1. Having the mind set I was going to shoot anything with out spots. Causing a rushed and bad shot. 2. Not scouting the land very well to know that 50 yards out there was heavy brush and ferns. 3. Not learning and asking how to track. I did know to look for a blood trail. But needless to say I could not find the first deer I shot! To much is put on how to find them to shoot em. But what about after? I'm 35 and this is my first time ever out. No one in my family has ever hunted. But I will learn!!!!!
Just curious, what does heavy brush and ferns have to do with it? Also, there is a wealth of information about tracking and recovering deer on the internet. If you are going to bowhunt, you owe it to the game and the other hunters to become proficient. You really need to find someone with experience to give you some pointers.
There's an awful lot of questions to be asked here. 1)What was the disposition of there deer when shot? 2)Was it quartering to or away from you? 3)Did you find your arrow? 4)If you found your arrow did it have endtrail matter on it, dark blood or red/pink blood? 5)If it was a gut shot did you possibly push the deer further away? A gut shot deer could take 8-12+ hours to die. Now that you know about bloodtrail go back and keep trying. Do a grid pattern when searching. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
There is a ton of informatin out there. Nobody in my family taught me how to hunt, but I had a neighbor who has hunted all his life I became friends with. I went hunting with him for the first season without even taking a weapon, just to observe and learn. Now I'm too the point where we learn from each other. Hang around you local archery shop. Go there to shoot often, talk and make friends with them, their regulars... but make sure to listen carefully. Soak the information in. Since you have a bow, make sure you are highly proficient with it. If you're not 100% confident in the shot, don't shoot, it won't end up well. On to last night; do you know where you hit the deer? did you rush right out of your stand? From 6 until dark isn't that long these days (at least in my neck of the woods). If it didn't rain last night I'd definitely go out this morning (hopefully you already are) and look for him. Right here, this situation, is a huge learning experience with tracking. Tracking isn't something you can just do. Yes, read up for pointers, but it takes situational awareness. Good luck and hang out on this site, just read, take it in. There are a ton of guys on here that are hardcore, honest, and willing to help bowhunters. You won't find a better site.
As a ethical hunter you owe it to the deer and other hunters to give it 200% when retrieving game you killed. The deer didnt disappear, you'll find it! Just start from your stand. Look where you shot it for blood or turned up leaves. When deer run they can kick up leaves or make heavier deeper tracks than when walking. And if you shot this thing it was running. There are options and it is too soon to give up. Anyone can shoot something but a hunter is passionate about his game. He spends more time in the field than he does on the couch and when he gets a deer the hunt is kicked into overdrive until that deer is found. I have a buddy who looked until late one night and came home. The next day, called out of work and found his deer. Theres hope for ya, dont quit.
As said above 6-till dark is not that long. Go back and start where you shot the deer and start looking for blood. If the trail ends start walking in circles. #1 lesson you need to take from this if in doubt back out not a foot closer from the base of the tree you shot the deer. If the deer is dead its dead not goinng anywhere. I wait a minimum of 45 minutes before I even get out of my stand.
Since you are just starting out, the easiest thing to do is to mark (visually) where the deer was standing when you shot.. Then where the deer was the last time you saw it run... From here, you can start looking for blood/arrow.. It might take a few steps to find blood or it will be immediately.. SLOWLY track step for step, blood drop to blood drop.. Do not get over zellous.. As much as you want to run to the deer, STAY ON THE BLOOD TRAIL !!!!!!!!!!! This will help you learn for future tracks.. I had to track 2 deer last week, ALONE..... And you have to STOP, TAKE A BREATH, MAKE YOURSELF STAY ON THE TRAIL, even if you saw it fall.... AND DO NOT GIVE UP... I lost blood for about 5 feet, thought I lost it. So, I would look for distrubed leaves, or a deer trail, and then I caught up to the blood trail again... Located both deer.. KEY: Dont track 2 minutes after the shot, give it time.. a heart shot deer and a gut shot deer will be different waiting times... KEY: Dont get off the blood trail, walk BESIDE of it not ON it... In case you have to back track to find blood.. KEY: If your comfortable with the shot, there will be blood.. Its there, look for it... The deer will be at the end of it.... Good luck, and do a "SEARCH" for blood trails... Plenty of great reading...
Sounds like a prime case for why all bowhunters should be required to take an IBEP certification course before going afield. They teach how the arrow differs from a bullet as a killing implement and how to deal with not only taking the shot but also following up on the shot, including blood trailing and tracking.
I disagree with the mandatory IBEP certification. What I do agree with it is to get to know some of your local hunters. They will be the biggest asset to learning how to bow hunt, track deer and what ever you need to know. You can research all you want online about hunting and learn from it but actually doing it with a seasoned hunter is the way to go....
International Bowhunter Education Program. Hunter Education for Bowhunters. Many states require it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
In all reality this is the number one cause for lost deer. People forget that deer are tough running 100 yards with a gapping hole in their lungs. Walking and returning to feed after a heart shot as if never hit for a minute. No two shots are ever the same in bowhunting I've had great blood trails and the deer went 400 yards and I've had little to no blood and found my deer 20 yards from the location of the shot. As I said before unless it hot outside if the deer is dead its dead no rush.
