South Cherokee buck lost

[Ocoee Ridge Runner]

I shot a really big buck yesterday morning about 10:15 in South Cherokee. First buck I have ever not recovered and it's a rough feeling. I aimed for the left shoulder with the buck facing toward me but angled to the right. When I shot he came stumbling down the ridge and crashed into a tree. He then got up and kind of walked staggering around the ridge and went out of sight. I waited about thirty minutes and got up and walked to the tree he crashed into. It had blood all over the side along with bone fragments and on the ground where pinkish red blobs of tissue. I then walked over to where he dropped off the ridge and there was a trail of bright red blood going off the ridge and all the way up over to the next ridge. So much blood it was pooling on the leaves. It was a huge blood trail that went for about 100 yards and then you could see when he got to the top of the next ridge he either stood or bedded because there was a lot of blood in one spot after that not another drop anywhere in any direction we could find.
We walked every ridge,bottom and creek until dark and went back today and walked everything within reason he could have gone and nothing. I'm just stunned we couldn't find this buck. When he crashed and got up he seemed like he was hurt bad. I feel we gave it everything we could to find him but just couldn't.

 

[KTS]

Sorry you couldn't find him, it's frustrating for sure.

 

[Volbuck777]

Hate it for you, it hurts to lose one. Hopefully he'll live. Id probably go back to look when it warms a bit. Buzzards may take you to him and maybe you could at least get the rack.

 

[THE DUKE]

I hate that for you, not a worst feeling out there.

 

[Jcalder]

Another reason to keep shooting until they fall, and to keep your eyes on them afterward.

 

[Iglow]

Hate it for you, it hurts to lose one. Hopefully he'll live. Id probably go back to look when it warms a bit. Buzzards may take you to him and maybe you could at least get the rack.

Buzzards. If he's dead they will find him.

 

[Wrangler95]

That is terrible,I'm sure he is dead!

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Sure sounds hard hit. I know that would be a tough area for just about anything but there are drone deer recovery out there in a lot of the state now.

 

[timberjack86]

Ugh I have a tracking dog. Wish I found out sooner. I'm right here at the foot of starr mountain

 

[killingtime 41]

Go back with a dog if there's that much blood he's probably dead. I'd get a dog if it was me.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Too bad you didn't get a dog out to track. With the others on watching for buzzards, sounds like a dead deer.

 

[bigtex]

Oh man, I hate it for ya. I think he's dead from your description, but man they sure can hide. I know your sick about it but unfortunately it happens, anyone says it's never happened to them is lying or not hunted much.

 

[Ski]

Get a dog. Keep searching. Sucks but you won't find him if you ain't searching.

 

[Ocoee Ridge Runner]

Ugh I have a tracking dog. Wish I found out sooner. I'm right here at the foot of starr mountain

How long after the shot can a dog find a deer?

 

[Ski]

How long after the shot can a dog find a deer?

Sooner the better but a couple days isn't a stretch. If he's stinking the dog will find him even if you can't smell him yet. Dogs are amazing.

 

[casjoker]

I was the guy in the tree stand you chatted with for a few minutes. I will be back out there in the general area tomorrow. If I see any sign of the buck, I will DM on here. Sucks you couldn't find him. Sounds like he was hit hard, but wounds can close up if hit a little back or no exit wound. Their will to survive and toughness are remarkable. Sorry you didn't find him. I thought with three of you looking, you would have located him.

 

[Ocoee Ridge Runner]

I was the guy in the tree stand you chatted with for a few minutes. I will be back out there in the general area tomorrow. If I see any sign of the buck, I will DM on here. Sucks you couldn't find him. Sounds like he was hit hard, but wounds can close up if hit a little back or no exit wound. Their will to survive and toughness are remarkable. Sorry you didn't find him. I thought with three of you looking, you would have located him.

Thanks! Again I'm sorry we messed up your hunt.

 

[casjoker]

No worries, you were putting in a good effort to recover the animal. I will never have a problem with that.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Ugh I have a tracking dog. Wish I found out sooner. I'm right here at the foot of starr mountain

With the amount of blood described, it seems like a dog could still pick up a trail, but not sure what the limit on time before it's too cold to pick up.

 

[Gravey]

That sucks and I've been there.

 

[Griswold]

If he lost that much blood hes dead, get out there with a dog

 

[DeerMan66]

That sure sounds like a dead deer. I agree on getting a dog out there. If you can't get a dog, buzzards will be your next best chance. I hate it for you brother. I lost some sleep over one like that. It was back before people tracked them with dogs. Buzzards found it for me about a week later.

 

[ScLowCountry]

Get a dog or drive recovery person

 

[timberjack86]

How long after the shot can a dog find a deer?

IMO best we can hope for is the dog to wind the dead deer. It's going on 48 hours, plus all the foot traffic on top of the trail is going to be almost impossible to pick up the track. If the track hadn't been walked over several times I'd be more optimistic. I am free for a couple or 3 hours Early this morning if you want to try it. Sending a PM

 

[Turkeychaser]

I hope you can find him. I appreciate the determination of early mornings and long walks to hunt the mountains.

 

[swampbadger]

I haven't had this happen with a really big buck, but I've had it happen with several other bucks throughout the years. At least 3 that I distinctly remember.

It's the worst feeling and stings awful bad. You've gotta regroup and realize it's part of the game. It's happened to most hunters who have a lot of seasons under their belt. Keep moving forward and keep hunting!

 

[Winchester]

That stinks, sounds like maybe just a shoulder shot, never penetrating his cavity if the angle was pretty good as he was facing you.

 

[Mattt]

Another reason to keep shooting until they fall, and to keep your eyes on them afterward.

This.

 

[fatboy at heart]

Several years ago during muzzleloader in Ocoee. I made a similar shot on a buck. I was in bottom of a hollow and he was on top of a ridge. When I shot he dropped then jumped up and ran straight down the ridge to the hollow. He ran up the side of another ridge that was about three times higher. Then the leaves were heavy and I lost sight when he crossed the holler. I reloaded and started up the hollow where he crossed. When I got to where he crossed I noticed the ridge he was on.You almost had to look straight up to see the top. My heart sunk. I was there by myself. I was standing in the bottom and happened to notice a log about a 1/4 way up. I started up the ridge and he stood up behind the log. I took the se ond shot and he flopped all the way to the bottom. Hopefully you get to go back and find him.

 

[Snake]

I shot a really big buck yesterday morning about 10:15 in South Cherokee. First buck I have ever not recovered and it's a rough feeling. I aimed for the left shoulder with the buck facing toward me but angled to the right. When I shot he came stumbling down the ridge and crashed into a tree. He then got up and kind of walked staggering around the ridge and went out of sight. I waited about thirty minutes and got up and walked to the tree he crashed into. It had blood all over the side along with bone fragments and on the ground where pinkish red blobs of tissue. I then walked over to where he dropped off the ridge and there was a trail of bright red blood going off the ridge and all the way up over to the next ridge. So much blood it was pooling on the leaves. It was a huge blood trail that went for about 100 yards and then you could see when he got to the top of the next ridge he either stood or bedded because there was a lot of blood in one spot after that not another drop anywhere in any direction we could find.
We walked every ridge,bottom and creek until dark and went back today and walked everything within reason he could have gone and nothing. I'm just stunned we couldn't find this buck. When he crashed and got up he seemed like he was hurt bad. I feel we gave it everything we could to find him but just couldn't.

Sorry for the loss of a great buck ....classic shoulder shot IMO . Exactly why I try not to take a shot in the shoulder . I've lost two that I can remember that could be your story to a tee , really good bucks too.