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Blood Trail help needed
I was out today and had what I judged a 30 yard broadside shot on a WT buck late this afternoon. I let the shot fly and heard a thud, sounded like I pegged a tree but the buck turned and ran up the hill. He didn't go maybe 75 yards and it appeared he was having trouble and wasn't sure if he should continue up hill or come back down.
I watched him carry on a little ways and lost sight of him so I went to where he stood and looked for my arrow. There is was in the dirt with no a speck of blood but a few hairs stuck in the vanes. Thought I maybe missed high or low but I was sure he looked hurt so I began to look for signs of blood.
Nothing at first then 25-30 yards and I see this
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps9a42c74e.jpg
I continue and see more
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...pscde4c4a2.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...psf06c5c43.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...psc90b05ed.jpg
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps44bd8baf.jpg
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
any idea where the arrow entered
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
i'd say you hit a lung.
it's kinda hard to see the blood spray very clearly though.
he's leaking no matter what.
i take it you haven't found him?
you didn't really mention.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
NO, more blood and more blood then I spot him, he sees me but he is bedded down and looks to be bleeding from the mouth and I figured it's just a matter of time. So I backed off to let him quietly pass.
Make a couple of calls and pat myself on the back for my first big game bow kill.
Head back up the hill where he bedded and he's gone and I spot another bed just 10 feet away but he's gotten up from there and disappeared. So many tracks in the area I don't know which are his and the blood has stopped.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
ive seen leg shots fling blood around before.. hard to tell its a lung shot unless see bubbling blood around.
- on the good side i see snow in the pix- as long as it doesnt snow anymore overnite, you will find him.
good luck- it happends!
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
No blood on the arrow, no deer in the freezer.
Likely just clipped him and it's a superficial wound and a little blood on the snow looks like a lot. Looks like dark blood, as well, not from lungs. If you'd hit shoulder or leg bone and the arrow had bounced back, you probably wouldn't have dirt on the broadhead.
How far did you trail him in the snow?
No range finder?
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Keep trying to post more photos and info but this web site sucks sometimes.
If I could get the last photo up it looked like he was bleeding from the mouth based on where the blood was in relation to how he was bedded.
I know blood can look worst then it is.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
If it was bleeding from the mouth you did not nick it. The light spray on the snow I would have thought from lung, unless blood on face was from licking wounds on belly ?
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Looks like a dark veinous type blood trail, lung blood should be quite a bit lighter and frothy. If you didn't happen to see where your arrow hit the sound you heard was probably a shoulder blade hit. Regardless he's bleeding quite well and shouldn't go far if you haven't found him year. If you can I always back off for a period of hours if the hit is marginal. Even leaving him overnight might be okay with the cold weather. Better than continually pushing him out of beds. Since he is bedding down right away I would suggest he's not going far. Hey at least you have tracking snow, on the Island here rain usually washes bloodtrails away very quickly. Good luck in your search !
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
igojuone
NO, more blood and more blood then I spot him, he sees me but he is bedded down and looks to be bleeding from the mouth and I figured it's just a matter of time. So I backed off to let him quietly pass.
Make a couple of calls and pat myself on the back for my first big game bow kill.
Head back up the hill where he bedded and he's gone and I spot another bed just 10 feet away but he's gotten up from there and disappeared. So many tracks in the area I don't know which are his and the blood has stopped.
Its not lung blood , if it was he'd be dead in the bed.He probably 'shook' like a wet dog. He laid down 'that' quick , he's hurting.hopefully it doesnt snow over night , he'll be laying down again right quick , hopefully he gets stiff and too sore to start travelling. Trail him like he's alive and you might get a finnishing shot in on him tomarrow.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ambush
No blood on the arrow, no deer in the freezer.
Likely just clipped him and it's a superficial wound and a little blood on the snow looks like a lot. Looks like dark blood, as well, not from lungs. If you'd hit shoulder or leg bone and the arrow had bounced back, you probably wouldn't have dirt on the broadhead.
How far did you trail him in the snow?
No range finder?
good point.
i forgot that there was no blood on the arrow.
and i was thinking those sprays looked like they may have been from the deer snorting up blood.
but if he was just nicked, i guess he's maybe just bleeding.
strange that he was walking strangely and bedding down shortly though.
and if he was bleeding from the mouth, it has to be more than just a superficial wound.
i'd say get out tomorrow in the light and have a thorough search of the area.
shitty though, they are calling for a heavy snowfall.
good luck.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
I am assuming that you have hit one lung. You said it looked like he was bleeding from his mouth.ung must of been involved or there would be no way that blood is coming out of his mouth..
