Tracking mystery

[10essee]

It was a tough shot. Just remember it happens and makes you sick and keeps you awake at night. Some here act like they never had a bad shot. Well if ya aint shootin ya aint killin. Just remember aim for the far armpit, keep your blades razor sharp practice with them on 3 d targets at all angles from your saddle. The higher you go up the more angle you have causing a smaller vital sweet spot. As far as getting down on the blood trail just relax for a half hour minimum unless you hear it go down dead. Just listen and wait look for land marks keep using your call then imprint it in your mind the shot angle the escape route and the wind direction. Have a hank of toilet paper handy to mark last bloods, call your buddy if you need to track a blood trail you can learn a bunch from buddies. finally when tracking do not rush look around find the arrow first inspect the arrow for fat, guts, color of hair, blood and smell the arrow it should tell the story. It will die so dont give up on it right away for sake of scaring deer out of the area they will be back the does come back right away, the bucks will follow. while tracking look to last blood look at the gate of the tracks this is where a tracking stick can be used keep positive look to water, streams, swamps, rivers , lakes, ponds and heavy cover because that is where they will go. sorry it happened but it happens.

I do believe most of the guys that had a negative response was about him “taking” a bad shot not “making” a bad shot. Things can and do happen to even the best hunter taking only the highest percentage shots but when a new(possibly not sure) hunter takes a purposely bad shot to get an arrow in one then that’s when they need to be taught the best angles and shots to take. Just my opinion on this.

 

[dlist777]

I do believe most of the guys that had a negative response was about him “taking” a bad shot not “making” a bad shot. Things can and do happen to even the best hunter taking only the highest percentage shots but when a new(possibly not sure) hunter takes a purposely bad shot to get an arrow in one then that’s when they need to be taught the best angles and shots to take. Just my opinion on this.

This. I should have been a bit more measured. I have definitely made a bad shot before. I was just criticizing the shot choice. But, I should have been more constructive and less a$$hole-ish. An arrow is such a fickle tool. So many things can go wrong.

To the OP: in the future just try to stick to the highest % shots. Broadside and quartering away in your comfortable range. Even besides the ethics, you'll do better if you pass on the marginal shots and hail mary's and just try to remain undetected to hunt that spot again.

The straight on shot like that is just a heart-breaker. I hunt with a xbow. At 15 yards I can stack arrows right next to each other. I still wouldn't take this shot. The angle is just bad and the margin of error is just too small. It's kind of a one-lung special.

No offense intended. This is how we get better.

 

[BTaylor]

I do believe most of the guys that had a negative response was about him “taking” a bad shot not “making” a bad shot. Things can and do happen to even the best hunter taking only the highest percentage shots but when a new(possibly not sure) hunter takes a purposely bad shot to get an arrow in one then that’s when they need to be taught the best angles and shots to take. Just my opinion on this.

I agree with everything in your post except "takes a purposely bad shot". Maybe it is just my experiences but most new hunters and especially those without a really experienced and successful mentor dont "purposely" bad shots because they havent yet learned what a bad shot is. There are traps with post like the OP that many of us experienced hunters fall into and that is that we started early in life and/or had really good mentors that taught us along the way. The other is that most folks that have hunted for some time have seen slob hunters that lack both character and ethics so we can get a little sharp with the criticism. I've been guilty more than once. TV and social media have made "ethics" a catch word or phrase and it is sad to see how it gets used anymore. An ethical shot is a shot the hunter has practiced and knows he and his equipment are cappable of making. There are plenty of guys that can make shots I would not consider taking, it doesnt make their shot unethical. You are spot on that the OP needs to be taught but that can certainly be done without challenging his ethics.

 

[neonomad]

There’s the “if you ain’t shooting you ain’t killing” guys, and the “best to be 20 yards broadside guys”, and I’ll add one vote for the latter group. IMO nothing I do for fun should have a high probability of making an animal walk around suffering for 1 day - 3 months. These are the stakes in the game we play.

 

[Bigterp]

I don’t know where your at in your journey as a bow hunter & I’m not gonna pile on. Sounds like you recognize that it was a low percentage shot & would love to have that one back. I totally changed my approach, setup & preparation after taking a poor shot at a really nice buck. I still regret that shot & wouldn’t do so again, but at the time it took that experience to make me a more efficient/ experienced bow hunter. It’s really tough to pass on marginal shots initially, until you see the benefits of great shot selection & a pile of dead deer. Nature is an excellent teacher & this is a tough lesson. Coyotes, wolves & bears are much less compassionate to game animals than good hunters intend to be. Bow shots on deer in low light & or strong angles when it would be difficult to get both lungs, should be avoided. But experience teaches that. Hope you’re able to take something from this tough shot & incorporate it into your process. Keep at it, if you have taken enough shots at game you will from time to time be in this position, learn & move on.

