Throw Me a Bone

[armyguy2011]

So, last night I arrow my first buck ever. He looked to be a solid 8 with big body. I hunt a 50 acre field of cut corn and uncut winter wheat. So, my hopes of tracking him down were really high. I found no blood, but did find a blood covered arrow. Spent all day tracking only to come up with a 100yd blood trail and no deer. What gives?

[stevebeilgard]

keep looking in the general direction he was headed. 100 yards is nothing for a real well shot buck. in fact, 1/4 mile is more like it and even more if you hit him in the paunch. sure, your arrow has blood, but what kind, color, and bubbles? you have a lot more search time ahead of you. good luck. and don't forget the dogs if it's legal.

hey, welcome to the forums.

[buckee]

Maybe a moderator could move this over to the Bowhunting room.

In the meantime, like Steve said, keep looking.

What did he do when he ran away after the shot? did he bolt and run fast, or did he hunch up and trot or walk off slower.?

Was this 100 yard trail in the open field, or in the bush? If it was open field, check the nearest cover. If it was in the bush, check the nearest heavy cover from the last blood sign, and if nothing there, start doing a grid search about 200-300 yds x 200-300 yrds from the last blood sign.

If he's hit fatally chances are he won't go uphill. He will try, but then change his mind and cut off downhill to the right or left.

Just a few tricks I've learned, and I'm sure others can add to it.