Go back to where you last saw him, start doing big arcs from that last point, til you find the right tracks with blood. Go very slowly so you don't get confused by the tracks. Take a roll of bright flagging tape and put a small piece down everytime you find blood...
I think he is dead, you just have to follow the right path, til you find him...
If I was you, I would have a bite to eat, get a buddy and go back and search tonight, by flaslight or headlamp.. I would be concerned about the snow covering his tracks or the coyotes eating it before you you get back therr in the morning...
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
i hope u find ur deer looks like hes leaking good
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
take a rifle with you tomorrow.
fair chance you might find some coyotes nearby, if not on your deer.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Wish I had help but best I can do is spend the day out there tomorrow.
This is the bed he made last.
http://i848.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps38082b19.jpg
I realize now I should have stayed and watched him rather then back off, as soon as he stood I could have put another one in him.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
The amount of blood spray doesn't make sense given the arrow wasn't covered in blood over the entire length. That's blood either spraying out of the chest cavity(heart shot) or spraying out of the mouth. Could have been a neck shot hitting vertebrae or facial bones but usually hitting the backbone makes them drop instantly. If it was a heart/lung shot he'd likely be dead by now. How long did you wait until you tracked him the second time? Shoulder hit would make the loud thwack sound you heard but arrow should penetrate and stay logged in animal and break off at some point if it doesn't pass through. Regardless you would see blood on the arrow. Makes me think it was a nicking neck shot that clipped the esophagus and he's clearing the blood out of his wind pipe. Wish I was there to help you out! Good luck!
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Just saw you last post photo and all the blood is at the region of his bed where his head and neck would be confirming to me that it was a head or high neck shot which explains the blood sprays in the snow as he was clearing his airway as it filled with blood. Judging but the amount of blood I'd say you clipped a major vein regardless and should find him when you start tracking again.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
rocksteady
I am assuming that you have hit one lung.
If you got one lung and the arrow fell out, there would be blood on the arrow. No blood on the arrow usually means a peripheral hit.
The pic with the blood drizzled in a sharp line looks like a low, small vein and the spray is when he hits the ground hard and the blood on his fur shakes off.
Hair stuck in the vanes means the arrow passed through. No blood means not through vitals.
Does the arrow feel greasy?
Hopefully you get lucky and get your first archery buck. Don't give up yet.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
I made a couple of calls probably 20-30 minutes before I headed back out. It wasn't a shoulder hit the arrow was found beyond where he stood.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Ambush
If you got one lung and the arrow fell out, there would be blood on the arrow. No blood on the arrow usually means a peripheral hit.
The pic with the blood drizzled in a sharp line looks like a low, small vein and the spray is when he hits the ground hard and the blood on his fur shakes off.
Hair stuck in the vanes means the arrow passed through. No blood means not through vitals.
Does the arrow feel greasy?
Hopefully you get lucky and get your first archery buck. Don't give up yet.
Arrow doesn't feel greasy and the first photos of sprayed blood are of where I could see him and he never hit the ground in those spots.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
I'll post more tomorrow, hopefully with some photos of him as well.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Looks like you hit him up front judging by the last pic, lots of blood there, he's gotta bleed out from that one. Looks like you might have slashed him. I hope you can pick up the track again. Good luck.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
My opinion I don't think you hit the plural cavity. The traces of blood look more in the front and centre of his mass I might think low brisket hit or with the small streamer of blood you have and the light spray low front of the neck shot. Any cougars in the area? They would likely find it before you do. Good luck.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
duallie
i'd say you hit a lung.
it's kinda hard to see the blood spray very clearly though.
he's leaking no matter what.
i take it you haven't found him?
you didn't really mention.
how do you get lung outa that blood ...i dont see no foamy blood or air bubbles ...
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
igojuone
Arrow doesn't feel greasy and the first photos of sprayed blood are of where I could see him and he never hit the ground in those spots.
If it's not greasy, it's probably neck. By hitting the ground hard , I meant with his feet, not his body. I should have said that better.
