Recovering wounded or lost deer

[ozark]

I plan to collect data from forum members containing tips and helpful hints on recovering deer that have been wounded or lost.
From this data and my own experience I hope to write an article benefitual to hunters on specific steps to take and what clues and leads to follow up on. If this works out well perhaps we can all become better hunters. After all, trying to locate a lost deer can be where the real hunt begins. My wife and I have helped several find deer that otherwise would be wasted. She is really good at this and is a type of hunting she enjoys. It is a great thrill to see the hunter thrilled pink when you succeed.
We know the sad feeling that a hunter experiences when he thinks he/she has caused a deer to suffer and be wasted. If there is a nice rack involved the find is like striking gold to the shooter. There is a great amount of woodmanship and hunter abilities on this forum so speak up and provide me with your thoughts about what is important, what clues to follow, what leads to disregard?
What I know about it is some, what you know is some more, what we all know is perhaps enough to save the day.
I have some questions that will help? How long can a deer lay before the meat is unfit for human consumption? How much blood in pints can a deer loose and survive? What gun is best to use following a cripple? Just a few of many questions. Thanks for any assistance. If this is in the wrong place hopefully edge, or one of the others will move it. Ben

[trophybucks]

Ozark,

I've been hunting for over 35 years, and I'm only 41, if that tells you something. I used to be a deer guide for 20 years and have helped I don't know how many people that I guided recover deer. I used to guide on a military installation and the hunters that went out were young soldiers that are trying to hunt like their fathers and grandfathers did. To say the least, shooting at deer and paper targets are many miles apart.

I also entered law enforcement and have my degree in law enforcement. During my 18 years in LE, I've come to discover how to search a crime scene, detect a lead and then follow. I am constantly looking for finger prints in dust, muddy shoe prints on carpet and such. This, in turn, helps me in the field when I'm looking for a pin-head-size drop of blood on a leaf or a brush of red on a broom weed about 18-24" up off the ground. One day, I may write a book myself, but until then, I'll write down some of what I know and send it to you. It'll have to be in a PM, since it will be quite long.

Best of luck on the tips section.

[ozark]

trophybucks that is exactly what I am looking for. If this developes into material that is worthy of being put into a pamplet I may do that and mail the pamplet to each member that wants one free. I make one promise that you can count on. I will not have something for sale or personally profit from this project. Ben

[whyohe]

ok Ozark ill give you a few of my KEY thing i do if i have to track. ill say one thing i need to do better is when im in a tree stand get better land marks so i can find where i hit it. cause when you get out of that tree stand things look different. a compass may help me here. but ok here i go. when i find the inital shot place i look at the blood, how much, the hight of spray if any, & the color of the blood(dark, light, or frothy) now correct me if im wrong butwhat i was told is if it ia dark its a good livershot most likely, light is basket shot most likely, and frothy is a good lung shot. then i look at the tracks and blood drops to see wich way it went. if its a good trail i have no need to mark but if the blood trails off then i mark the the spots where i found the blood and if i have to i look back to get a general idea of wich way it was traveling. if it beds down i look at the bed to see again how much blood and what kind of blood, also if there is green color in the bed you have a gut shot most likely. i like to have some one with me cause 2 pair of eyes are better than 1. i always looking for ward in case i kick it up. go slow and try not to walk in the trail the deer is using so you dont step on any evidence you might need.

as always correct me if im in error!!

[petev]

Another, less common type of color is a watery red color which occured with the only deer I lost. I was told that means a high stomach hit, and in fact that is where I did hit that deer (I saw it licking the spot for a minute before it went into the woods). Ozark, you have my encouragement in this project, as we can all benefit from such advice. I encourage you to write more, after reading your book. The loss of mobility may have been a curse, but ability to use the pen a partial remedy. I would like to buy such a pamphlet. I dont expect anything for free, and no-one can be expected to give up his time for nothing. I joined this board to better utilize my Sav ML, but it has turned out to be much more! Pete

[Davexx1]

OZ

You have embarked on quite a task but it will likely be a labor of love. Trailing wounded deer will teach you and other hunters much about the animals we hunt.