 

[farwellhunter]

This. I should have been a bit more measured. I have definitely made a bad shot before. I was just criticizing the shot choice. But, I should have been more constructive and less a$$hole-ish. An arrow is such a fickle tool. So many things can go wrong.

To the OP: in the future just try to stick to the highest % shots. Broadside and quartering away in your comfortable range. Even besides the ethics, you'll do better if you pass on the marginal shots and hail mary's and just try to remain undetected to hunt that spot again.

The straight on shot like that is just a heart-breaker. I hunt with a xbow. At 15 yards I can stack arrows right next to each other. I still wouldn't take this shot. The angle is just bad and the margin of error is just too small. It's kind of a one-lung special.

No offense intended. This is how we get better.

No apology needed. I'm getting the feedback I had hoped for and expected with this great group of hunters. We're all resources to each other. We all should be chastised when needed, but also taught so as to further our experience and knowledge. I knew this was a risk and counted on my equipment, knowledge and the moment of truth to test myself. I have toiled for 3 days, searching the woods each of those days and I have learned. Learned through my own endless thoughts and am so happy I had the humility to teachout to this group in an obviously embarrassing moment.

I'm 51 years old, hunting for 41 of those on a family private piece. Only in the past 3 years through the hunting beast, Eberhart and saddle hunter wealth of info have I gotten onto big deer. My regiment and tactics have advanced in a hugely accelerated manner. Every sit I learn. Every practice shot all year I learn. I'll do my best to move on now and bring more honor to our sport.

I cant thank you all enough for taking time to add your thoughts. Good and critcal.

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[farwellhunter]

I don’t know where your at in your journey as a bow hunter & I’m not gonna pile on. Sounds like you recognize that it was a low percentage shot & would love to have that one back. I totally changed my approach, setup & preparation after taking a poor shot at a really nice buck. I still regret that shot & wouldn’t do so again, but at the time it took that experience to make me a more efficient/ experienced bow hunter. It’s really tough to pass on marginal shots initially, until you see the benefits of great shot selection & a pile of dead deer. Nature is an excellent teacher & this is a tough lesson. Coyotes, wolves & bears are much less compassionate to game animals than good hunters intend to be. Bow shots on deer in low light & or strong angles when it would be difficult to get both lungs, should be avoided. But experience teaches that. Hope you’re able to take something from this tough shot & incorporate it into your process. Keep at it, if you have taken enough shots at game you will from time to time be in this position, learn & move on.

Agreed! Well said and thank you. You know as I now do, these thoughts will never leave me and I will be better for it. The hunting community deserves that!

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[Mschmeiske]

I’m gonna go with one lung. I was with a kid a couple years back that shot a nice buck, but he almost immediately started tracking it....the deer went 3/4 of a mile! upon field dressing it, he got one lung and just nicked the other one. I’m sure he’ll die, but I just hope you find him and learn a valuable lesson. Best of luck!

 

[Allegheny Tom]

Good. Makes sense to me. Will certainly re-educate myself on angles and dilligence.

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You need to watch the videos on the Masterpiece Targets websites. Fantastic insight and demonstrations on real carcass vitals and shot locations.
https://www.masterpiecearcherytargets.com/videos

Not to beat up on you, but that was a crappy choice of shot angles. I made the same mistake in my early days...never found the doe. Learn from your mistakes, and more importantly, don't repeat them.

 

[mattsteg]

I'll try to keep my thoughts nice..

My initial thought is why would anyone ever take a shot without a chance at penetrating both lungs?

My next thought is I bet the deer had a horrible night of suffering and is likely suffering from a single lung hit..

I don't mean to sound like this, but It irks me with the lack of respect for our game some shots present, with this shot being one of them. The absolute BEST case scenario, imo, is a spine shot that drops him and i'm allowed to put another arrow in him quickly to minimize suffering. The second best option is the arrow catches the inside of one lung and then some of the heart as well and dispatches him quickly.. In my opinion, there really isn't a good third best option.

I'd also add to that - why no follow up shot?? Sou ds like the deer was hanging out for 20 minutes within 35-40 yards after you shot him? If you feel you put an arrow in him...take any follow up you can get. We've all made mistakes of one sort or other. Lots of good lessons to take from this.

 

[gameflogger]

Job 38:41 "Who provides food for the crow when its young ones cry to God and wander around in need of food? (GOD'S WORD)

Don’t beat yourself up too bad brother, as everyone else has said learn from your mistakes. I will tell you though no matter how experienced you are sometimes crap happens. I have made shots that I thought were perfect and never retrieved the animal and I have made horrible shots where I hit animals in the butt and they bled out in 15 yards from a rear artery hit. Just try to find solace in the fact that the Creator that made these animals also controls the big picture.

