How to Track Deer After the Shot
An important and exciting part of hunting is the tracking of the animal after the shot. Although it may not seem important to everyone, it can be the difference from recovering or not recovering your deer.
1. Pay Attention
a) Make a mental note of exactly of the last place you saw the deer and the point of impact. This will allow you to easily find the arrow and the beginning of the trail. There is quite a bit of information that can be used to figure out where the arrow hit. For example, fat on the arrow or a lot of white hair may mean it was low.
b) Watch how the deer reacts. If the deer crunches up, it is likely to be a hit too far back. A deer that takes off at full sprint usually signals a solid hit in my experience.
c) Stay in your stand and listen even if you can't see the deer anymore.
2. Be Patient
a) Give the deer time to lay down. They always do.
b) If for any reason you believe that you did have a good hit, wait a few hours before going further than 10 yards past where the deer was hit. If the deer is down it will still be that way 10 hours from now.
c) Go slow following the trail. Sign can easily be covered up by an impatient tracker.
3. Get Help
a) A second person can help you line everything up. This can be very useful when the deer was in some tall grass or an open area.
b) Two sets of eyes are better than one.
c) Another person will keep you from being impatient and making bad decisions due to your excited state of mind.
d) At the very least, they can mark the last sign while tracking or if you are successful, help drag the deer out of the woods.
1. Pay Attention
a) Make a mental note of exactly of the last place you saw the deer and the point of impact. This will allow you to easily find the arrow and the beginning of the trail. There is quite a bit of information that can be used to figure out where the arrow hit. For example, fat on the arrow or a lot of white hair may mean it was low.
b) Watch how the deer reacts. If the deer crunches up, it is likely to be a hit too far back. A deer that takes off at full sprint usually signals a solid hit in my experience.
c) Stay in your stand and listen even if you can't see the deer anymore.
2. Be Patient
a) Give the deer time to lay down. They always do.
b) If for any reason you believe that you did have a good hit, wait a few hours before going further than 10 yards past where the deer was hit. If the deer is down it will still be that way 10 hours from now.
c) Go slow following the trail. Sign can easily be covered up by an impatient tracker.
3. Get Help
a) A second person can help you line everything up. This can be very useful when the deer was in some tall grass or an open area.
b) Two sets of eyes are better than one.
c) Another person will keep you from being impatient and making bad decisions due to your excited state of mind.
d) At the very least, they can mark the last sign while tracking or if you are successful, help drag the deer out of the woods.
steven white - November 27, 2007
thanks for the great tips now i am a very succesful deer hunter
mike long - November 29, 2007
i shot a ten point right behind the shoulder and he just walked away. Didnt run or hurry at all just turned and walked away into the trees the next day he was up and around like nothing happend my arrow had a white fat type substance on it and verry little blood
justinwp - November 30, 2007
the arrow may not have penetrated all the way through and actually hit the shoulder or may have been too low. tough to say which without more information but if it was mid height and behind the shoulder the buck would have been down.
Ryan - December 03, 2007
I shot a six pointer with main beam and g2 which had webbing between. I put a shot a 12yards behind the shoudler and had blood bubbles when I was tracking. That deer ran over 250 yards. I let it lay over night and the next morning I went it to look for it. Another hunter had already taken my kill.
bill - December 09, 2007
I shot a deer right between the liver and lung area. Layed down and got up, never found him. Any experiences with that shot?
Deb-December 11, 2 - December 10, 2007
My husband shot a deer and recovered it4 days later. I have always processed our deer meat. We live in Vermont and it has been below freezing for much of the 4 days. I soked the quarters in salt water. Is the meat safe to eat?
The Polock - December 16, 2007
I shot a 160-170 class 10 point with bow/arrow at about 30 yards quartering away.
When the buck turned the arrow appeared to be behind the sholder and high with 6-8 inches in?
