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Tracking Question

cybball

Well-Known Member
Well, I shot decent 8 tonight. 15 yard shot from a 17ft ladder stand. Angle down was good. Arrow went in 2/3 up from bottom and mid body. Right in the middle. He was barely quartering toward. Exit hold about 4 inches back of entry hole. He went 20 yards where I found my arrow. Covered in dark blood from tip to nock. 2 blade rage was covered in fat. I left quietly and sat in my truck. After an hour, I went back and started tracking. Blood trail was decent to follow. He went about 75 yards and crossed a steep ravine. Went up a short hill and crossed a gravel road. I gave up at that point, not wanting to push him.

Any advice? Liver? Was do you think the fat was from? Arrow didn't smell like guts. My plan is to head out in the morning to look some more. I really hate looking on another property as someone was in there bowhunting even tonight, but I can't give up.
 
You did the right thing in backing out. I would say liver and plenty cold tonight to let him lay. You will probably find him in his bed in the morning. :drink2:
 
You will find him tomorrow. Lots of fat posterior to the ribs and I usually wait at least 4-5 hours after a live hit, which I think you hit as you said.Its great you didn't bump hm and should be in first bed tomorrow. He won't survive, so keep looking tomorrow and you'll have your tag filled. Congrats.
 
Sounds like a typical liver shot, liver is behind the diaphram and there is lots of fat in that neck of the woods.

He should be dead by the AM, I have had similiar hits and he should be dead in his first bed or very close if you did not push him.

In my experience with liver shot bucks I have tracked, If they got pushed at all, they will keep going for quite a while after the blood stops flowing out the hole but are always dead.

Hope that helps, good luck.
 
Pretty sure he was across the road before I started. Just uneasy about being on another property while looking. Won't have my bow tomorrow but don't want to piss off anyone hunting. He went right past someone's truck parked there. I'm sure he just missed another bow hunter. While I was waiting I saw the guy pull away. I really hate not knowing.
 
Find the land owners number. Tell em the story. Pretty sure he would let you go track the deer. If not call your CO and have them assist you. You have the right to recover your game.
 
Got him! Took my dad out after lunch (couldn't get out earlier due to a birthday party for my son). After quite a while, I picked up the blood trail on the other side of the road. Made our way into the timber about 60 yards and there he was. Coyotes had a good meal overnight. Ate both rear quarters. Not happy about that, but the staps and meat up front on him will be just fine. I'll put a pick up in the harvest section. You guys were right. Dead middle of the liver, but I clipped one lung too. Had blood around it's mouth when I found him. He's not huge, but I"m proud of him. Monkey is officially off my back.
 
dead deer liver shot

personally i would not process a deer that coyotes have ate on don't know what they have been into, best thing for you would be save the rack and let the dogs have it. i know it's hard to waste it but since they have allready found it it's not worth getting sick over.
 
Glad you found him congrats:way:


regs said:
Retrieval and Waste of Game
While taking or attempting to take game or furbearing animals, you cannot abandon the in- jured animal without making a reasonable effort to retrieve it from the field. You cannot leave a usable portion of the game or furbearing animal in the field. “Usable portion” in this instance means the following: 1) for game, that part of an animal that is customarily processed for consumption;


This is how it reads in the regs but I think there may be a grey area here. Anyone know how that works?

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Yea kinda iffy with coyotes feasting on it,,think I'd give them the rest. Dogs such a problem anymore is why I hate hunting in the eve. Morning shot,,you have all day to find.
 
Granted I haven't seen what the deer looks like, but I would at least attempt to get the straps and the shoulders. Should be just fine after you cook/grill them.
 
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