Well let me first give you some background info. I started bow hunting in late October last year. I know its a little late. Never had a deer in range last year. Spent most of last year learning everything I could, from you guys and this site as well as anything else I could get my hands on. I hunt from the ground, haven't gotten a stand yet, need to I know!!!! This leads me to today, I have been hunting very hard for days on end and today I took my first shot at a deer. It was a decent, public land WI buck. I worked hard for this deer, grunted him in to 20 yards. I put the 20 yard pin behind the shoulder, took a breath, exhaled and let him have it. I think I was a solid hit. Saw the arrow make impact and was still hanging out a foot still. He jumped up and ran into a field about 40 yards away and laid down, got up 5 minutes later and started walking around aimlessly until I couldn't see him anymore because of darkness( I shot him at 440pm). I backed out for a little over an hour and my buddies n I went to find him. We found good blood, then it was drops, then nothing, then huge amounts. Well we tracked for a little bit to no avail so I backed out until the morning. My question is this, Was I right in backing out and do you think this is a dead deer. Thanks and sorry its so long.
You did the right thing Only thing you could have done different was just waited until morning to begin with. Good luck in the AM
When you say you then found huge amounts of blood, was that in a bed. if there were multiple spots like that he was bedding down. Definitely a good idea to back out if he is bedding down and losing as much blood as you say. He should be a dead deer.
You'll get him. Definitely backing out was the right thing. They almost always lay down if we don't chase them and most of the time you will find them dead in that first bed. Two or more hours would have been better but at least you backed out when you saw things amiss. Good luck.
Would've been dead in first bed but very good choice on backing out..... good decision.... good job. I think you will find it. Keep us posted
Did the right thing be backing out. You'll find him, when you do let us know what the rest of the blood trail looked like and what your arrow ended up slicing, would be interesting hearing how long they live with what type of shot.
As of right now I have NOT found him yet and i am sick over it. Last blood I found led to a private property that is posted no tresspassing. I went back to my car, drove to the home and spoke to the land owner, he told me to kiss his A$$ and that hes not allowing some hunter that stalks and kills innocent animals on his property. I called the DNR and they tried to talk to "Warren" and he flat out refused. DNR told me "You are out of options buddy, sorry." Someone deserves a kick in the nuts with a golf shoe!!!!!!! I am not sure what to do, I feel like just putting all my hunting stuff in the closet and hanging it up for the season!!!!!!
If you had backed out and come back the next morning your deer would have likely been dead in that field. It is a mistake we all have made, learn from it. As to whether you should trespass to find your deer is the topic for another thread. Could be a touchy one too! I would never hunt where I don't have permission, ever; but to track a deer...... let's just say that I would not worry about, at worst, a trespass fine, if it meant finding my first deer. I'm sure I'll get slayed for that advice!
I wouldn't pay the fine.... I wouldn't get caught. I'll probably get slayed too, but I'm not leaving without the deer.
The smaller the property... the more important the waiting time becomes. Sometimes its just better to beg forgiveness I guess but he did say no.
It’s never good to trespass, trespassing on someone’s land is no different than walking in someone’s house. It’s breaking the law plain and simple. In Wisconsin you can use reasonable force to remove a trespasser, just ask the one I knocked on his *** I caught and prosecuted. I hope you find your deer. I made mistakes when I was younger and it has happen to me. I have let a buck overnight a couple of times and found them very close to where I last seen them. Good luck