We tracked the buck that night and had lost a faint blood. The property is small 45-50ac and we did find my arrow fully intacked the next day with fat and long hair on it. We looked for the only on two tracks about 250 yards. Could the buck be alive or just a flesh wound. Shoud I hunt or search the entire property? The buk did a j hook back to where I shot him, however we searched where he was heading and where he came from? What do you think I should do? It has been just under two days. He was shot at 4:00pm yeaterday?
Thank for your help.\
The "polock"
When the buck turned the arrow appeared to be behind the sholder and high with 6-8 inches in?
We tracked the buck that night and had lost a faint blood. The property is small 45-50ac and we did find my arrow fully intacked the next day with fat and long hair on it. We looked for the only on two tracks about 250 yards. Could the buck be alive or just a flesh wound. Shoud I hunt or search the entire property? The buk did a j hook back to where I shot him, however we searched where he was heading and where he came from? What do you think I should do? It has been just under two days. He was shot at 4:00pm yeaterday?
Thank for your help.\
The "polock"
Travis - February 01, 2008
This is the third time I have went hunting with my father and he shot a buck. When we went to look there was a blood puddle and then a trail of it it was about the size of a dinner plate the next puddle we found there was a big chunk of bone sitting in the blood it was the size of a chickin wing about 50 yards away we found a blood puddle the size of an computer moniter and what looked to be drag marks and a othe puddle the same size then there was nothing the puddle was in a field about the size of a small parking lot with little grass and we spent about 2 hours looking for it any answers?
Steve Grbaowski - October 06, 2008
12YD Shot almost straight down on the deer, the arrow did not pass through but the hit seemed to be very good, hardly any blood though. Searched the following day and did not find. The angle of the shot took the arrow through the deers shoulder on the right a quarter way down and the broad head exited left side armpit. Is there anyway this deer could have survived this shot?
kellee - October 13, 2008
when i was tracking the deer i followed the blood trail and the trail ended and i couldn't find the deer... and it should of bedded down some where and died becuase in the blood trail it was losing organs... what might of happened????
Joe Sparacino - October 27, 2008
Hey there, last night i shot a doe quartering away from me i was 20 yards and 15 feet up in a stand. my shot was just below the back and almost half way back on the deer(im think maybe just over the lungs).. she kinda took off slow didnt really motor out found my arrow clean pass threw lots and lots of hair chunks of meat and a lot of blood. gave her 3 hours found blood 100yards from where i hit her followed for about 150 yards then blood completely stopped looked hard for another hour could not find a thing......do u know what i might of hit and if so do ya think shes still alive?
Brian- 10/29/08 - October 31, 2008
I shot my first buck, he was a great 6 point from what i could see. The buck was maybe 20 yards from me, i got a great shot and found the blood trail for 300 yards.There was at the least 3 pints of blood in some spots but the rest was just a trail,and i shot a 2in peace of his leg out from the back side.The blood stop and 3 of us look for 5 hours, what else can i do? need help
jude - November 06, 2008
shot a deer in the neck waited a day and their was only bones
oohwhitetailfrk - November 17, 2008
Let me tell ya something about deer. The have to most will power i have ever seen in an animal, for instance: My uncle and I were hunting together via shotguns. He shot a doe we trailed she jumped up and he shot 2 times. We trailed her some more she jumped, 2 more shots this time one of the shots blew her leg clean off. We trailed more she jumped he shot and dropped her. When we looked over the deer he had hit her everytime he shot....Maybe not in the heart or the spine but one did go thru the lungs...We trailed and jumped this single doe for over 400 yards. These animals are unbelievable, so the next time you take a shot make it count. Take your time and aim....
mike - November 25, 2008
Shot a doe and followed a good blood trail for 400 yards and then it just ended. Looked for five hours with help and the doe was never found. Any suggestions?
camoprincess - December 08, 2008
if i let the deer set out a night will it still be there when the weather is freezing
wunder42 - September 21, 2009
i shot a 150-160 class ten point whitetail last night at 35-40 yards..i heard a huge smack when i let the arrow fly i thought i clean missed and hit a rock..the next day i went back to look and the arrow was fifty yards away from were i shot the deer with just the expandable broadhead covered in what looked like vaseline and one tiny dot of blood..no blood trail and no deer im devistated ..does anybody think they know what happened or if the deer is likely to still be alive and what the odds of me seeing him again are?
