Tracking Wounded Game

[COUNTRY BOY]

Just A Topic To Let Everyone Share Tips Or Pointers To Help On The Subject Of Tracking Wounded Game


For Example I Have Read That Carrying A 8 Oz Spray Bottle With Hydrgen Peroxide With A Little Yellow Food Coloring When Sprayed On Little Bit Of Blood Will Foam Up And Make The Smallest Bit Of Blood Appear ( Warning Although I Have Not Tried This Myself Yet I Do Intend To As Soon As I Get The Opportunity Then Will Re-post With Results ) .

[huntinfool]

I like 2 no more than three people to track an animal. Too many people will almost always seem to get in the way and end up walking on the trail of the wounded animal. Have two people leap frog the blood trail from one spot of blood to the next. Once a basic trail has been established, I have one person move ahead on the trail and see it they can find blood several yards ahead. This usually cuts down on the amount of time and can move you ahead on the trail by 10-20 yards.
I like to not talk. I have tracked a buck a friend shot and was not dead when we got there. Had we been talking he would have heard us and certainly ran away.
I always watch foot prints. I have actually tracked a buck for a cuatomer last year by the prints in the dirt. He did not make the best shot, but by following the prints we would eventually find a speck of blood or a drop that was 20-30 yards from the last drop. Luckily he was running heavily on one foot and made a deep print. We found him over 200 yds from the hit...all uphill.
I like to use toilet paper or flagging ribbon to mark a blood trail. I like white or red. Yellow is very hard to see at night.
I really don't like going to the last place someone saw a deer. Sometimes they are off by a few feet or yards and some time can be wasted. However the other reason I also don't like doing that is because, sometimes you can get a better idea of the hit by following the trail from the beginning. Maybe see bubbly blood or dark blood or even intestinal matter. Moving ahead too far could get you too close too soon.


But most important to me is to ask the hunter where the deer came from and which way was it headed. Which direction did it run and how did it act when shot. Any clues before I put leather to the dirt is a great help.

[wasilvers]

Has anyone tried the "tracking" flashlights - the ones with blue and red LED's? I've seen them, but don't know just how helpful they would be.

I have plenty of gadgets already!

[Epack]

i like the leap frog tactic it works well. it also helps to have someone go ahead to a major game trail that runs perpindicular to where you are tracking. makes it very easy to cut a trail on the worn out trail

[Thumper]

I like to get a couple of the younger guys on the lease to help, their eyes are better than mine. If there is a kid in camp their eyes are even better.

If we loose the blood trail I alone follow the line of flight for about 100 yards, if the deer is still not found I then will call in a tracking dog. If there is a fence line or running creek within 440 yards I get one of the younger guys to circle around and walk it checking the fence/creek crossings for blood and have the same done with any nearby stock tanks. I also keep and ear out for coyotes howling.

[FarFromHome]

The best tip I think I know is not to track too early. Everyone is excited about their harvest, but don't track it to quickly. If you think the shot was not well placed and the weather is cool, let the deer lay for several hours if not overnight. It is much better to wait a while instead of jumping a deer that is not dead and never finding it at all.

[ras308]

Tracking

I agree with 2 or 3 people, and it should be the same 2-3 people you always track with, that way it's not a competition. I also agree with using the toilet paper, if you can develop a line, it will help if you lose blood someone can carefully look ahead. We also use a dog, but it's best to get him started right away, not after you walked all over the sign for 2 hours. One thing I don't understand, all the TV shows and posts, you never hear anyone talk about the use of the trusty ole coleman lantern??? This is the best tracking tool ever invented!!! Put a reflector on the backside to keep the light out of your eyes, it is 10 times better than a flashlight!!! The reflector doesn't have to come from WalMart, wrap a cut open Best Light can around the back. The next time you are tracking a deer a night, try it, I promise you will not be disappointed!!!

[Walker]

Hands and knees

[huntresss]

I prefer not to use hydrogen peroxide as it washes away any evidence that you may need to come back to later. When tracking during the day, I like to use fluorescent tape to mark the trail, and at night cyalume sticks. Oftentimes it helps to be able to look back and determine the most likely path of travel if you can see where the animal travelled from. When having trouble finding blood get down as close as possible to ground level to try to look for disturbed limbs and leaves, always checking the underside of foliage. And while some may scoff at this...find a woman to help you track. Some studies show that women have enhanced color perception (the color vision gene resides on the X chromosome, and women have two X chromosomes while men only have one).
-Cheryl

[Thumper]

huntress, I knew you just couldn't pass up the chance to point out men are inferior.. j/k

But you are absolutely right!

