Ran out of blood…

I had a nice buck come within 10 yards of my stand tonight. He was at least a 9-pointer but I only saw him for 15 seconds so I’m not positive. He stood broadside to me at less than 10 yards, I shot and hit him about 5 inches away from his spine towards me right through the lungs or so I thought. It was a fairly steep angle but the arrow went completely through him as I found it a few feet away covered in blood but with some fat on it when it came out of the deer. He took off running hard but I didn’t find any blood for 70 yards or so. We followed his tracks until we ran across some blood and followed it for another 40 yards or so and then we ran out of it. We searched and searched and found no more blood and no deer. The area was quite open where we lost him but we searched the area throughly and nothing. I’m really quite baffled why we didn’t find him or where we went. There’s a creek about 150 yards from where we lost him but we ran out of light to search anymore. I checked the deep ditch where he went towards and nothing either. I switched to Rocket Aeroheads for broadheads this year as I had bad luck with the broadheads I used to use. They have a small diameter cutting area but penetrate very well. I wonder if that could hinder the loss of blood. I’m at a lost for thoughts. Anyone have any ideas? Broadhead suggestions?

Let’s hear some more details.
1. How high in the tree were you?
2. How did the deer react after the shot?
3. What kind of blood was on the arrow/ground?
4. Did you hit the buck 5″ below the spine or 5″ below the back?
I have tracked 2 deer for myself and 3 for a friend this year and all but 1 had very tough bloodtrails this year. All deer were hit good, but all bled internally even with fairly low exit wounds . All deer had alot of fat that seemed to plug the holes pretty quick. My buddy uses Montecs and I use Thunderheads, so the broadhead should not be a factor unless it was not razor sharp which I am going to assume it was. A few more details might be able to narrow things down. I know things can happen so fast that we sometimes don’t “see” certain details until we have calmed down and “relived” the scene. He is probably not too far from where you stopped looking .

Let’s hear some more details.
1. How high in the tree were you?
2. How did the deer react after the shot?
3. What kind of blood was on the arrow/ground?
4. Did you hit the buck 5″ below the spine or 5″ below the back?
I have tracked 2 deer for myself and 3 for a friend this year and all but 1 had very tough bloodtrails this year. All deer were hit good, but all bled internally even with fairly low exit wounds . All deer had alot of fat that seemed to plug the holes pretty quick. My buddy uses Montecs and I use Thunderheads, so the broadhead should not be a factor unless it was not razor sharp which I am going to assume it was. A few more details might be able to narrow things down. I know things can happen so fast that we sometimes don’t “see” certain details until we have calmed down and “relived” the scene. He is probably not too far from where you stopped looking .

I was quite high in the tree relative to where I shot him, about 40 feet. The base of the tree is in a deep ditch where a spring comes out of so the angle of every potential shot varies a lot. The deer took off instantly when I shot him and never stopped running. He kept his tail tucked down and never had any long bounds. He ran uphill for maybe 30 yards then he ran parallel with the hill. He made a turn uphill after about a 100 yards of trailing and then we lost the blood shortly after that. When he turned uphill it appeared that he was going to cross over the top of a small knoll. We crossed the top of the knoll and it is wide open in the woods and we could see quite well. He made some deep tracks in the groud which allowed us to follow him for quite a while before we found blood. The blood we found was a decent red. Not real bright but not real dark either. A couple times there was a little fat mixed in with the blood but there was very little blood at all. There weren’t any bubbles in the blood either. The arrow was covered in the same blood but also had quite a bit of fat on it. One of the blades on the broadhead was missing and the other 2 bent up. There were also a few white hairs stuck to the fat on the arrow. He appeared to be hit about 5″ below the spine slightly behind where the shoulder blade would be but it was above the shoulder blade. He may have been quartering towards me a bit with the steep angle and the white hair that I might have missed the lungs. When a deer is standing, how high up do the lungs go in accordance with the spine?

I was quite high in the tree relative to where I shot him, about 40 feet. The base of the tree is in a deep ditch where a spring comes out of so the angle of every potential shot varies a lot. The deer took off instantly when I shot him and never stopped running. He kept his tail tucked down and never had any long bounds. He ran uphill for maybe 30 yards then he ran parallel with the hill. He made a turn uphill after about a 100 yards of trailing and then we lost the blood shortly after that. When he turned uphill it appeared that he was going to cross over the top of a small knoll. We crossed the top of the knoll and it is wide open in the woods and we could see quite well. He made some deep tracks in the groud which allowed us to follow him for quite a while before we found blood. The blood we found was a decent red. Not real bright but not real dark either. A couple times there was a little fat mixed in with the blood but there was very little blood at all. There weren’t any bubbles in the blood either. The arrow was covered in the same blood but also had quite a bit of fat on it. One of the blades on the broadhead was missing and the other 2 bent up. There were also a few white hairs stuck to the fat on the arrow. He appeared to be hit about 5″ below the spine slightly behind where the shoulder blade would be but it was above the shoulder blade. He may have been quartering towards me a bit with the steep angle and the white hair that I might have missed the lungs. When a deer is standing, how high up do the lungs go in accordance with the spine?