I have owned several very good wounded deer trailing dogs over many years and they taught me many times they knew better where the deer went than I did. I learned from them and the deer. I will be glad to help if/when I have something worthwhile to contribute.

As was mentioned, be very sure exactly where the deer was standing at the shot, where last seen, etc.. A compass bearing from where you are standing or sitting in the tree stand will help guide you in the right direction.

The trail begins where the deer was standing at the shot and is where sign may exist that will tell you if you hit the animal, where you hit the animal, how long the animal may live, and may tell you whether to take up the trail immediately or wait.

An example would be that a good heart/lung shot with lots of blood sprayed or pouring out would indicate a short trail, likely 100 yards or less to an already expired animal. Another example would be if you found stomach contents and little blood that may indicate a hit thru the stomach, the animal may not expire for hours, and it would be suggested to back out and come back hours later to trail and try to recover the animal.

If not pursued, a wounded deer will not usually go very far before laying down (100-200 yards). If left alone for a sufficient length of time, the animal will expire right there. If pursued before death occurs, the deer will jump and run for a great distance, which complicates your trailing and greatly lessens the chance for recovery.

If in doubt, back out. Come back later. If the deer is actually dead, it is not going anywhere and will be there when you do come back.

Something else that comes to mind is when I was trailing a deer that was fatally hit, many times just before death ocurred, the deer made a short circle out to one side of the direction he was heading. If the trail suddenly stops, look very carefully out to each side for a change in direction.

If a blood trail is lessening as you work along, then you suddenly find a pool of blood and fresh unclotted blood leading off, in all probability the deer was laying there, jumped up and ran when he heard, smelled, or saw you coming. Backing out and coming back later would be suggested in this situation.

Every trailing job and situation may/will be different so it is hard to set a steadfast rule that would apply equally to all situations.

Hope this helps.

Dave1

[ozark]

UPDATE: I have been in touch with my publisher who printed Jake The woodsman and they will print a pamplet containing the efforts we make for around fifty cents per copy. It will be a size that you can carry in a pocket and read in your blind. I have some comments from only three or four of you (You know who your are) and will include your comments in the pamplet. But I hope to get more imput because your comments may be the very ones that will help someone recover a deer. Besides, I will give credit to your user name and Doug's Message board for the material. I will edit very little and if there are duplicate ideas that will just be reinforcement that the material is worthwhile. To you members this is a gift from me with help from members. So if you have a good tip on recovery Send me a PM and I will do the rest. How can you lose? More important you can help other members. Ben

[ozark]

I have enough information to get the pamplet done. Thanks for the contributions. I will give this to my publishers tomorrow and let them design the cover and make the pamplet. It will be small enough to fit in a pocket and free to all who sends me their address: Please PM your address if you desire a copy. That way I can create a list and mail them as soon as the publisher gets them to me. Ozark.

[ozark]

The proposed pamplet on recovering shot deer is in the hands of my publisher. Don't know how much time they will take but it should be ready for mailing soon. From PMs I will start compiling a list of addresses and numbers of copies desired. Ben

[ozark]

Allow me to send you a Christmas gift of a pamphlet called "HUNTING ETHICS" by sending me your address by PM. The pamphlet has suggestions and information on recovering a wounded or dead deer. I have a couple of addresses already but you know who you are. I ordered 100 copies. It is small enough to put in your pocket and read while waiting in a tree stand for Mr. Big to step out. Ozark.

[minst7877]

Thanks Ben I received my copy in the mail today. Can't wait to get the time to read it.

DC

[ozark]

You are all welcome. I have mailed to those that I have addresses. If you don't get a copy in a couple days and want a free copy PM your address. I think I have lost some addresses. Ozark. It isn't much but it is free.

[petev]

I got my copy today, thanks Ben. It gives me more to think about in the effort to always hone skills a little more. Thanks again. Pete