I apologize for the noob question...but that's what I am Just shot my first Archery Deer..... it was quartering away very slightly and when I got my arrow I think it may have been a liver shot.....which sucks it is Raining and is supposed to rain all night and tomorrow what do I do??????? I shot the deer at 4:45pm and it is now 5:18pm (just got my arrow and came back in) and I need help deciding what approach to finding it. I know liver shot deer you normally wait longer...but with the rain I'm not sure what I can do.... help help help...I really don't want to lose this deer!
What made you believe it was liver shot? What was on the arrow? Your best bet if in doubt is ALWAYS to wait, even if raining. You can still grid search and a mortally wounded deer will bed and die within 250 yards 90% of the time. It's tougher without a blood trail due to rain, but not as tough as searching for a deer that was bumped when it wasn't dead yet and stopped bleeding.
yea the arrow was very bloody (darker i think, but I dont have a lot to compare with) but had a lot of yellowish gritty looking stuff mixed in....it wasn't greasey yellow fat on the arrow, which I've seen before....something else. a friend told me to smell the arrow and it doesn't stink like when I've dressed deer in the past.....so he says that is doesn't seem like a gut shot. the deer was bent down grazing when I shot....I used its "elbow" as a reference for the vitals...but failed to account for the fact that the elbow moves back when the deer bends down... a crappy way to learn that lesson!.... the deer was about 10 degrees off from perfectly broadside...quartering away.... so yea....do you agree on the liver shot idea? or could it be something else? i just went up to where I recovered the arrow and there is already no blood where there was some before....so I looked for maybe 20 more yards and turned around....no sense in looking for what isn't there.... ...this is killing me !
WAIT!!!! It sounds like you hit at least some gut. Do NOT go back out there looking around. You shouldn't have went back out there and looked around because you may have bumped the deer and then your chances of recovery will go way down. Not trying to bum you out. Just telling you how it is. If your not sure of the shot then wait until morning.
I'm waiting till morning for sure ....I don't think i bumped it up there....its really wet out so Its easy enough to move quietly. does the yellowish stuff in the blood on the arrow mean stomach?
also....the hair was greyish and course...about 1-1.5" long... ...if that helps anyone tell anything.... man this sucks....
If you are very familiar with the terrain, I would chill for the night. Go out in the morning. As mentioned earlier, most likely down within 250 yards. You just need to remember the departure pattern the deer took. Would be a big difference is you have a few buddies to help you. Good luck. Keep us posted. ........
From the book "Finding Wounded Deer" by John Trout Jr. I recommend buying this book if you (anyone) hunt deer. It is beyond excellent. Stomach Shot 1. Hair description: Dark gray or brown, two to 2.5 inches long, coarse with lighter tips than chest hair. Belly hair is white to gray, coarse, slightly twisted and 2.25 to 2.5 inches long. 2. Blood color: Dark red (darker than liver wound but not as dark as intestinal wound). 3. Reaction of deer: Often jumps, takes a few bounds, and stops. May only flinch and run gently. Body appears hunched, legs widespread. 4. Waiting time before tracking: Four to six hours. 5. Blood-trailing expectations: Usually found within fifty yards of where shot. Holes are often plugged with organ tissue, and very little blood is found. Blood [rail may be better if spleen or stomach artery is also severed. 6. Distance traveled before succumbing or bedding: Usually beds down within 150 yards and will not go much farther unless pushed. Liver Hit 1. Hair description: Dark brown or gray with black tips, two to 2.5 inches long. 2. Blood color: Dark red (similar to maroon), but not as dark as stomach or intestinal blood. 3. Reaction of deer: Lunges and runs hard, but often slows and walks after seventy-five yards. 4. Waiting time before tracking: Two to three hours. 5. Blood-trailing expectations: Enough blood on ground to follow if deer is walking, but usually less blood if a slomacli wound also exists. 6. Distance traveled before succumbing or bedding: Usually beds down within 150 yards, but should succumb in less than 250 yards if not pushed.
thanks for the replies guys..... Any suggestions on how the heck to track after/during all the rain? I expect to have zero blood trail to work with. I'm going to recruit the g/f and neighbor to sweep the area with me....but really I have no ideas other than just canvasing the woods. back and forth in a sweep. I was thinking of bringing my dog..though shes not a tracking dog at all.....maybe she'll catch a wiff and go see what she smells?
I FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOOHOOOOO! I couldn't wait till morning...and i figured 8 hours was plenty for any kill .....and really..who needs sleep! (i had tomorrow off for hunting too) maybe not as big of a deal for you veterans...but this is my first archery deer after trying for 4 years!!!!!! (had shot an other deer a few years ago but it was on public land and some other hunter pushed it on his way out of the woods and I never found it) I found the deer about 120 yards away....it crashed hard....it looks like it had collapsed on the run....certainly not bedded down, it had a leg half straddled on a log... the bad news...I had my flashlight fall out of my pocket on the haul back to my house.....and my girlfriend dropped my digital camera!......this deer is getting pretty expensive!!!! I'm going to look for those in the AM here's a picture....please don't flame me for shooting a small buck I can get picky once I get better at this:
We will never flame you for shooting a small deer! Its about what makes you happy to shoot! Congrats on the first deer may it be the first of may more to come!!!
Congrats on your first deer! No one will ever blame you for taking any deer regardless of it's size. Shot my first deer last year that scored way less then yours will! I felt the same way for a bit till a few buddies from this site came to help me recover and they convinced me that I did something that most will never do and I should be proud! Congrats again!
Congrats on your first deer!!!!!!!! I'm glad you found him!!! Sounds like he died quick, but it's always best to wait if your unsure of the hit. Just remember the phrase " If in doubt, back out " (just for future referance). Congrats again on your first and on your patience! That had to seem like the longest eight hours ever. LOL
thanks all! I couldn't tell from the insides what organ was hit.....but the holes lined up with the stomach.....but the deer looks like it fell hard...and I didn't think stomach-shots were supposed to do that???? i was using 125gr muzzy 3 blade on carbon express arrows....my bow is a PSE Brute LT set at 50lbs...which I like. he was maybe 15yds away when I shot it. he had come in and was quartering towards grazing for a good 10 minutes before he turned around and gave me the quartering away shot....so it gave me a lil bit of time to have my heart stop jumping all very exciting....I have a doe tag to fill now
