I just recovered my longest track to date and thought I would share here as I picked up a pointer on here that helped me recover this deer. I had 5 does come in just to the left of my stand. I have shot 3 deer out of this stand so I know to hold low as it is a steep downhill angle. I held low and kept behind the should as a precaution. I saw impact and thought I was spot on. She ran about 20 yards and stopped only to calmly walk off with the other 4 does like nothing had happened. I waited about 25 minutes and got down to check the arrow only. To my dismay, it had stomach matter on it, but also a lot of blood which was somewhat positive. I decided to wait 4 hours before trailing. I followed an easy downhill blood trail for about 200 yards before she crossed a creek. After crossing she runs uphill for about 50 yards. Here she stops for the first time and pools some blood and looses about 15" of intestines and fat. The blood is very dark red and we are now at 5 hours since the shot. Blood is cold as can be. So I continue. I go about 100 more yards on lots of blood with pools every 15 yards or so. Then I jump 4 does! I think ok she is down right ahead and that was the 4 she was with. I go 50 more yards and she jumps up and walks about 10 yards limping badly. I could not get a shot off. So I again backed out. I wait 4 more hours. I returned to where I jumped her. Small pool of blood but more intestinal matter laying there. I go 20 yards following roughed up leaves and a few broken sticks before I find 3 drops of blood. I then followed that trail for about 50 yards before the next 2 drops. She is now in a briar thicket and I have no leads. I read on here to search in a circle getting wider and wider until you cross paths again. I did not have that kind of time before dark so I did a semi circle since she had been going down hill for a long time again. I ended up 120 yards from my last blood when I found 1 drop on a leaf up off the ground. I looked up in disbelief and there she was only 8 yards ahead and still alive! She stood up but could not stand. I finally got a second arrow in her to end the hunt. This is the hardest I have ever tracked. I was very determined and so excited to find her. I was in a hurry and did not see exactly where I hit her but it was just inside the diaphragm and out the stomach right on the line where the hairs change from brown to white. Hope this helps someone in the future. Give them time and take note of everything on the trail!
And that is how it is done. Well done. When trailing during daylight always look ahead and binoculars help pick out bedded deer before you bump them again.
Nicely done Riverduck. You worked hard for that deer. Glad it worked out for you. Each hunt is different and we hope we learn from each experience.