I gut shot my first buck at 40 yrds and luckily there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground. He walked the creek 2 seperate times for about 60 to 80 yrds each time leaving no blood trail. I had my waders on and checked every path that crossed the creek and finially came across the faint blood trail coming out of the creek. We followed it and scared him out of a cedar timber and he ran for the creek again and layed down in it when we dispatched him. Check the creek trails because i’ve had other guys tell me that they’ve had the same thing happen to there deer. Could be thier feeling faint and the cold water keeps them thinking clearly. Hydrogen peroxide and water mixed at 50-50 and sprayed with a spray bottle on each trail exit and entrance will show any blood, it will fizz like it does on humans, hope this helps. good luck in finding him

I gut shot my first buck at 40 yrds and luckily there was about 2 inches of snow on the ground. He walked the creek 2 seperate times for about 60 to 80 yrds each time leaving no blood trail. I had my waders on and checked every path that crossed the creek and finially came across the faint blood trail coming out of the creek. We followed it and scared him out of a cedar timber and he ran for the creek again and layed down in it when we dispatched him. Check the creek trails because i’ve had other guys tell me that they’ve had the same thing happen to there deer. Could be thier feeling faint and the cold water keeps them thinking clearly. Hydrogen peroxide and water mixed at 50-50 and sprayed with a spray bottle on each trail exit and entrance will show any blood, it will fizz like it does on humans, hope this helps. good luck in finding him

Look at a drawing of the vitals of a deer, you probably already have but thier in the upper third of the front of the deer just behind the front legs. The white hair comes from the arrow exiting him. If the tissue on the arrow was a pinkish color thats a shure sign of a lung hit. It sounds like once you find the trail it might be a decent one because of the arrow exiting the bottom of the deer. When a deer runs uphill the body cavity will fill with blood and you might not get a good trail if any. When he’s going downhill it will exit better. Hope you find him

Look at a drawing of the vitals of a deer, you probably already have but thier in the upper third of the front of the deer just behind the front legs. The white hair comes from the arrow exiting him. If the tissue on the arrow was a pinkish color thats a shure sign of a lung hit. It sounds like once you find the trail it might be a decent one because of the arrow exiting the bottom of the deer. When a deer runs uphill the body cavity will fill with blood and you might not get a good trail if any. When he’s going downhill it will exit better. Hope you find him

I was just looking at some drawings of where the vitals are and think it might be possible that the arrow went in between the spine and the lungs. But being that I had some white hair on the arrow I would assume that I had to hit part of at least one lung but I’m not positive. The arrow had blood and fat on it but there was so much fat that it was hard to see anything else. When we crossed over the knoll where he seemingly went we checked every trail and there was no sign of any blood. I even found a fresh set of tracks that skidded down the hill as he had been doing but nothing. We went at least another 100 yards past the knoll and nothing. We had about 2 hours of daylight for searching since he came through at 2:45.

I was just looking at some drawings of where the vitals are and think it might be possible that the arrow went in between the spine and the lungs. But being that I had some white hair on the arrow I would assume that I had to hit part of at least one lung but I’m not positive. The arrow had blood and fat on it but there was so much fat that it was hard to see anything else. When we crossed over the knoll where he seemingly went we checked every trail and there was no sign of any blood. I even found a fresh set of tracks that skidded down the hill as he had been doing but nothing. We went at least another 100 yards past the knoll and nothing. We had about 2 hours of daylight for searching since he came through at 2:45.

How soon after you shot did you start to track? Any chance you pushed him? Sounds like a dead deer. I’d relook the open area and definitly check out the creek area. Wounded deer tend to head for water. Rain coming tonight so get out there!!

How soon after you shot did you start to track? Any chance you pushed him? Sounds like a dead deer. I’d relook the open area and definitly check out the creek area. Wounded deer tend to head for water. Rain coming tonight so get out there!!

We waited an hour before going to look for him. I went about 20 yards from where I shot him shortly after I shot him to see if there was any blood but didn’t find anything so I gave him an hour before tracking but wanted to track in the daylight because of the lack of blood. I could see him run for about 60 yards right after the shot but then lost him and he never stopped. I’m sure we didn’t jump him as there wasn’t a bed anywhere and the whole way we trailed him, we had tracks where he skidded in the ground. I have to work until 1:00pm so hopefully it won’t rain before then.

We waited an hour before going to look for him. I went about 20 yards from where I shot him shortly after I shot him to see if there was any blood but didn’t find anything so I gave him an hour before tracking but wanted to track in the daylight because of the lack of blood. I could see him run for about 60 yards right after the shot but then lost him and he never stopped. I’m sure we didn’t jump him as there wasn’t a bed anywhere and the whole way we trailed him, we had tracks where he skidded in the ground. I have to work until 1:00pm so hopefully it won’t rain before then.