[Beleg]

Taken from the Bowhunter Education Course

Attention to Clues
Like a detective collecting clues to pursue a suspect, bowhunters must gather a variety of "hit data" to help them track the animal they shot. The first important piece of information for a successful recovery is noticing where your arrow strikes the animal. Knowing where your arrow hit is a rough indicator of:

How long it will take your animal to die
How long to wait before beginning the recovery process
To track your arrow after release, remain perfectly still—don’t even lower your bow down the tree if you are hunting from a tree stand. In addition to noting where the arrow strikes, notice:
How far the arrow penetrates—in some cases it may pass through.
Where the arrow hits the ground if it passes through the animal.
How the arrow strike sounds—a "crack" may indicate a broken bone, a "thud" may signal a solid chest hit, and a "plop" may indicate a gut shot. Or you may hear the arrow slapping branches.
How the deer reacts after the strike. Does the deer instantly collapse, run away, or hump up and walk away? If the deer humps up, there’s a high likelihood of a gut shot.
If the animal instantly collapses (spine shot), immediately shoot it again.
If the animal remains upright and leaves the area:
Watch it as long as possible to determine the direction of travel.
Listen as the animal flees—you may hear it fall to the ground. Also listen for a death moan, brush breaking, or rocks rolling.
Note the time, landmarks around the shooting area, and where the animal was standing or last seen.

Take a compass bearing.

A mortally struck animal may die in only 10 to 30 seconds. A whitetail deer can cover a lot of ground in those few seconds and could disappear from view. An animal struck with less than ideal arrow placement may travel a longer distance before collapsing. With the exception of a spine shot, a wise bowhunter gives the animal time to expire. Bowhunters should be patient and allow the broadhead to do its work before approaching or trailing the animal. Approaching a downed animal or starting the tracking process too soon may cause it to run even farther away, making the recovery more difficult. Usually you will find a well-hit animal within 200 yards. A poorly hit animal may travel considerably farther, but never give up while there is sign to follow.

If it appears that the arrow penetrated deep into the chest, wait 20 to 30 minutes to give the animal a chance to calm down and die, and then follow the trail carefully.

If you find the arrow with signs of a gut hit and the trail is skimpy, back off and wait six to eight hours. If you shoot and believe that you hit the animal in the gut, don’t even follow the trail far enough to retrieve the arrow. Wait at least six hours before following the trail, even if rain, snow or darkness threatens to obliterate the trail. It’s easier to find a dead deer under six inches of snow within 200 yards of where you shot it than to find one under three inches of snow two miles from where you shot it.

On a poor hit outside the chest or body cavity (neck, leg, rump, or back), the animal may run away quickly and then stop, calm down, and stop bleeding. Often the animal will survive. If you can follow the animal rapidly and aggressively, it will continue to bleed, even from a relatively minor wound. It may lose enough blood to get careless and give you another shot. It may even die from a wound that would not normally be considered fatal. If you’re certain you have this type of hit and the conditions are right—open terrain, tracking snow, or a good initial blood trail—it’s best to take up the trail immediately and push the animal.

When in doubt, it’s better to wait 30 to 60 minutes and then carefully start trailing the animal. If you’re new to trailing and recovery, it’s best to have a more experienced hunter with you.

After you have waited a sufficient amount of time, move slowly and quietly from your shooting position to the area of your shot. Approach carefully to avoid destroying any important game sign. Look carefully for blood, hair, or your arrow if you think it passed through the animal. Inspecting your arrow can help you confirm the type of hit. The arrow can easily be buried under leaves, grass, or dirt.

Move in the direction the animal headed. Be careful to walk on the side of the escape route. Look closely for blood on leaves, weeds, rocks, and logs. Be aware that some drops may be very tiny, and you may need to get on your hands and knees for close inspection. Blood spots confirm that you are following the correct route.

