Tracking

[STXHOYTHUNTER]

On Jan 01 I made what I thought to be a good shot on a Buck at 20 yards. I followed a blood trail about 100 yards. The blood trail started off as small specs and in spots along the way there was heavy bleeding. I used a broadhead for this hunt that I had never used before because mine had not come in yet. The blood trail ended with a large spot of blood. I found my arrow which was broken off at about 8 inches. I have looked for this buck for 2 days and have not been able to find him.
.............curious on anyones thoughts. Is there a possibility he may still be alive with the broadhead and 8 inches of arrow in him? Could the wound have closed which resulted in no more blood trail?
.............I was thinking of calling in some tracking dogs or is it too late for that, does anyone have any experience with dogs that could give me some feedback.

[DrenalinJunkie]

I would think that after 6 days your best bet would be look for buzzards!

[BTLowry]

I would say 6 days is a little late unless he is dead nearby they might find him. Sorry you lost one but it happens.

If he bled very much I would think he is dead or soon will be. Was the blood bright or dark? Bubbles, stomach contents etc?

[1369]

Out of curiosity, how long from you hitting him did you wait before starting the track?

[STXHOYTHUNTER]

Waited 1 Hour to start tracking and blood was bright red. No bubbles or content.

[Jeff_S]

Bood trailing..

You almost certainly hit him in the liver...Here is a rule of thumb all bowhunters should live by. If you hit a deer in the lungs or heart it will be dead withinn 70-100 yards every time. If not, back out because you either hit the liver or worse. A liver shot is very tempting to keep following because there will be a lot of blood, but it will just end very suddenly. I have done this and had friends do this a LOT of times until we got smart.
The last big spot you found is where he laid down and would've died if you hadn't jumped him by following too soon.

[Tuffbroadhead]

I would still get a dog, you have nothing to loose...

[bboswell]

Really curious why you waited 6 days to ask or look for a dog? Would have likely been easy work for a good dog with in 24-48 hours of the shot.

As was said, at this point just hunt buzzards.

[Rockpit TX]

Really curious why you waited 6 days to ask or look for a dog? Would have likely been easy work for a good dog with in 24-48 hours of the shot.

As was said, at this point just hunt buzzards.

Cause he wanted to see who had the best dog

[Peacock]

Buzzards would be best bet.

[glen]

buzzards are a better bet than a dog I would say- My dog goes by dead animals all the time that have been out in the woods awhile adn he pays them no attention. When he was a pup he did but after a few hits from the collar he ignores stuff that is decomposed.