Shot deer usually run toward their bedding?

[philsanchez76]

After a deer is hit with an arrow or bullet do they tend to run back toward their bedding? Or is it completely random? What have y'all seen? Or am I trying to find a pattern where there is none? Reason I even thought to ask is I made a marginal bow shot on a deer and I followed blood well over 400 yards through all kinds of stuff and ended up finding all kinds of deer beds back there in an area I had never even thought to scout out.

 

[bloodtrailing]

Deer usually bed in thick cover. Wounded deer usually run to thick cover to escape.

 

[Jdunn94]

Happened to me yesterday morning shot a doe she ran into thicket got wrapped up in vines how I found her

 

[Boll Weevil]

Shot deer will very often whirl around and run where they just came from. The proverbial death run is often whatever direction their nose is pointed.

 

[timberjack86]

Most of the ones I've shot run the way there facing

 

[Remington700]

I do not think there is any definite answer to this. I have seen them do all kinds of stuff when shot. Typically they run back the way they can with their tail tucked.

 

[UCStandSitter]

Water in my experience

 

[huvrman]

Downhill, water…

 

[1jamey]

Water or cover, by cover I mean they get out of dodge asap

 

[Snake]

I've seen all sorts of scenarios. Deer won't run uphill is what I've heard but have seen that happen , most replies are correct . Most of the time from my accounts they run they way they are headed but not the rule of thumb .

 

[DoubleRidge]

I've seen them do all the above....plus I've seen them just stand there giving no indication of a hit....then walk a few feet and fall over....main thing is in the moments following the shot try to collect as much information as possible, direction traveled, what was the deer doing, do you hear them crash or run out of hearing distance? Were they humped up, tail up or down? And mark the exact spot where the deer was standing so you know exactly where to begin the process....Any information you can collect may help determine when and how to proceed.

 

[Andy S.]

It depends on "where" they are hit, whether it is a good hit or a graze, etc,. what they are hit with (broadhead versus bullet), and their state of mind when they are hit (relaxed and feeding versus nervous and alert). Way too many variables to give a single answer. Generally speaking, if the hit is fatal (in the vitals), they run like h*ll the direction they were pointed at the time of impact. We call this the "death run" and it is typically unmistakable. Not always, but that has been my experience 99% of the time. If the hit is marginal, and depending on projectile type (broadhead vs bullet), anything can happen.

 

[GRIT]

I have had a few with a bow go back to there bedding spot.Usually it' not a perfect shot but none the less it killed it. A gun or muzzleloader usually the way there where heading.I have seen them go straight up a hill shot with a gun perfect shot too.So most run the way there heading.But there is always gonna be a few to through you off.

 

[RUGER]

I have seen them do everything you can imagine.
The only thing that I saw on an "almost" every time basis is the ole mule kick with a double lung bow shot.