Sounds good. I wish you luck and let us know how it turns out. Remember be patient and thorough. Here is a radar link.

radar

Sounds good. I wish you luck and let us know how it turns out. Remember be patient and thorough. Here is a radar link.

radar

Good Luck finding him. There is a decent gap between the lungs and the spine that may cover 3-5″. But it sounds in your case, the angle of the shot should negate this “air space”. I know the feeling….. I tracked one last year in ND and as someone mentioned earlier twice he ran the creek bed at least 100 yards each time. I ended up putting a 2nd arrow into him 5 sections south and 1 section East of the original shot. Thank God for a new coating of snow. I let him lay overnight and jumped him out of the slough where I seen him bed. I chased that sucker for 8 hours. A lesson was relearned in this case. Good luck finding him and let us know how you do.!

Good Luck finding him. There is a decent gap between the lungs and the spine that may cover 3-5″. But it sounds in your case, the angle of the shot should negate this “air space”. I know the feeling….. I tracked one last year in ND and as someone mentioned earlier twice he ran the creek bed at least 100 yards each time. I ended up putting a 2nd arrow into him 5 sections south and 1 section East of the original shot. Thank God for a new coating of snow. I let him lay overnight and jumped him out of the slough where I seen him bed. I chased that sucker for 8 hours. A lesson was relearned in this case. Good luck finding him and let us know how you do.!

At that height, you almost have to aim at the spine. That has been my experience. If you do not practice at that height, making a shot from there can be tough. Most people do not aim high enough and end up having the arrow pass thru, but not hitting anything.

I also hunt at that height and it took me a lot of practice to figure out where to hit them. If you hit in the “typical” vital region at 10 yards, you won’t even touch a lung, even though the shot appears to be a good one.

My guess is the deer got a real nice flesh wound running down the rib, exiting below the deer. Thus the reason for all the fat on the arrow. Yes, the exact same thing happened to me before The shots from that height always look good, but usually they are not high enough to put a good kill on.

At that height, you almost have to aim at the spine. That has been my experience. If you do not practice at that height, making a shot from there can be tough. Most people do not aim high enough and end up having the arrow pass thru, but not hitting anything.

I also hunt at that height and it took me a lot of practice to figure out where to hit them. If you hit in the “typical” vital region at 10 yards, you won’t even touch a lung, even though the shot appears to be a good one.

My guess is the deer got a real nice flesh wound running down the rib, exiting below the deer. Thus the reason for all the fat on the arrow. Yes, the exact same thing happened to me before The shots from that height always look good, but usually they are not high enough to put a good kill on.

I would have to agree with Scott. Have had that happen to my Dad before while we were out hunting. And with the lack of a blood trail and no bubbles in the blood this sounds like this could very possibly be a flesh type wound. Lets hope if u dont find the deer this was what it was.

I would have to agree with Scott. Have had that happen to my Dad before while we were out hunting. And with the lack of a blood trail and no bubbles in the blood this sounds like this could very possibly be a flesh type wound. Lets hope if u dont find the deer this was what it was.

I would also second Scotts statement. At that angle of a shot, If you did not hit close to the spine you probably entered and passed thru on the same side, more than likely missing any vitals. THat is a very difficult shot to make, believe it or not @ 10 YARDS, unless you practice it. Either people do that or drop there arm and shoot high on shots close to the tree. Remeber think about the exit point as much as the entry point. This also is important on qaurtering away shots. Good Luck

I would also second Scotts statement. At that angle of a shot, If you did not hit close to the spine you probably entered and passed thru on the same side, more than likely missing any vitals. THat is a very difficult shot to make, believe it or not @ 10 YARDS, unless you practice it. Either people do that or drop there arm and shoot high on shots close to the tree. Remeber think about the exit point as much as the entry point. This also is important on qaurtering away shots. Good Luck

Also remember that there is about a 4″ to 6″ diffrence from the arrow to the sights and shooting straight down or close to it you’ll have to sight your pin over the spine, so the arrow is in direct line with the spine. When shooting close to straight down theres very little drop in the arrow. The only shot you wouldn’t have to compensate for drop is when the arrow and sight pin is in direct line with the spine, coming straight at you. On a side shot if the pin is on the spine the arrow will enter infront of or slightly under the spine. This is a shot that would take practice.

Also remember that there is about a 4″ to 6″ diffrence from the arrow to the sights and shooting straight down or close to it you’ll have to sight your pin over the spine, so the arrow is in direct line with the spine. When shooting close to straight down theres very little drop in the arrow. The only shot you wouldn’t have to compensate for drop is when the arrow and sight pin is in direct line with the spine, coming straight at you. On a side shot if the pin is on the spine the arrow will enter infront of or slightly under the spine. This is a shot that would take practice.

Well i’m sure this rain\drizzle today didn’t help your tracking any…..

Good Luck

Well i’m sure this rain\drizzle today didn’t help your tracking any…..

Good Luck

I went out and looked for a while yesterday and found nothing. Not much more I can do. I’ll make sure everyone that hunts by me over gun season keeps their eyes open.

I hope I just gave him a flesh wound and he is ok. However, the arrow appeared to come out the opposite side of the deer. The arrow didn’t pass completely through the deer on initial impact. I saw just the fletchings sticking out when he bolted off and then when he jump to go up the creek bank it came out. Also, the blood we found appeared to come out the opposite of the deer as he ran away. I guess I’ll see if we run into him during gun season.