Most bowhunters mark the location of blood sign. Reflector ties, toilet paper, or orange or chartreuse surveyor’s tape may be used. Permanent markers must be removed after trailing is completed.

Blood on both sides of the trail indicates complete penetration by the arrow. A small blood trail may indicate an entrance wound high on the animal. Very little blood may reach the ground because the exit hole may be plugged with hair, fat, or organs.

Assistance from a hunting companion is invaluable at this point. An extra pair of eyes will increase the likelihood of spotting signs. Mark every sign, and don’t forget to scan ahead to see if the animal can be spotted. A deer lying down with its head upright may jump when trackers get close. If this is the situation, back off and wait another hour or two.

Blood Sign
Blood sign can offer important tracking clues, such as blood splashes in the direction the animal is traveling. (Dried blood usually has a brown color and can be difficult to spot on brown grass or leaves.) The color of fresh blood indicates the type of hit:
Bright red blood indicates bleeding from arteries; darker blood indicates bleeding from veins.
If the blood has bubbles or looks frothy, it could indicate a lung hit.
If the fluid is greenish, has tallow, or is clear, it can indicate an intestinal shot.

Lost Sign
If all sign is lost, don’t give up. Go back to your last marker and begin a methodical search of the surrounding area. Some bowhunters will search in ever-widening circles. Another method is to grid off the surrounding area in squares and to search each one. You may need to get down on your hands and knees to inspect every detail in the area closely. Look for obvious escape routes such as trails, especially those heading downhill or toward water.

Be aware of any wildlife activities in your area. Crows calling, squirrels barking, or vultures circling may indicate the presence of a downed animal. Look around the surrounding area for game trails, openings in fences, thick cover—anything that could attract a running animal.

If necessary, you may need to go back and start your search from the beginning. Don’t give up until all possibilities have been exhausted. A responsible bowhunter will make every legal effort to recover the animal.

Tracking at night requires a different technique. Take careful notice of your surroundings, and use your compass or GPS for marking bearings before you start your recovery effort. You don’t want to add getting lost to the challenge of game recovery in the dark.

Depending on the type of flashlight or lamp you use, blood will actually glow because of its phosphorus content.

In some locations, predators may be a problem if game is not recovered quickly. Game that’s left overnight can attract coyotes, bears, or domestic dogs.

Be sure to check local and state game laws regarding recovery of game after dark. It may not be legal to have your bow in your possession when night tracking with artificial light. It may be legal to use dogs to help you track wounded game.

When approaching downed game, use extreme caution. The animal may appear to be dead but actually is not.

Approach the animal from its rear. If the animal is still alive and jumps as you approach, you don’t want to be in front of it.
Stop a reasonable distance from the animal and observe the rib cage. If the chest is heaving, the animal is still alive.
If you can’t detect rib cage movement, check the animal’s eyes—the eyes of a dead animal are usually open.
Some hunters use a stick or bow tip to prod the rear of the animal to see if there is a response.
If the animal is still alive, back off and take a careful finishing shot.
Don’t pose or handle your animal for photographs or begin field dressing until you are positive it’s dead.
Once you have determined that the animal is dead, immediately attach the proper tag or identification according to state or provincial regulations.
Approach downed game from behind. It can be dangerous to be in front of animals if they startle.

[wasilvers]

Last deer I tracked was with a Coleman lantern and toilet paper. The light made the sign seem to glow right on the leaves.

That deer changed direction nearly 20 times stumping me plenty . The paper trail looked like something my 5 year old would draw with an etch-a-scetch. Crazy deer.

[Raybo]

I agree with the coleman lantern and toliet paper. I use both and I keep a lantern behing the seat of the truck all season. The toliet paper stays all year! lol
Beleg- that good stuff! some states require that course for all hunter I will try to get in one of them before next year. I've been shooting a bow for 35 years and bowhunting for deer for 22 years but it never hurts to learn. I try to get all the good info I can and throw out the bad. That was all good.

[J.Lott]

Great read Beleg thanks.

[Brute Killer]

If the blood starts petering out, you may still find "smears" of blood on vegetation that the animal brushes up against. I tracked a hog for several hundred yards just off of smears on the weeds/brush. VERY little blood was even reaching the ground. The hit was no bueno for caca.