 

[farwellhunter]

I'd also add to that - why no follow up shot?? Sou ds like the deer was hanging out for 20 minutes within 35-40 yards after you shot him? If you feel you put an arrow in him...take any follow up you can get. We've all made mistakes of one sort or other. Lots of good lessons to take from this.

Believe me, I bobbed and twisted in my saddle to find any decent window through the cedar trees with light fading. 6 o'clock position real thick cover in the swamp. Wanted to push a hail mary, but also didn't want to spook him off (thinking I would have a blood trail).

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[slonstdy]

I'm going to take a different approach to this. We all agree it was a bad angle and poor choice to shoot and I'm just as guilty as the rest of doing similar things early in my bow hunting life so I'm not going to beat the horse further.
Aside from injuring and causing undo suffering here's a more beneficial reason to not spray and pray on a low percentage shot - you won't blow that spot! That's right, if the deer doesn't know you're there and doesn't have a bad experience in the area it will feel comfortable and continue to use those trails and will pass by another day to possibly offer you the ideal broadside shot. I know it's tough to let them walk but use those moments to study the animal's reaction to the naturally occurring noises and happenings of the woods to help you become a more proficient hunter.

 

[Alan zanona]

I do believe most of the guys that had a negative response was about him “taking” a bad shot not “making” a bad shot. Things can and do happen to even the best hunter taking only the highest percentage shots but when a new(possibly not sure) hunter takes a purposely bad shot to get an arrow in one then that’s when they need to be taught the best angles and shots to take. Just my opinion on this.

Boy there were a few pretty hard comments. I will not say unwarranted but I hope they do not discourage this type of post. I am new to hunting snd appreciate all replies as a teaching moment.

 

[ImThere]

Boy there were a few pretty hard comments. I will not say unwarranted but I hope they do not discourage this type of post. I am new to hunting snd appreciate all replies as a teaching moment.

That was one of the nice posts. I think you quoted the wrong one.


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[neonomad]

Boy there were a few pretty hard comments. I will not say unwarranted but I hope they do not discourage this type of post. I am new to hunting snd appreciate all replies as a teaching moment.

Adding to what’s already been mentioned, I think one of the most tempting shots for a new hunter is quartered towards. Partly because sometimes you can’t even tell it’s happening, and also because you can see clearly that spot you’ve been told to shoot. But as that deer starts to quarter to you, shoulder armor starts eclipsing internal vitals, and your probability of lethality starts dropping. Quartered away increases chances of single lung and passing through less vital material, but the armor isn’t there and there’s still a good chance of a kill. When I see quarter to on tv/youtube I cringe every time.

 

[mattsteg]

Boy there were a few pretty hard comments. I will not say unwarranted but I hope they do not discourage this type of post. I am new to hunting snd appreciate all replies as a teaching moment.

Yeah my comments and I'm sure those of others come from either our own past screwups/lessons or those of others we know...

 

[wayne r]

All I can add is use a trained dog and team to follow up when you have a less than perfect hit, this can make the difference between recovery/dispatch and a non recovery. everyone should call a team in if they have a less than perfect shot site, time is on your side to wait not go in and bump a deer or any other animal for that matter, if left the deer if hit good enough will lay down, it all depends how quickly on your actions,regards wayne

 

[DanielB89]

Boy there were a few pretty hard comments. I will not say unwarranted but I hope they do not discourage this type of post. I am new to hunting snd appreciate all replies as a teaching moment.

I agree, but, I do believe educating is always important. Now, the methods of educating always have to be watched and do your best to not belittle anyone. My opinion is all based off of respect for what we hunt. I love hunting. I love the challenge. But, I have a huge obligation to harvest the animal to minimize it's suffering. Absolutely, some times bad shots happen all we can do it practice and try to do better next time. Those shots should help us with our shot selection. I did not intent to offend in my reply. I just expressed my thoughts and given your responses, I do believe you've made a mental note to try to be more selective next time. Either way, learn from it. Thanks for sharing.

 

[hokiehunter373]

You may have exited through the brisket. Did you find fat on the arrow? I've seen minimal blood on the arrow with a brisket shot.

Exactly what I was going to say. One lung, exit through brisket. All the fat they've got up there wipes the blood from the arrow pretty well and clogs that exit hole up... at first. I'd think you would have got some arteries as well, and would have a blood trail after 50 yards or so. Especially if you heard him gurgling blood. I wouldn't be confident the deer was dead but I sure as heck would be searching like crazy.

You need to watch the videos on the Masterpiece Targets websites. Fantastic insight and demonstrations on real carcass vitals and shot locations.
https://www.masterpiecearcherytargets.com/videos

Not to beat up on you, but that was a crappy choice of shot angles. I made the same mistake in my early days...never found the doe. Learn from your mistakes, and more importantly, don't repeat them.

Take this advice. I believe the video is an hour but it's highly educational. Wish I would have watched it 15 years ago and it should be part of hunters ed.