Ryan - September 28, 2009
shot a 10 pointer on Saturday night. shot was about 4 inches from top of his back. he was quartering slightly away, shot appeared to be on line for his off shoulder, as I saw about 12" of the fletching side of the arrow that did not penetrate.Shot looked to be about 4-5 inches behind the front shoulder. tracked him for 4 hours later that night, bright red blood, no bubbles. There were 2 locations where he stopped and we found small pools of blood. The next day the blood ran out after finding a spot the size of a quarter every 30-40 yards. Is this deer alive or dead? is there an area above the lungs but below the spine that you can hit and not kill the deer?
Stan - October 03, 2009
I have read all the pointers on arrow placement. I have been nagged at incessantly by buddies. Everyone says go for the heart or lungs. However, I find that a spine shot always, always drops the deer. No blood trail, no tracking, no waiting, no nonsense. I am lucky enough to be a good shot, and know anatomy, so that helps. It works with bullets and arrows, but you must be very, very patient and sure of your shot. My preference is the neck. Anyone with similar experience?
garrett - October 15, 2009
i shot at a doe a few weeks ago and the first arrow hit a limb and the doe took off but no more than 2 minutes later the same doe was even closer to me than it was for the first shot i was able to shoot again but i hit high and i think the arrow hit the shoulder blade and only went in about three inches when i tracked her i found very small amounts of blood and i tracked her for well over 3 hours and she ran into private land and i didnt want to get run off by the land owner so i stopped tracking hopeing that she is still alive and maybe i will have another chance at her later on-although i walked so long i covered alot of ground and may have found my new rifle spot
Brandon Nuzzo - October 15, 2009
I shot a doe a few days ago and i was sure about the shot so i let it go till next day even though there was a great blood trail and it ended should i have searched for her after dark because i went back the next day i found her but she was already starting to get eaten
K9 Tracker - October 24, 2009
Stan Oct. 3, 2009
You are poor hunter if you think that is the best choice to put an animal down! I don't care how good a shot you are. If you miss your mark by just a fraction of an inch that deer is wounded. Try doing some research and be a real ethical hunter and shoot them where they should be shot.
You are poor hunter if you think that is the best choice to put an animal down! I don't care how good a shot you are. If you miss your mark by just a fraction of an inch that deer is wounded. Try doing some research and be a real ethical hunter and shoot them where they should be shot.
rob - October 26, 2009
bottom line:they can get hit by a car and walk away,the boiler room (heart and lungs)
if hit correctly is your one and only best shot with minimal tracking,they are very strong and
will walk away from these secondary hit areas.
if hit correctly is your one and only best shot with minimal tracking,they are very strong and
will walk away from these secondary hit areas.
Hunter - November 04, 2009
I shot a big 8 point last night and it was a high shot and i had hair and meet and blood on my arrow and vanes.. i found blood about 25 yards from where i shot him and after that i had a constant blood trail and then puddles of blood for about 100 or so yards then we kept finding little blood droplets here and there and then about 70 yards later we found another puddle of blood and then nothing we left the woods and im going back today to look again and im taking the bow. any advice or help?
mike - November 14, 2009
i hit a really nice 10 pointer right behind the shoulder with a rage broadhead he was right under me and the deer took off found blood all over arrow and found blood for a 100 yards and then the blood just stop going back in the am to look do u think hes down
Mike - November 17, 2009
Last night I shot a really nice 8pt at 15yards. Im 18ft up in a stand. The arrow made a loud thwack and the deer let out a grunt. It took off as fast as it could run. To my amazement most of the arrow was sticking out of the deer. It snapped the arrow off and appears only 6 inches of the arrow penetrated. Im using 3 blade rages. We finally found blood appoximately 60 yards away from the shot. We followed a slim blood trail for appoximately 200 yards. Its in marsh grass so we are getting some dripping but mostly rubbed off blood. We decided to look for it in the am once the frost gets off the ground. The arrow impact looked to be in the chest area about midbody. I don't think the arrow hit the shoulder blade. Any idea what the arrow hit and what are the chances of finding this deer? Also any advise or ideas?
