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MUST-WATCH FOR BOWHUNTERS - Blood Tracking Deer with Dogs

Nutterbuster

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Where the skys are so blue!


Above are parts 1 and 2 of a video interview with "Tracker John," a professional blood tracker with 4 decades of experience. As somebody with a pup who shows potential at trailing, it was very interesting. But I think it's worth a listen for anybody who shoves broadheads through deer.

Part 2 around 20 minutes in, they start talking about broadhead choice. I get beyond tired of the conversation, but in this case it was interesting the hear the thoughts of a man who has been on hundreds if not thousands of trails and who has a dispassionate, objective, strictly-business attitude when it comes to recovering deer. He doesn't even bow hunt anymore, just finds the deer other yahoos shot at.

For those not inclined to listen to the whole thing, his thoughts are:

  • shoulder and high hits generally do not have happy endings, regardless of what you hit them with
  • gut shot deer are generally very recoverable and he would much rather trail a deer hit too far back than too far forward
  • people shooting low KE setups (trad, youth) at whitetails would do well to shoot fixed COC heads
  • if you're shooting a modern compound or crossbow, a big hole becomes the priority, and he doesn't care if that big hole is made by a mech or a fixed head
  • people suck at knowing where they hit a deer
It was really interesting hearing his perspective. Also, spoiler alert, he's training that raven to fly around and look for dead deer while him and his bloodhound work the ground trail. Cool as heck
 
Truth for me, using the action cam this weekend. Idk if it'll pick up where the shot is or not but hope I can find out.
I kinda want to mount a gopro or tactacam to the mini for 2 reasons.

One, that's the only way I'll ever end up filming hunts. Not messing around with a camera and an arm. I may could be persuaded to use my phone on my tether for one angle and a tactacam for killin' angles.

Two, with a lighted nock it may be the difference in recovering 1 in 10-20 deer I shoot.
 
I kinda want to mount a gopro or tactacam to the mini for 2 reasons.

One, that's the only way I'll ever end up filming hunts. Not messing around with a camera and an arm. I may could be persuaded to use my phone on my tether for one angle and a tactacam for killin' angles.

Two, with a lighted nock it may be the difference in recovering 1 in 10-20 deer I shoot.

I'd consider wearing a go pro or tactacam on a head strap, assuming your scope isn't in the way of seeing where the arrow impacts. Most of the videos I've seen of cameras mounted to cross bows the camera jumps so much at the shot that it makes seeing the impact of the arrow difficult. Plus you naturally follow the deer with your head as it runs off, you have to remember to point the crossbow at it to record how the deer is acting after the shot.
 
I'd consider wearing a go pro or tactacam on a head strap, assuming your scope isn't in the way of seeing where the arrow impacts. Most of the videos I've seen of cameras mounted to cross bows the camera jumps so much at the shot that it makes seeing the impact of the arrow difficult. Plus you naturally follow the deer with your head as it runs off, you have to remember to point the crossbow at it to record how the deer is acting after the shot.
You aren’t wrong about it jumping. So far Ive figured that my shot needs to be at least 20 yards before the camera stops vibrating enough to to see where it hits. Now if I can just remember to point my bow at the deer as it runs off, there should at least be some entertainment value, lol.
 
I’m looking forward to watching this. Shane Simpson’s dog blood tracking videos “The Callie Chronicles” on YouTube has some amazing info as well including shot breakdowns using a VR app etc. Shane has some interesting takes on things like broadheads the utility of lighted nocks etc. after hundreds of dog tracks
 
After 5 days of looking he's either dead and gone or alive and needs to be hunted and shot again like the first arrow never happened IMO. Size aside, there's not much else to do

Shot October, 24th. Found December 3rd. A bit lucky, then again, perhaps a bit unlucky.

But, if he's dead...he's out there to be found.

 
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Man I could really use this dude right now.......
There are not very many trackers around me and I couldn't find one that would help me.......
Not sure where in western PA you are, but there's a NY organization called Deer Search with volunteer dog trackers who will come out to your call. Depending on the closest one to you maybe it's close enough they'll go to you? I have no idea if they can operate in other states (in NY you need a license to track deer with dogs) but maybe it's worth a try?
 
I'll shoot a 2" fixed head for sure if I can find one.

Or, I was just eyeballing a 3" swhacker....

Iron Will wides. Buck I shot jumped once when hit and stood there under me bleeding out. Fell over dead 5 yards from base of tree


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