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Couple of posts recently on trailing, thought I would add my 2 cents. Not an expert by any means, but have trailed my fair share of game. I'm sure other will add their own expertise so that all may benefit.
1) PAY ATTENTION--What did deer do? Which way did it run off? How hard did it run off. Tail up or down. Where did I hit it? Do not leave your shooting spot, visually mark where you hit it and last place you saw deer. Remember the forest looks alot different from ground/trees. Don't shout for joy, be quiet and listen, any branches breaking, arrow smacking tree as deers running, anything out of the ordinary are all clues for you.
2) NO HURRY--Unless you see the thing fall, don't go after it just yet. Sit back and relax, go over everything in your mind, calm down. After and hr "I'm talking u know it was a good hit, get down and start trail. No need to start before this amount of time. If its dead, its dead, wether you see it now or 2 hrs from now its still dead. Key point to remember.
3) MARK YOUR TRAIL--Every serious hunter has a trusty slightly wet roll of 3 yr old toilet paper in his pack "smile u no I'm right", now its time to put it to use. Mark that trail as u go, don't walk down the blood trail stay to side, keep everything like it was, walking down trail could move leaves, brush and be mess to pick trail back up if lost.
4) 50-75YDS--If you double lunged the beast, guess what, hes dead within that distance. If not found back off. wait at least 2 more hrs. I know some will not agree with that distance, but last 4 animals I havested were all doubled and I watched everyone of them die from my stand in 40yds or less.
5) LEARN YOUR COLORS--Dark Red/Black = Liver, 4 plus hours to wait, should bed down within 200yds but will probably move a few times from pain. Ck water on these if lost. Also pertains to gut shot, but I would wait 8 plus on that. Bright Red/Pink, woohoo bubbles to, your deer isn't far congrats. Red like you cut your hand, meat hit, choices here. If you think it will die I would push it hard, you have to keep the wound from clotting. If that animal goes like 1/2 mile and blood is slowing ur probably going to lose it but it should survive, if blood continues good just keep pushing.
Pretty basic stuff but it might help someone, plz feel free to add whatever else you would like.
Also caution here, I have read various posts about leaving animals overnight, while the some of the meat will be good yet, liver and gut shot are iffy at best. Alot of bacteria there and basically you are slow roasting the meat in it over night, just be careful. I read a study a few yrs back on liver shot deer and they recommended not to even bother chancing it.
1) PAY ATTENTION--What did deer do? Which way did it run off? How hard did it run off. Tail up or down. Where did I hit it? Do not leave your shooting spot, visually mark where you hit it and last place you saw deer. Remember the forest looks alot different from ground/trees. Don't shout for joy, be quiet and listen, any branches breaking, arrow smacking tree as deers running, anything out of the ordinary are all clues for you.
2) NO HURRY--Unless you see the thing fall, don't go after it just yet. Sit back and relax, go over everything in your mind, calm down. After and hr "I'm talking u know it was a good hit, get down and start trail. No need to start before this amount of time. If its dead, its dead, wether you see it now or 2 hrs from now its still dead. Key point to remember.
3) MARK YOUR TRAIL--Every serious hunter has a trusty slightly wet roll of 3 yr old toilet paper in his pack "smile u no I'm right", now its time to put it to use. Mark that trail as u go, don't walk down the blood trail stay to side, keep everything like it was, walking down trail could move leaves, brush and be mess to pick trail back up if lost.
4) 50-75YDS--If you double lunged the beast, guess what, hes dead within that distance. If not found back off. wait at least 2 more hrs. I know some will not agree with that distance, but last 4 animals I havested were all doubled and I watched everyone of them die from my stand in 40yds or less.
5) LEARN YOUR COLORS--Dark Red/Black = Liver, 4 plus hours to wait, should bed down within 200yds but will probably move a few times from pain. Ck water on these if lost. Also pertains to gut shot, but I would wait 8 plus on that. Bright Red/Pink, woohoo bubbles to, your deer isn't far congrats. Red like you cut your hand, meat hit, choices here. If you think it will die I would push it hard, you have to keep the wound from clotting. If that animal goes like 1/2 mile and blood is slowing ur probably going to lose it but it should survive, if blood continues good just keep pushing.
Pretty basic stuff but it might help someone, plz feel free to add whatever else you would like.
Also caution here, I have read various posts about leaving animals overnight, while the some of the meat will be good yet, liver and gut shot are iffy at best. Alot of bacteria there and basically you are slow roasting the meat in it over night, just be careful. I read a study a few yrs back on liver shot deer and they recommended not to even bother chancing it.
Use the Big Grins Doggie if all else fails.