Dan - November 24, 2009
Last night I hit a nice 8 pointer from 20 yards square in the neck. It made a thud when it hit and the deer dropped right to the ground and started kicking. It got up after a couple min and went crashing through the woods. I tracked it till it was dark but all I could find is a little blood at the spot of the shot and then spots every 20 yards or so and then nothing. I'm still looking for him because I feel horrible for not being able to find him. Any ideas of what might of happend?
Doug - November 25, 2009
I've read several posts about people hitting a deer, tracking it to the end of the blood trail, then not finding it. The same thing happened to me a couple weeks back. But I've seen nothing about hot to find the deer, if it could be alive, how far it might travel, etc. I understand that each case is different. In my case I'm reasonably certain I inflicted a mortal wound. How long can a deer survive and travel with it's lungs torn up by an arrow? Why would a blood trail simply end? How far past that point would it be reasonable to look? Blah, blah, blah....
FARMER TED - November 28, 2009
Shot a 10 pointer broadside with the bow in the rib cage this morning deer ran with the arrow in it tracked bright red some blood for 300 yards no deer shot a lot of deer same spot and they go right down.
GooseBandito - November 30, 2009
Anytime you make a shot that you aren\'t sure about, put another arrow in, and shoot again.
i.e. (Dan) Who shot the deer in the neck, it dropped and kicked for a few minutes, before getting up and running away. If you make a spine shot, or a neck shot, or a leg shot, Any shot that wounds the animal to the point that it is flopping/crawling/kicking around in front of you. Load another arrow, and put an ethical shot through the vitals...Some of these stories, and shot placements are just dumb. Think about your shot before you take it, PRACTICE with your bow, and be confident when you let that arrow fly. I know bow hunting is difficult, and I\'ve made a few shots that didn\'t go as I had planned, but some of these stories are mind boggling...
i.e. (Dan) Who shot the deer in the neck, it dropped and kicked for a few minutes, before getting up and running away. If you make a spine shot, or a neck shot, or a leg shot, Any shot that wounds the animal to the point that it is flopping/crawling/kicking around in front of you. Load another arrow, and put an ethical shot through the vitals...Some of these stories, and shot placements are just dumb. Think about your shot before you take it, PRACTICE with your bow, and be confident when you let that arrow fly. I know bow hunting is difficult, and I\'ve made a few shots that didn\'t go as I had planned, but some of these stories are mind boggling...
WesTXS - December 14, 2009
This is for those who have lost the blood trail, One thing few people realize is that when a deer lays down, it's metabolism directs blood flow to the stomach area and food digestion sets in. This lessens blood flow to the wound area and thus can diminish or eliminate external blood flow. So if the deer has bedded down, then was spooked, it is feasable that the blood trail will diminish for hundreds of yards.
Mike - December 14, 2009
Just got done tracking a deer unsuccesfully. I shot it last night at 4:50. It was a small buck that was missing one side of his antlers and had a little hitch in his step. He as obviously wounded, so i figured i would take him out. As i released the arrow he took a step, and the shot went back about 6 inches farther than expected. I had hair and blood on the broadhead and fat on the shaft. The fletchings were covered in blood. I gave it a couple of hours and walked the blood trail, for about 300 yards. I spooked it up so i decided to give it till tonight. Well a large portion of the snow melted and so did my blood trail. I found another spot about a 1/4 mile from last blood that it bedded down and bled real nice but no deer. Frustrating!!!!!!
Martin - December 30, 2009
I'm about the most ethical hunter I know. Almost all the deer I have killed, I have killed with one shot and have never had to track one. I shot one tonight and had to track it in the snow. Thank goodness there was some snow because the blood trail was not very good. This deer ran for at least a mile. It got dark before I could find it. I'll be back in the morning to look more. It is the least I can do. Wounding one up and making it suffer is not cool.
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