Need some tracking/trailing advice

[DeerCamp]

Wife shot a buck this morning that was walking with his nose to the ground at about 125 yards.

When the deer ran off, he jerked and then had his tail up.

At the scene we found a lot of white hair on the backside of the shot, and a large white/tan clump with dark tips. We also found a bloody piece of bone that is about the size of the tip of a pinky. The bone is 100% porous and didn't give any indication of being a rib (smooth side) etc.

We did not find a single drop of blood. Help please! She's pretty discouraged

 

[DeerCamp]

Should also add... because of how far the hair was spread on the back side, I believe there was some sort of pass through, and there was no sign of it being a stomach hit, despite the lighter colored hair. No stomach matter or blood whatsoever.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

Low brisket or leg. Deer lived

 

[tndeerman]

It will be sore but should live

 

[DeerCamp]

Low brisket or leg. Deer lived

That's what I thought too. Wierd thing is, she said she felt like she aimed too far back, and she's a pretty decent shot. She was afraid it might have been a gut shot.


She would have been really far forward of point of aim if it were a brisket shot?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Low brisket or leg. Deer lived

I have the same thoughts

 

[backyardtndeer]

How far did you follow tracks?

 

[jetwrnch]

What direction was the buck facing relative to the shooter?

 

[DeerCamp]

What direction was the buck facing relative to the shooter?

Travelling Left to Right, head to the right. She said she felt like the shot was close to the middle of the body, which is what makes the brisket thing seem less likely, despite the evidence

 

[DeerCamp]

How far did you follow tracks?

15 to 20 yards, but without blood everything started to look the same

 

[jetwrnch]

Was it windy? If the wind was from the left the impact could be more to the right of where she aimed. It sure sounds like she hit low on the sternum.

 

[DeerCamp]

Was it windy? If the wind was from the left the impact could be more to the right of where she aimed. It sure sounds like she hit low on the sternum.

I agree. No wind.

 

[Snake]

I have the same thoughts

I agree

 

[DoubleRidge]

Tell her to hang in there and y'all stay after him....second chances can and do happen..... hopefully if your running cameras you can pick up some pics of him to confirm all is well....and possibly determine where the shot was....good luck.

 

[Ski]

She said she felt like the shot was close to the middle of the body

Things aren't always what they seem, but I wouldn't be doubting her just yet. That deer might be close by dead. Is it real thick or can you see well in the way the deer ran? If it's thick, you might want to check. She hit something. That's flesh and hair. I've reverse trailed deer before and felt embarrassed because I missed so much the first time. I think it's worth searching for the deer. Heaven forbid you give up on it only to find out it went 100yds & died. If you wife feels like she hit mid body, trust her and give that deer everything you got.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Been a few times we did not find blood right away. Sometimes getting on the deer's level and looking ahead down the most likely route has been the key to finding the start of a blood trail for me.

Ground was froze here this morning can make for finding tracks on normally soft ground tough but looking for leaves turned can help especially if the deer took off hard, he would probably be digging.

Have spent a lot of hours and put on miles searching for a couple deer shot on our farm that I did not find right away. Good luck.

 

[DeerCamp]

Appreciate everyone's input. I went back out at noon and looked for a long time. Eventually just started walking circles and probably covered 2 miles of ground (over about 500 acres).

Going to look for buzzards tomorrow, but my instinct is the deer is alive.