So, I get a call from my friend saying how he shot a nice 10 point, but claimed he thought the shot was high and maybe a pinch back? He is shooting the Killzone Maxx, he didn't get a full pass through. He waited 30 minutes before looking for blood, and found quite a bit (as you see in the picture). He followed for about 40 yards with the same amount of blood and decided to back out. We're going to go look tomorrow morning to let him lay tonight. What do you think? Liver? Tough to know since he doesn't know how high he hit it. Thanks for any help!!
Doesn't look like he hit lungs, so Probably to high or too far back,. But looks like he will expire with all that blood loss, Go in there with bow in hand in the AM And find that buck!
Wasn't sure if maybe with how much blood he saw that he clipped the artery that runs underneath the spine? I guess will find out!
Hard to tell if that is liver or not. What was the deers reaction, what was his angle of shot(how high/how far), what was the deers angle to him, how much penetration and did the arrow stay in him? So many variables, there are times with some shots that you actually want to push the deer when they are bleeding that severely and not allow them to clot up. Not telling you to do so, just saying details are the most important. He could have hit way back and got a single femoral artery, he could have got all rump. I wouldn't think that much blood from liver unless the arrow poked out the belly.
The deer did a big mule kick and took off, the arrow stayed in him and he's guessing about 3/4 of the arrow penetrated but the arrow was still in him. He knows it wasn't that far back, to hit the femoral. He just thought it was high, this was his first buck with a bow and was a big solid ten so he was pretty pumped and didn't probably pay attention as much as he should have! Crossing our fingers.
If he knows it wasn't that far back and the blood looks like that I don't think you will have a long look for him. Honestly, if that much blood was on the groumd for 40 yards I don't think I would have stopped and backed out. Too many coyotes here for me and I want the meat as much as the antlers.
Liver blood usually runs out, you can see it while it's walking, not a spray. I'd go in and give the track 100 yards, if it stays like it looks continue, if not back out.
Coyotes aren't a big problem here so we should be fine there! But I guess we thought it be best to wait till morning so we don't have to try tracking with flash lights and such. thanks for the help, hopefully they'll be pics in the morning!
What gets me is it wasn't a pass through and entry was high. He seen it clear enough to know it wasn't far enough back to be femoral or hind quarter. My thought is the arrow poked through the belly or opposite side, if not that is a quick fill up to lose that much blood from a high entry single wound. Not sure what up high other than the artery at the spine would bleed like that. I think he was dead before the decision to back out
I shot a deer probably 4 weeks ago and had the same thoughts.. He didn't make it 80 yards but we waited it out and found him definitely liver
I think he's piled up now. If he's dead tonigt he'll be dead in the morning. I would have kept going on the track myself, unless the blood ran out or I bumped him. Be sure to update regardless of outcome, and details of the shot when you find him. These threads are good learning tools
My guess is he's not as high as he thougt. Definitely would be a ton of blood fast of its a high entry with no exit.
No I totally get what you mean! I've just heard horror stories of pushing bucks to fast and never finding them. And I will for sure.
Nothing wrong with waiting until morning at all. Dead is dead If predators are not a concern, possums, foxes and whatever other critters are up there can be just as destructive. Temps are good so no worries
Waiting until tomorrow morning is the best move you could have made. As mentioned, if he's dead, he'll still be dead in the morning. Perhaps a few pounds lighter, but he'll be there! I've trailed deer too quickly in the past and it only leads to frustration and let down!
Good luck! I think the outcome will be a dead deer with in 100yards of were you stopped! When in doubt back out is always s good thing to remember.
