its kinda suprising how they can not bleed at all on a gut shot like that, and other times they can bleed like mad on a gut shot. A guy that i hunt with shot a little doe with a 30-06 in a similar fashion to what you described and we found blood only after finding the deer. It was only a very small droplet Inside of the hoof mark . Only one pin prick sized drop was ever found.
When to stop tracking that missed shot?
- Thread starter John Y Cannuck
- Start date
Well, not quite, but their inability to see much in the red end of the spectrum makes most attempts at cammo largely irrelevant.
My point agrees with yours. Color is not nearly the issue that many think, and cammo is just not necessary, nor is it as effective as being still. Even with cammo, you better be still, or it will not work; if you are still, especially with a broken outline (partial cover behind a tree for example), it matters little what you are wearing.
Rory McCanuck
CGN Regular
- Location
- Middle of Manitoba
I have spent 3 of the last 5 afternoons following blood trails
of wounded deer. Didn't see any signs of the clowns that
took the shots.Found two corpses, but one went onto
property I don't have permission for.
If you don't know where the bullet is going to hit,
don't take the shot!
Good on ya for following up!
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Deer not bleeding, no blood trail.
There are a lot of things that can lead to this, most often it's just a plug of fat in each hole.
Obviously bigger holes are harder to plug, and smaller ones easier. But in the situation above, a typical 308 hit with this bullet should have left a 30 cal entry, and something like a 2" exit. That would be hard to plug. Enter the branch, and all goes to hell. The bullet could hit sideways, backwards, or on an angle.
I think this is an instance where the 45-70 would have made a cleaner kill, but you never really know. All bullets deflect.
There are a lot of things that can lead to this, most often it's just a plug of fat in each hole.
Obviously bigger holes are harder to plug, and smaller ones easier. But in the situation above, a typical 308 hit with this bullet should have left a 30 cal entry, and something like a 2" exit. That would be hard to plug. Enter the branch, and all goes to hell. The bullet could hit sideways, backwards, or on an angle.
I think this is an instance where the 45-70 would have made a cleaner kill, but you never really know. All bullets deflect.
Followed a deer that was hit a little to far back this morning (she took a step as a fellow hunter took the shot). He saw fur fly, I heard a pretty good thwack.
It took off. over a fence. First found blood at the fence she jumped. I follwed it into the bush while he went around to see if I would push her out.
The trail eventually disapeared. Met him on the other side of the bush and we went back to walk the trail again. This time as we got to the area where the blood disapeard we stopped and looked around to find her laying about 15 feet away in some blow down. Elapsed time was about 45 minutes from hit to find.
From the area where he hit it to the fense with the first was about 150yrds which I thought was odd. However iam still a very new hunter.
Lots learned this weekend. And got home with meat for the freeze so overall pretty happy.
It took off. over a fence. First found blood at the fence she jumped. I follwed it into the bush while he went around to see if I would push her out.
The trail eventually disapeared. Met him on the other side of the bush and we went back to walk the trail again. This time as we got to the area where the blood disapeard we stopped and looked around to find her laying about 15 feet away in some blow down. Elapsed time was about 45 minutes from hit to find.
From the area where he hit it to the fense with the first was about 150yrds which I thought was odd. However iam still a very new hunter.
Lots learned this weekend. And got home with meat for the freeze so overall pretty happy.
- Location
- The Conservative part of Ontario
Something years of hunting will teach you. If the deer goes out of sight, always give it lots of time to die. 15 minutes before you follow up is about minimum. If you follow up too soon, you may push the deer, and it will go much further.
Wait a bit, and they will lay down and either die, or weaken enough for you to finish the job.
Don't make a lot of noise either, as the deer may be really close.
Some consideration must be made here for conditions. Obviously if it's raining, or snowing, you will lose the trail if you wait too long. Same if dark is falling, or if it happens to be stinking hot like in the early part of bow season, and you are fearful of meat spoilage. But give it as long as you can, and you are more likely to find your deer quickly.
