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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 18, 2018 9:07:37 GMT -5
So I had an eventful hunting day that ended in disappointment...and now nausea. Around noon, I had an 8 point buck walking near the top of the ridge above my stand, following a 6 pt that had recently chased a doe. It happened fairly quickly, and he started to turn to go up the ridge and offered me a quartering away shot at around 85 yards. I was following him in my scope as best as I could as he moved along the ridge and after he stopped I got set and fired. He took a few bounds up over the ridge and disappeared.
I'm using a CVA Optima V2 and shooting Hornaday XTP 240 grain bullets.
When I checked for blood about 30 minutes later, I found nothing where the impact would have occurred. I then started going back and forth and around in half circles from that spot. Looked for 45 minutes or so and never found a drop. I was second-guessing whether I had started in the right spot, so I went back down the hill and sat in my stand to rest for a while, then re-oriented myself and went back up the hill to the spot, this time going out farther in the directions he might have travelled.
Looked for another long while and got farther away in case the blood started later, and still not a drop.
I concluded that I must have missed, given no blood whatsoever and no visible impact on the deer (falling, kicking, limping, etc.), and the reality that the sequence was pretty rushed and I may have been less steady in reality than I remembered.
But then last night, a friend texted me about his hunt and mentioned that the buck his son shot (and recovered) with a rifle traveled 200 yards before the blood trail started.
So now I'm kicking myself and wondering if I concentrated in too small an area. I can't get back down there, but I asked the other guy hunting in my area to keep an eye out in that portion of the property.
What did I do wrong in this scenario? I'm sure I'm not the first or the last person this has happened to. When you don't have visual evidence of a hit, you can't find blood, and the deer goes out of sight fairly quickly, how do you ensure you've searched long enough and far enough to be sure you don't have a deer down somewhere that you could have recovered?
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Post by psearcher on Nov 18, 2018 9:18:24 GMT -5
Shot many deer with what you used. Never had one hit and not bleed relatively quick. Rifle with bullet that doesn’t expand correct possible. I’d say miss
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Post by medic22 on Nov 18, 2018 9:20:11 GMT -5
Miss
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Post by greghopper on Nov 18, 2018 9:35:42 GMT -5
If you shoot one with a gun 9 out 10 time there will be hair on ground where it was standing if it was hit or grased!
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Post by ninepntr on Nov 18, 2018 10:09:03 GMT -5
Sounds like a miss, good you have a friend that may help you out.
You said your friends son shot a deer with rifle and no blood for 200 yards...wow... that’s a long way with no blood.. good luck
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Post by hugedogleg on Nov 18, 2018 10:48:23 GMT -5
It happens. If you hunt long enough you will lose one that you know you hit. In your case there is a good chance it was a clean miss. All you can do is give your best effort to recover a deer. Sounds like you made a good effort. I shot a spike a week ago. 40yds 130 grain ballist tip out of 270 win. I knew the deer was hit. Waited 30 min got down and went to spot where deer was hit. Not one drop of blood. I found the deer 50yds from where I hit him. Not one drop of blood. I had gone and gotten my dog before looking for the deer. Give her some practice. She didnt pick up the deers trail instead she went squirrel hunting ha. I don't know why it happens exactly but sometimes you just don't get blood. I thick woods it can be real hard to find one.
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 18, 2018 14:54:18 GMT -5
Thanks for the thoughts, all. I think you're probably right and a clean miss is the most likely explanation, as I had originally thought.
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Post by 36fan on Nov 18, 2018 20:51:41 GMT -5
Once I shot a buck at ~120 yds, quartering away with a MZ using Powerbelts. The field was covered with snow, so I was able to follow the tracks in the snow. He went back the direction he came, jumped the fence, and disappeared. I picked up the trail an hour later, and started at the point of impact and there was no blood hair. I followed the tracks in the snow for 100 yds to the fence. No blood. He jumped the fence, no blood. About 10 yds past the fence, their was one drop ... and he was piled up about 10 yds further.
If it wasn't for the tracks in the snow, I don't know if I would've found him. My shot entered just behind the diaphragm and last rib, hit both lungs and the top of the heart, and hit the far shoulder and didn't exit. It was a great shot, and only one drop of blood in ~120 yds.
And once I lost a doe that I shot 40 yds broadside. She disappeared over a ridge never to be seen again. No blood and no hair. I know I hit her, but I couldn't find any evidence that I did. It happens.
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Post by firstwd on Nov 18, 2018 21:18:48 GMT -5
Lack of blood is actually an easy explanation. It all depends on the height of the wound. A hole on the bottom 1/3 of the body will bleed much quicker than one on the top half that has to fill up before bleeding out.
One thing that will help you in the future is to learn to foot track. If you can find the hood prints from the point of impact, and follow them, you will find mortally wounded deer that don't bleed or bleed very little.
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Post by oldhoyt on Nov 19, 2018 7:42:04 GMT -5
If it were me, I would have searched more for it. Just because there's no blood sign (or at least that you were able to see) doesn't mean you shouldn't give the area a good sweep. I'd go as far in the general direction the deer was headed as I could go without trespassing. Look in all likely places, thick brush, water sources, etc. Walk it one way, turn 90 degrees walk it again. That white belly may be visible on one pass but not another. Anyway, I'd look enough to convince myself that I'd done all I could to find it. It does get very discouraging with no sign to follow, but like you say you can't get back there, so no harm in tearing the place up looking.
And, there's still the chance you missed. Doesn't take much to pull a shot, or for an unseen twig to jump in front of your bullet. If you can, shoot your gun to verify it's still on.
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Post by treetop on Nov 19, 2018 8:03:57 GMT -5
Lack of blood is actually an easy explanation. It all depends on the height of the wound. A hole on the bottom 1/3 of the body will bleed much quicker than one on the top half that has to fill up before bleeding out. One thing that will help you in the future is to learn to foot track. If you can find the hood prints from the point of impact, and follow them, you will find mortally wounded deer that don't bleed or bleed very little. This is very true I shot a buck few years back I hit high never saw blood till I found him. I always do a grid if I can’t find blood hair tracks im always surprised how well they can blend in laying on the ground |
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Post by harmonist34 on Nov 19, 2018 8:31:11 GMT -5
Appreciate the analysis and suggestions. My friend still-hunted through the area again yesterday to give it another sweep and also didn't see anything, for what it's worth. I'll never know for sure. I did find one clear set of tracks where he turned and ran up the hill after the shot but wasn't able to follow it more than a couple of steps before there were no imprints.
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Post by dvanwinklesr on Nov 19, 2018 19:47:54 GMT -5
I had the same thing 4pm today only thing the deer jumped up with his rear legs. No blood or hair . I’m a disabled I can’t walk far will try again tomorrow . It’s a great buck I hope to find it.
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Post by dvanwinklesr on Nov 19, 2018 19:50:58 GMT -5
Does the DNR have dogs to help people recover deer
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Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 19, 2018 19:59:00 GMT -5
Let everyone know where your are and a member can let you know your best choice. Post in the deer section your need. Good luck.
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Post by Woody Williams on Nov 19, 2018 20:19:25 GMT -5
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