Did I hit it?

[coocoo4coues]

I have a very serious problem. I've taken a couple shots, where I haven't been able to recover my arrow, or a blood trail. I'll spend hours covering the area, because of the uncertainty. This morning, I took a shot at a forker, at what I was sure about 30 yards. He bolted out of there, and ran for about 50 yards, and out of sight. I couldn't find the arrow...much less the deer. This has happened to me once before. My question is, when you DO hit your target, how do you know if you connected? Is there a distinctive sound? Does the deer run, kick or just stay still? I'm thinking I didn't get him, because he ran pretty hard. The missing arrow is what bugs me. I had to cut the search short to come to work. Should I continue looking? I need some experienced advice here.

 

Thx,

[reddog]

Don't know how to ansewer your question, but usually there is a unique sound when you connect, but I can almost always see the arrow. Also a range finder would be a good investment.

 

As for looking for the deer, I would get back out there and look alot more, I feel like you owe it the animal.

 

Good Luck

 

REDDOG

[azhuntnut]

You will usually here a "thwack" type of sound when you connect. Something I bought this year was a flashlight that can see blood at night time just in case I have to make a recovery after dark. Keep looking for that arrow. If you made a hit, it will be close by. Start checking in the trees just behind where you shot the deer. David

[AZP&Y]

True - thwack, is a good sign and the range-finder is a must when you may be hunting un-even terrain or longer shot opportunities.

 

If you haven't switched to carbon, I would highly recommend it. You in the end will get a more durable arrow and less of an opportunity for breakage if you've busted, say an aluminum and leave the broadhead in, which can work it's way into the vitals (this can be a good thing).

 

If there is no arrow to be found, then you've got to cover as much ground as possible and go back to where you took the shot and try and replay the angle, trajectory... If may involve checking all areas on your hands and knees if the situation warrants it.

 

A book that I can recommed is "tracking wounded deer" by John Trout Jr.

This is an art-form and can require countless hours and can be trying and taxing when it seems there is no trail, or little sign of a wounded buck.

 

Good luck and the best advice is perserverance, the animal deserves that right.

 

AzP&y

[Kevin]

There are several ways to tell, the best in my opinion is to follow through on your shot to begin with. If you pick a spot on the animal to aim or focus on prior to your shot, the pin (if using sights) should still be on that spot when the arrow hits. If not, you are not following through and your accuracy will suffer. Second, use a bright colored fletching on your arrows so they are easy to see, whether in the air, as it hits the animal or on the ground. White is very good in most all situations, as is any of the flourescent colors.

 

You can sometimes hear an arrow hit an animal, especially if you hit bone. However, I've shot between ribs on both sides and not heard the arrow hit, even on a 12 yard shot. In my opinion, sound can't rule out a hit.

 

When you shoot make sure you know exacly where the animal went out of sight if at all possible. Also make sure you mark where you are standing and where the animal was. Mark your location with an arrow or your hat, ribbon etc BEFORE you move. Having both yours and the animals location marked you can get a good idea of which direction the arrow should be. Look for cut hair and/or blood on the ground where the animal was standing. Almost always if you look close enough (on hands and knees if necessary) there will be both where the animal was standing. Blood at the shot location will be a fine mist usually. A spray bottle of peroxide will help find hard to see blood (white foam on blood).

 

Make sure you remain quiet for at least 30 minutes so if the animal is down nearby but not dead it will not bolt. After waiting and you haven't found any hair or blood, follow the tracks. Sometimes an animal will travel quite a ways before losing any blood. Keep you eyes open for liquid of any kind, not just blood. If you hit a deer behind the rib cage, often the first sign you will see is just clear liquid or sometimes stomach or intestinal matter.

 

As to what an animal does when it is shot, well no telling. I've shot 2 elk that never raised there heads (one from drinking, one from grazing) when they were shot. Both died within 30 yards and both were shot between the ribs (no contact of bone). However, I've had others bolt like their tails were on fire. It just depends on the individual situation.

 

You need to go back out and look the area over again. You owe it to the animal, and just as much, to yourself. Try to find someone with more experience than you have to help you out. Also, consider taking a bowhunter education class (similar to hunter safety but geared towards bowhunting). Game and Fish should be able to help you find an instructor. In the class I took (and will soon be a certified instructor) we practice blood trailing. It really is a good class if you can find one in your area.

 

Good luck,

 

Kevin

[singleshot]

I usually try to see the flight of my arrows to the target. Good follow through (keeping your eyes glued to a tiny spot on the animal even after the release) will usually allow you to see impact. You should also hear a meaty thwack! Watch the reaction of the animal. Most predators and Javelina will bite at the point of impact before bolting if they are unaware of your presence at the time of the shot. Deer and Elk usually come uncorked and tear off on a death run after impact, mowing down small trees and brush to escape.

While following any blood trail use your binoculars to scan ahead. At close range binoculars pick up small details, flecks of blood or pieces of rib bone etc.

I have recovered several animals quite a ways off from the last blood sign that were mortally hit. A high entrance and or exit sometimes leaves little or no blood because the animals chest cavity fills up.

