Animal behavior after shot

[bowhunterportugal]

I didn't knew how to title this thread, sorry.

Being from Europe, we have different animals that we hunt. You have hogs, we have "wild boars". You have white tail deer, we have red deer (more looked like elk), Fallow Deer (I believe they are the same size than white tails) and Roe deer (much smaller). But the question is: when you're tracking a blood trail, is there a specific behavior that might indicate you the shot was good?

I'm new at archery, started 3 years ago with a compound, but I started hunting 27 years ago, so I already got the chance to track some big game.

Of course that blood smell, color and texture is a good sign but, for me, there's other's, and one of them very important.
If you're hunting on a flat land, this can't be taken in consideration, but on a hilly ground, if a critter can climb a slope after being shot, that is a good sign that the shot wasn't that good and more waiting time is needed.

When I get friends or clients hunting in my place, this is one of the indicators I take seriously in consideration.

Here's an example:
A big boar (265 pounds) was taken with a crossbow by a client of mine. Perfect shot, double lungs and heart. It dropped 30 yards from site and it couldn't go over a 3 foot tree log.

On the other hand, a much smaller one, shot by me, showed me, by being able to climb a small hill, that I should give it more time. The shot seemed perfect, right at the arm pit, but by the blood smell (ocher) and the way he climbed that slope, I decided to return the following day, and it was the best decision I made.
 
It turned out to be a pancreas shot just touching a lung, and had I not stopped tracking it at that time, it would just keep on walking ahead of me.

It must be said that we mainly hunt wild boars at night. 8 days before full moon night and one day after, by law. This by the hunting process of waiting in food plots or where ever. Spot and stalk we can do all year but our boars are 99% nocturnal, and it's almost impossible to track them during day light.

What I said here can be applied to most of our critters.

So, that being said, do you recognize these behaviors on your animals? Any other opinion for me to learn more?

[ChuckC]

There are a lot of things to learn from each other's experience.  

First. .  many folks are trained to shoot behind the "shoulder" (actually, the arm).  On many critters, including deer and hogs, that shot puts you dangerously close to missing lungs completely, especially if the shot is low in the body.  Still a killing shot, but nowhere near as quickly.   Aiming above the leg is, in many opinions, a much better shot.

Most animals, when hit by an arrow,  feel something whack them and they run. .   that is what they do.  If you make no noise or ruckus, they will run into the first thick cover, or until they are hidden from the site, and stop and turn to see what it was.  If you stay still,  many many times the animal will see no danger,  bed down right there, and that is where you will find them.

In my hunter Ed class, I teach. .  "if you do not see or hear the animal fall, quietly wait for 30 minutes, or even more."

If you KNOW you made a poor hit,  sit and let the animal run , then sneak out of there and wait for hours before returning.

It is always a good idea to take a compass reading of the direction the animal ran while you are waiting.

Others will add more I am certain.
ChuckC

[bowhunterportugal]

That experience exchange is what I'm looking for.

I give them always an hour at least, if I don't see them drop, witch in boar cases is almost certain.

[Bill Skinner]

Smell the fletches on your arrow, a hit too far back will smell like dung.  A good heart/lung hit will smell like fresh ground meat.

[bowhunterportugal]

Originally posted by Bill Skinner:
Smell the fletches on your arrow, a hit too far back will smell like dung.  A good heart/lung hit will smell like fresh ground meat.

Yes, this pancreas smell was a smell I didn't knew yet, but I got it on memory now.

About behavior. I've seen some videos on youtube where some white tail does just go uphill with good shot's on them. Does this behavior I described applies to your critters?

[Tree Rat]

I've not seen uphill/downhill have any effect on a well hit deer. Granted our hills here aren't huge, but they can be steep at times.

I shot a doe last fall. She took off straight away from me, crossed a creek, went up a 30 foot hill that is about a 15 foot change in elevation. Steep enough I usually go around it. She fell just short of the crest, rolled down ten feet, got up, cleared the top of the hill and dropped. Total distance about 70 yards. Total time 10 seconds, so she was hit hard but still took the hard escape route.

[bowhunterportugal]

She was tuff! Probably went out of power with all that climbing effort.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Nice pics but they are way to big and need resized.

I know your new and this would be a great thread to talk about but the rules say no compound kills  or crossbow kills when you signed up.

Don't be mad when this thread gets pulled just find some pics with Trad kills next time.    

Tracy

[bowhunterportugal]

Yes, I'm sorry. It wass for example purposes. I didn't got the chance to get a trad kill... Yet. I'm trying as we speak.

I'll remove the pics.

Sorry once again.

Diogo

[bowhunterportugal]

What about now Tracy?

[bowhunterportugal]

[pauljr]

I only have experiance with whitetails but there behavior is very important to me in determining what to do after the shot. However it is not a rule. I once shot a doe, through both lungs, she turned and ran directly up a steep hill and died on top, however that was very unusual. When i shoot I try to note was the tail tucked, or the back hunched, was it running blind, one time I got no reaction what so ever other than a little hop when the arrow passed though his ribs. Every shot is different and it pays to take everything into consideration. That over used saying of "when in doubt back out" is very true.

