this post while searching blood tracking dogs. Some real good information on training a blood dog can also be found on the United Blood trackers web site. They also have a listing of tracking dogs. None for MS but several in La and Al for those near the line. http://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/

Good luck.