Deer blood trail

[lane44]

Good afternoon all, I recently shot a deer a few days ago. The buck was 80 yards in front of me and slightly quarterd to me. He was eating with his right side to me and his right leg was bent. I buried the cross hairs behind is right shoulder and shot. I pulled the trigger a little harder than I should have but as soon as I shot , his leg went straight up , stiff and he bucked up and took off low and fast. When I went to track him about 45 minutes later I found a very large pile of white hair. Being dark I decided to pick it up again first thing in the morning. I followed the trail for about 80 yards and the blood trail seemingly ended. The trail was good up until the last two spots I found. The following day there were about 17 buzzards flying over the area where the blood stopped at. I have searched and cannot find the deer and I was looking for advice on what to do next as well as trying to see what possible vitals I hit. Thank you all for looking. I've attached photos of some of the blood I found.

 

[bowhuntr09]

Really a this point all you can do is grid search the area. If buzzards have found it you should be able to find it as well. No sure where you're located, but at this point between buzzards, coyotes and depending on your daily temps there probably is nothing to salvage.

 

[lane44]

I'm in Eastern NC and temps recently have been 55 degrees over these last few days. I would have gone back in there sooner but work didn't allow me the time to

 

[bowhuntr09]

I'm in Eastern NC and temps recently have been 55 degrees over these last few days. I would have gone back in there sooner but work didn't allow me the time to

I'm in VA and we have had horrible temps for hunting lately. Unfortunately sometimes these things happen. You can make what you would think would be a killing shot and they can make it for hundreds of yards to never be found. I lost my biggest ever last year with a 10 yd bow shot and would swear it was a killing shot but never found him.

 

[lane44]

I'm in VA and we have had horrible temps for hunting lately. Unfortunately sometimes these things happen. You can make what you would think would be a killing shot and they can make it for hundreds of yards to never be found. I lost my biggest ever last year with a 10 yd bow shot and would swear it was a killing shot but never found him.

I'm sure he's dead with the buzzards and all flying around. He would be my biggest buck to date and it's a bummer that I can't find him

 

[KoolBreeze]

It happens. Most everyone that's been hunting for long has lost a deer or 3 at some point. That's why I started shooting them in the shoulder a number of years back. Most every deer I've shot since has dropped in its tracks or might go 30 yards at most. Yeah, you loose some should meat doing it but that's fine, he going nowhere.

 

[lane44]

It happens. Most everyone that's been hunting for long has lost a deer or 3 at some point. That's why I started shooting them in the shoulder a number of years back. Most every deer I've shot since has dropped in its tracks or might go 30 yards at most. Yeah, you loose some should meat doing it but that's fine, he going nowhere.

Does the blood look like a good vital shot or a muscle shot?

 

[Wellsdw]

Bright blood that starts heavy and trickles to nothing is generally muscle. (Muscle blood can also be foamy from the hide moving over the wound) Bright blood that starts light and gets heavier indicates lung.(also usually has a dead deer at the end of the trail) If you loose another one go through United blood trackers website. There is a lot of great tracking dogs inNC. I’m in NC north for Winston Salem with a dog. When in doubt leave it, call in a dog, not 5 of your buddies. This wrecks the scent field. Good luck though I’d keep looking.

 

[lane44]

Bright blood that starts heavy and trickles to nothing is generally muscle. (Muscle blood can also be foamy from the hide moving over the wound) Bright blood that starts light and gets heavier indicates lung.(also usually has a dead deer at the end of the trail) If you loose another one go through United blood trackers website. There is a lot of great tracking dogs inNC. I’m in NC north for Winston Salem with a dog. When in doubt leave it, call in a dog, not 5 of your buddies. This wrecks the scent field. Good luck though I’d keep looking.
[/QUOTE I'm definitely gonna keep looking, hopefully he's dead in there somewhere.

 

[lane44]

If it helps the blood trail started out light and got heavier as it went

 

[KoolBreeze]

Does the blood look like a good vital shot or a muscle shot?

Honestly, I haven't paid much attention to it, as the deer usually drops in the spot it's shot or is laying within sight of it. I can't recall the last time I trailed a deer that I shot with a rifle but it's been quiet a few years.

 

[loganwayne]

Sit back and watch the buzzards. If it’s dead they will land onto it or real close to it.

 

[weekender7]

After a few days, the only thing left will be maybe a few bones and the scull with horns. The scull could have been carried to who knows where by the coyotes. You will just have to get real lucky with finding the head.

 

[Ringtail]

A friend of mine killed a nice buck in Asheville, NC with a crossbow. Shot him too far back and it took him 3 days to find him. He was 450 yards from where he shot. They can truly go a long ways. Just keep grid searching. Maybe you will find him.

Usually the only way I’ve seen to have hair laying there is that you just clipped his front leg? If so that deer will live to hunt again.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

The large pile of white hair and bright red blood that got heavier as you went on suggests a possible leg/brisket shot. You may have shot through the “elbow” and brisket and exited without hitting the vitals. If this is the case, the wound would open up and bleed more as the deer moved.

That all being said, it’s not necessarily a mortal hit. If the deer can reach the wound and keep it clean, he may survive, even with 3 legs. They have incredible survival instincts and perseverance. In warmer climates with out heavy snow cover and access to food/water, he may survive.

 

[lane44]

I looked again today and didn't find anything so I'm thinking I made a bad shot which I feel crummy about.

 

[FLATHEAD]

I'd be looking in any creeks.

 

[Beendare]

Deleted

 

[LostArra]

The large pile of white hair and bright red blood that got heavier as you went on suggests a possible leg/brisket shot. You may have shot through the “elbow” and brisket and exited without hitting the vitals. If this is the case, the wound would open up and bleed more as the deer moved.

That all being said, it’s not necessarily a mortal hit. If the deer can reach the wound and keep it clean, he may survive, even with 3 legs. They have incredible survival instincts and perseverance. In warmer climates with out heavy snow cover and access to food/water, he may survive.

Low shot, white hairs and lots of initial blood.

It must not have hit vitals if you didn't find it in a couple hundred yards.

I'm guessing the shot was not fatal.
17 buzzards are as good as dogs at finding dead deer.

 

[Travis907]

Like others have said, sounds like a brisket or elbow shot! He may or may not die! They are a hearty creature. Keep watching the buzzards and if you want to keep searching do a grid pattern! Good luck!!