Blood trailing,nite searches, lets help each other.

[PICKNGRIN]

On a difficult trail, you can't beat a coleman lantern, but put some tin foil around 1/2 of the glass globe.  This keeps all the light out in front of you on the trail and not back in your eyes.

[Tom Leemans]

Yeah Rod, You used to be able to find the half shields for the lanterns. Helps loads!

[NCRecurve]

I use a 4 or 5 D cell maglite.  I tried the lantern once but had difficulty using it and the heat/bugs from it were unbearable in our Sept bow season.  I might try one again with half shielded and see how that works.  I also mark with toilet paper and if there isn't a small bush near the blood spot I push a 12-18 inch stick into the ground and put the TP on top.  That way I can look back to find the direction of travel.  As someone else mentioned, the when it doubt, back out is good advice that you must sometimes force yourself to follow.  If I go 25-30 yards on a questionable hit and the blood hasn't started flowing good I back out.  If you can find part or all of the arrow in that first 25-30 yards it can give great clues.  I had a buck Monday night that I knew I was a little far back on and was only small dark red blood drops.  Found the bottom half of the arrow within 15 yards, dark dried blood and some bright blood right at the break of the arrow but no food/stomach material so I knew it wasn't a gut shot.  I figured I at least got liver but still backed out after 25 yards and waited 2.5 hours.  Deer was SCD (stone cold dead) at 70 yards when I went back with a hit right through the liver going in and the back of one lung on the far side.   Body cavity full of blood with a followable trail of dark red drops and no lung blood until 3 yards before I found him on the other side of a log on the trail.

Doug

[bowdude]

I have a friend that is totally color blind.  Bright red blood on tan grass looks like wet grass to him.  Use the peroxide!  Get help!  His wife helps him blood trail now.  And yes I would agree that most women pick out blood very quickly.  Part of that brain thing we have all read about I'm sure.  

  The watch is a good idea and I guess was so obvious I didn't mention it.  How else would you know how long it has been?  Also SOUND.  Listen for minutes afterwards, sometimes you will hear them go down a few hundred yards off minutes later.  A compass bearing would help then if there is little to no blood.

[Tedd]

Those are some good tips!

This is one for flat, featurelss or swamp country...I have never tried this but read where Warren Womack uses a compass to take a bearing on hit deer then if it is a bloodless trail he will "walk out" that bearing and has had multiple successes finding his deer.

I have always hunted in rough hilly or mountain country where that really wouldn't be too productive. This year I have leased some property near Chincoteague Virginia. It's flat and sometimes really thick.I'll keep that tactic in mind if I need it.

Tedd

[MI_Bowhunter]

If you use peroxide to find blood make sure you mark it well.   The peroxide will destroy the blood while doing its thing.

We have a old Coleman Two mantle camp lite at the cabin just for tracking purposes.

If you have friends helping it is wise to leave one at the site of first blood.  It keeps them out of your way and helps you keep track of where you are relative to the start of the blood trail.

[Tedd]

On the death run they usually curl toward the entrance side.

Tedd

[no]

Patience, Go slow, when you think you are going slow enough cut it down by 1/2. Dont step on the trail. I have had several trails ruined by rookies this way. Mike

[ChuckC]

Tedd.. good point.  yes that does work.  In fact. I always take a compass reading from the tree on the direction I saw the deer running last.  I don't mean south or north but degrees.  I have found two deer so far, based mostly on compass readings, very little other sign.
ChuckC

[Mint]

Know where the blood came from. Bright red, muscle hit, frothy pink - lung, dark red - liver etc. Also know where the hair came from. Comparing the hair found at the shotto a deer skin can help identify the hit.

[Apex Predator]

The Black and Decker rechargable 26 Led worklight is the cats meow for tracking.  Nothing even comes close.  Will last for 3-4 hours on high power and 7-8 on lower setting.  About $35.

[bowdude]

TTT    For those that missed this.   Great ideas all.