One more thing, Shoot Muzzy's "They're bad to the Bone"

[AZcoues_addict]

I'm with the other posts, there is a distinct sound you should hear if you hit the animal correctly (?thwack? or ?Poof?- pop of lungs), and the sound is different if you hit the animal poorly or bone as stated. However, you should be able to see the arrow hit the animal. I only use brightly colored fletchings and nocks. Using both will help you watch the arrow flight and find the arrow easier. I can always watch my arrow hit the animal and my actual arrow speed is over 300 fps so no excuses that your bow is too fast. This won?t help now, but try to practice doing this when you target shoot, without flinching or closing your eyes of course. I?ve found this is not only more accurate for me but trying this may pay out in the future for you too.

 

Secondly, spend more time looking for the arrow since this will answer your question. Carefully mark the spot you and the animal were standing in when you shot the arrow. I?d retrace the path repeatedly and beyond since the arrow is usually always nearby on a near straight line path. Spend the majority of your time walking this straight line and looking for sign of a buried arrow, under pine needles, in yucca cactus, etc. Only much later, then start to expand your search beyond and then side to side. I have watched the arrow exit the animal at a different angle (changed course during pass through), but this is not very common and in my experience it is not very significant.

 

If he was hit well (pass through) he?ll leave blood everywhere, the arrow will usually be easy to find and we wouldn?t be having this discussion. You may have hit him bad or completely missed. Get on your hands and knees and track the deer?s steps after waiting for at least 20-30 minutes, looking for tiny drops of blood. Track the animal meticulously and look for blood not only on the ground but on small bushes about the height of the deer?s chest that the deer inevitably brushed up against while running off. The blood may not be dripping much and may be only on the hide if he?s not hit well, which he will rub onto brush as he runs through thick cover. If the animal took off bolting he may not leave much blood for the first 100 yards till he slows down, especially if hit poorly. My guess is if you really can?t find the arrow or blood, then (1) the animal is hit poorly and initially ran off with the arrow; (2) the arrow deflected off something, which you probably missed completely. (1) Requires much more work and time, and as stated I think you almost owe it to the animal to look harder. If (2) then look harder for the arrow as this is the only thing you can do. Don?t get me wrong it sounds like you have given a very good effort and you probably already do many of these simple things.

 

Maybe get some new fresh eyes to help you next time if you can. Good luck!

[bowsniper]

A lot of good responses! I agree, I usually hear a "THWACK". I also can usually see the arrow sticking in the animal for a flash. Possibly with your excitement you are blinking? You should be able to see it hit if you have proper follow through. Practice, practice, practice on your follow through! As others said, use bright fletching AND knock. Carry flag tape in your pocket. As soon as you shoot, mark that spot. Keep the aim spot in sight until you can mark that spot also. I would definitely go back and look more, get some help if you can. Also, I ALWAYS wait at least an hour or two before following the animal if I can't see for sure that he is down. Not always, but usually they will bed soon if they are hurt and no one is chasing them. One other point, if you hit high in the lung or the paunch, there will probably be little or no blood trail because the body cavity is catching most of the blood. Keep looking and let us know what you find.

 

Bowsniper

[Indio]

I would go back out and look, he may have just ran over a hill in a wash and beded down if you hit him. You can here a sound of ribs cracking if you hit him in the lungs. but if you hit him back or some where elso other than vitals, it sounds like a thump. At 30 yards you should have been able to see and hear the hit !

But i think you should go back out and try and glass him up or make circles until you find something. I have looked for elk with a marginal shot and found it 5 hours later.

I just don't fill good about trying to go out and shoot another deer or elk, javalina until i gave it an honest try to find a shot animal. If you do , then continue the hunt.

 

good luck

 

Indio

[Dan H]

You won't have to worry about any rain washing away blood should have plenty of time to go back and look around again.

Or maybe,....Send me the GPS coordinates and maybe I'll go try to locate the skull later.

 

This topic makes me wonder what the AZGFD does with all the surveys that people return each year showing if they hit an animal that was not recovered.

 

 

Dan

[Guest Ernesto C]

coocoo4coues,did you shot at a white tail or muley??

[coocoo4coues]

Before I go on, I just want you all to know that I found my arrow...clean as a whistle, and the shaft shattered on a rock. I went back out this afternoon after work, and looked hard. Thanks for all the responses, guys. When I took the shot, the deer was uphill from me behind tall grass, which is why I think I didn't see where the arrow hit. Now that I think about it, I didn't hear a thwack or a thump sound or anything like that. I just didn't want to continue hunting till I was sure he wasn't down somewhere. If I didn't specify earlier, it was a coues deer. I'll keep my follow through in mind next time. I just lose all my senses when I shoot. I forget where I was, where the deer was, how I'm holding...

I become a blundering idiot when I see a buck! I guess it comes with experience...of which I'm getting a lot of. I'll keep you posted of my progress. I saw a nice 3-point while I was searching. I'm gonna take some more practice shots before going after him. Good talking to you all.

 

R's,

Coocoo4coues

[25-06]

Right on dude Glad to hear a happy ending

[bowhuntinmaniac]

Remember to sit down 1/2 hour after your shot. This gives the animal a chance to slow down and maybe bed down if the hit is marginal. Also, it gives you a chance to calm down and think baout hwat to do next, i.e. mark where you were standing, where the deer was standing and last place you saw it run.

Also, Muzzys suck!!

[singleshot]

Hey bowhuntinmaniac, your absolutely right about Muzzy's. They have sucked the life out of many a beast. Including Mr. 111 5/8 on page 2.