Tracking A Wounded Or Fatally Shot Deer
By Alan Jackson
Tracking a deer that has been shot is sometimes a very tedious task. We hope to provide you with a few techniques, that will aid you in successfully finding your deer, whether it is mortally wounded or not.
You just shot your deer and you are quite sure it was a lethal shot. What do you do? Well it all depends on the circumstances. If you shot it with a bow, you better give it an hour or so, if you believe that it was a fatal shot. Give it a chance to bleed out. If it wasn't a fatal shot, give the deer 4 or 5 hours to rest, before you begin tracking it. If it is close to dark, leave it until the next morning.
Usually a wounded deer will only go a 100 or 200 yards or so if it has been shot, and sometimes a lot less then that. By giving the animal a chance to lay down, without the fear of being chased, it will stiffen up. Then when you go to find the deer, you will have a much better chance of finishing it off.
The same thing applies to an animal that has been shot by a rifle or shotgun. Give it a bit of time if you think that it was a bad shot. The animal should be in shock so it shouldn't suffer to much.
Well now its time to find your deer.
I suggest whether you are alone or not, carry a roll of ribbon tape, florescent orange in color with you. First, tie a piece of ribbon tape on a branch or around a tree, at eye level, and as close to the spot that you were standing in, when you shot.
Now, proceed to the area that you shot at the deer from.
Look for evidence of a hit. Look for blood, look for hair, look for any evidence of a hit, in surrounding trees. Look for clipped off branches. Your bullet will snip off branches, that are in its' tragectory path, if it is a pass through. Look for the deers tracks.
You sometimes may have to look really hard, as a deer thats' been heart shot, or paunch shot, won't leave much evidence of a hit. A heart shot, if a high powered rifle is used, will often explode the heart, therefore the animal won't leave much of a blood trail, as there is no heart left, to pump the blood.
If you find any evidence of a hit, whether it be blood, hair or paunch, place a piece of ribbon, again at eye level. {By the way, a paunch shot, is identified by the green color, that spills from the animals paunch or belly, it resembles grass that is usually digested}.
A paunch shot can also be identified by a very raunchy smell. So take notice of any strong smell in the air.
Other things to look for, are lung tissue. The color of any blood found, can help you in determining what kind of shot, was placed. Bright red blood, would indicate a brisket hit, dark red blood would indicate a lung or heart shot.
Then proceed to look in the direction that the deer was traveling. Slowly move along, until you find your next evidence, and repeat the ribbon ceremony. Look for evidence on trees or brush as you go. Often times a broken branch or a spot of blood will be found on a branch or on the side of a tree or rock, instead of on the ground.
You may have to get on your hands and knees to find the evidence, that is always there, but often times, well hidden. After a while, if you tied enough ribbons, you can look back behind you and this will help to determine the direction the deer was heading. This helps in finding the next bit of evidence.
If you are very thorough, you will eventually find your deer.
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