[K.S.TRAPPER]

Looks good and I'm glad they didn't pull the thread.

Good luck with your Trad hunting Diogo    

Tracy

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I usually see them take off like they just got stung by a large bee, and they are out of sight.
I listen to sound of the impact, and direction of their departure, and no matter what, I start moving my feet in the place I am standing, then replay the shot in my mind... reenact it by pointing my bowhand at it, then I point my other one in a direct opposite.
I tie a piece of flagging to the closest branch, then another one about 12" past, then  I start pretending its Christmas (can I say that still) and make darn sure I can find my spot as I back out.I get the heck out of there silently. a short ways away, I take a break, and picture the POI, what did I see ? How do I feel about the shot ?
Do I need to go get help to pack ?, or to aid in the search....
I wait at least 1/2 hour, then go see my spot.
I stand in my mark (the one my feet made), and tie another ribbon to the closest branch, in line with my other 2 flags.
I look at where the animal was standing, and look for clues as I approach silently.
when I get to where I think the animal was, I turn and line up my markers, one they are in line, I look for signs, blood is good, hair is sometimes good (as long as it has color, or blood), but usually, I look at the tracks, see what direction the animal went, and search for my arrow.
   
I hunt in thick woods, sometimes in brush over your head, sometimes in the open, but a well hit animal never makes it to where it wanted to go, a marginally hit animal sometimes makes it, a poorly hit animal ALWAYS makes it to where it wanted to go, and that is usually in the thickest crap on the mountain, if you ever lose a trail, remember this.
I have been just  hunting in that stuff, and found others lost bloodtrails, unfortunately, only one of those happenings led to a timely recovery.
I have never hunted hogs, we do not have them in washington, I hunt Elk, and you would be amazed at how they can jump into the thickest patch of trees around, then not make a sound...
run uphill ?
They sometimes take off like a "bat out of hell" then stop, and look back to see what the heck just happened, sometimes they walk off, sometimes they stand there for what seems like hours, looking at ? (me)? you dont dare breathe, or move...
Wondering, should I stick it again ?
Afraid to move...
I sure wish it was hunting season again, I need to learn from another one...
Every one is different.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Depending on my arrow, if there is no obvious trails, is when I wait hours to follow the trail.
Off smells, color, thin blood, wrong color hair, not full penetration, etc...
Time to go to camp for friends and lanterns.

[KentuckyTJ]

What I've learned over the years is if you aren't sure that you have taken out both lungs. Do not track the animal for 10-12 hours. Even what appears to be pretty good amount of blood can stop flowing and if you bump a one lung shot critter, it can go a long long way even hours after the shot.

A lot of blood and even better with bubbles in it. When you follow the trail for about 60-80 yards and it suddenly takes a 90 degree left or right. You know the animal isn't far ahead.

[Frenchy]

Excellent thread
I look forward to reading all your comments.    

[straitera]

Excellent Diogo! Thanks for your post.

Another thread here suggests using Beagles to track wounded animals. Being a fan of dogs already, I always look for any reason to get my dogs involved. When they determine what it is you expect from them, you'll never beat a dog's nose for finding animals!

Another consideration here in Texas are predators such as coyotes & hogs. Predators can make short work of wounded animals left unattended. Just need to qualify your assessment of any obstacles. Once trailed a 12 point buck deep into the woods not finding it until well after midnight. No dog assist for this trail job. But, I wasn't about to leave this deer for the yotes either!

[gregg dudley]

Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
When you follow the trail for about 60-80 yards and it suddenly takes a 90 degree left or right. You know the animal isn't far ahead.

Yep!  Love that.

I have not noticed a real difference on uphill vs downhill within the first 100 yards of a bloodtrail.  A deer can cover that zone within the first seven to ten seconds. Within that time they are operating on instinct and the desire to flee is stronger than anything else.  The majority of fatally shot game will drop within that distance.  

On a longer trail, I definately take a real interest in the type of terrain that the animal is covering.  Generally, if the animal is heading uphill after 100 yards and you haven't pushed the animal your shot was not that good.  There are always exceptions to every general statement though.

After the initial frenzied departure an animal will usually stop and look back to see what all the fuss was about.  If you don't find a pile of blood where the animal stopped within 100 yards then the deer is probably either bleeding internally or poorly hit.  This can happen if you do not get a pass through or if internal organs or guts block the exit wound.  In either situation you may want to consider adding some more wait time to your recovery plan.

[Frenchy]

In my opinion going up a hill is not a reliable indicator of anything
Of course there are some good signs that determine if your quarry has been fatally wounded, like bumping into a tree, losing massive amounts of blood or running like a scalded dog, belly to the ground.
However there are also lots of exceptions and some animals show no sign of being hit (especially  boars!)
In my opinion, finding the animal remains the best way to know whether it is dead or not
Animals respond to threats or pain in many complex ways
A young boar will give up quickly after a good shot,an old tusker won’t !
He will flee through the forest like a truck until out of gas.
There are so many factors to consider.
I know I make assumptions sometimes; I can’t help myself but how many times I was surprised or

disapointed ?

I am glad I came into the world of dogs; they can teach us many things about tracking