Good luck tomorrow. If he keeps moving he may keep bleeding, but as others have said, the coyotes will be on that trail real quick. Best blood trailers in the business.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
without seeing where the arrow went in you will only be guessing where he was hit..unless the blood was foammy or you were there to look closely at blood coulor..
for all u no ..he way only have a grazed wound ...ive seen alot more blood than that before and deer was never located
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Striksfromabove
Looks like a dark veinous type blood trail, lung blood should be quite a bit lighter and frothy. If you didn't happen to see where your arrow hit the sound you heard was probably a shoulder blade hit. Regardless he's bleeding quite well and shouldn't go far if you haven't found him year. If you can I always back off for a period of hours if the hit is marginal. Even leaving him overnight might be okay with the cold weather. Better than continually pushing him out of beds. Since he is bedding down right away I would suggest he's not going far. Hey at least you have tracking snow, on the Island here rain usually washes bloodtrails away very quickly. Good luck in your search !
I agree. If you hit soft tissue, you wouldn't have heard a thud similar to what you describe as 'hitting a tree'. You also said there was hair stuck on the vanes, but no blood on the shaft. You also said that you found the arrow beyond where the deer was hit, so it's not likely you hit the heavy part of the shoulder. If you hit the shoulder plate or glanced off a leg and the arrow passed through, hopefully the blades cut an artery or vein big enough for him to eventually bleed out. Because it's on snow, it looks like a lot of blood, but it's really not that heavy. You should still have some blood to follow for quite a ways though, unless you ended up following the wrong tracks.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
hotload is going to bring his dog tomorrow and we'll see what happens.
Thanks for all the thoughts and help.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
igojuone
hotload is going to bring his dog tomorrow and we'll see what happens.
Thanks for all the thoughts and help.
hotload is a top notch guy!! Best of luck on your recovery, finger's crossed you guys find the buck!!
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Having hotloads dog just upped your chances 100 fold. From what I have read tbat dog knows how to track...
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
igojuone
hotload is going to bring his dog tomorrow and we'll see what happens.
Thanks for all the thoughts and help.
Perfect! Looking forward to seeing the pics tomorrow. Hopefully the 'yotes don't get to it before you.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
good luck . with all that blood i would guess he'll go down
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Looks like he was hit in the brisket somewhere, lower neck, forward of the leg. Good blood trail and bedding pool.
If you have a dog, you'll find him, no worries.
We look forward to pics!
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
good luck tomorrow Im sure you will find him not to far from the last bedding area he is bleeding pretty damn good!,
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
same happened to me this year at 80 yards with a 7-08, WT hit hunched up, took off for his death run or so I thought. 5hrs and 1km later the blood dried up to dime size, no snow, entered into grasslands, searched 2 more days, no sign. Those deer are tough!!! Hope you find yours!!
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Curious the type of broadhead used?
Snowing heavy right now, but you should be able to follow your footprints to that last bedding location......dog can take over from there.
Good luck tracking in the morning.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
at least you marked the area.
there's likely to be alot more snow by tomorrow.
hopefully that helps keep the scent down through the night.
look forward to pics to see what the outcome was.
let's see that pooch at work.
good luck you guys.
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Re: Blood Trail help needed
Quote:
Originally Posted by
proguide66
Its not lung blood , if it was he'd be dead in the bed.He probably 'shook' like a wet dog. He laid down 'that' quick , he's hurting.hopefully it doesnt snow over night , he'll be laying down again right quick , hopefully he gets stiff and too sore to start travelling. Trail him like he's alive and you might get a finnishing shot in on him tomarrow.
Well agreed. One thing that I would add, is judging by your photos, you trailed it until it got dark. When that happens, you can continue to search, but slowly and quietly as possible. One of those led head lights work great. Keeps the hands free and when you get close, the deer will likely be bedded down and those eyes will glow when your light hits them. From then on, you can maybe sit for a while and wait, or slowly work your way closer for a finishing shot.
I had this exact scenario happen to me, just 2 days ago. Arrowed a buck late in the day, but shot hit just a little further back than I wanted. Waited for a while then tracked the deer as mentioned. Eventually got close enough for a double lung shot, which finished the animal in short order. My first shot had just nicked the liver. A fatal shot, but not near as fast as lung shots.
In any event, don't get discouraged. Just be patient and do your very best to find the animal asap. Good luck!