my 2009 whitetail doe- the lessons

[Brian Krebs]

This is about the doe I shot; the blood trail; and the distance the deer went.
 This first photo shows the treestand and to the left; the trail the deer was on. About a 23 yard shot.

   

[Brian Krebs]

I hit the deer slightly quartering on; the shot went where I wanted it too. I shot an arrow into the ground where the deer was standing. I got down out of the tree a half hour later; it was getting dark; and I found the second arrow - but no blood; no hair; the arrow I shot at the deer was not found.
 I backed out for the night.

[Brian Krebs]

I found the arrow; at least the back end of the arrow. I compared it to my other arrows to see how much was missing. I was using black diamond delta 'four' blade heads- two blades and 2 'bleeder' blades.    

[Brian Krebs]

I found very few drops of blood. This is one. I followed the deer for about 150 yards using tracks; and pretty much by judging where the deer would go. There was a cliff on the left that went straight down; and above to the right of the trail an open pasture with horses in it.

 Point is- look at this blood sign- its on dirt; its not much to go on. I could have easily given up on the deer- if I had this much sign in a leaf duff forest.
   

[Brian Krebs]

By stopping and looking ahead; and using binoculars; I spotted the dead doe. The blood trail - well - it was a drop every five or ten yards.    

[Brian Krebs]

This is the doe where I found her. Note the blood- its in her hair on her side; and not running down the does side very far at all. Most of the blood was INSIDE the does chest cavity. This was a higher hit than what I thought; but took off much of the top of the heart; and hit both lungs.
 It was hot; and I had to race to field dress it.
   

[Brian Krebs]

Now - look at the removed heart and lungs.    

[Brian Krebs]

You can see the remaining part of the arrow; the 'business end' of it. Make sure you take care not to cut yourself while dressing a deer - this blade was still shaving sharp.    

[Brian Krebs]

Fellow trad ganger Mike Orton helped pull out the doe to the truck. We each took a front leg and pulled it along. His buddy Jeff said we should cut a piece of a branch - like a broom handle; and put it through the hocks; and pull it that way.

 I said " Thats ridiculous!!".

" Why ?" responded the baffled Jeff...

I replied "BECAUSE - WERE NOT HEADED THAT DIRECTION!".

 My response startled Jeff- but made Mike giggle a bit.      

  Jeff and Mike and their buddy Richard enjoyed backstrap on the grill from this doe !

[Brian Krebs]

The point is that a poor blood trail may not mean a poor shot.
 Keep the faith when trailing; and the reward can be a fuller freezer    

     

[Benny Nganabbarru]

Amen to that! Well-done, Brian!

[JEFF B]

way to go guys!!! congrats

[wollelybugger]

My son shot one the first day with the same results. Blew out the front shoulder and exited the other side with no blood. They are so fat from eating acorns the holes plugged up with fat.

[saumensch]

nice of you to show pictures all along the process!
Thanks and congrats

[GingivitisKahn]

Great job and great post.  Nice work finding her!

     

... and now... steaks!

[wingnut]

Yep a high hit with no exit can leave very little blood on the ground.

I've found through experience that you have to track animals without an exit wound and not blood trail.

That's why I spend so much time figuring out how to get an exit wound.  LOL

Mike

[J. Cook]

Amen to that wingnut...Great track job on this one and congrats on a fine doe!  But man!...that exit hole is soooo important.  

Great deer and story though, and thanks for sharing with the pics.  That's fine eating right there!!!!

[frank bullitt]

Brian, nice deer!    I understand what your saying, A little blood doesn't tell the story.

  I shot a nice doe over the weekend with similar results. I was shootin a cane arrow with a pearson Deadhead, 600 grains. Stand about 15 ft., shot straight down,exit hole, one lung. She went sixty yards or so.

  Took my son to track, little blood, but he found it and her. Little blood, nothing to write home about. Every hunting shot is a learning experience. Don't give up and Good shootin, Steve

[NoCams]

Congrats Brian ! I have sworn off qrtring too shots after losing two deer, glad yours turned out.

We use a deer cart for hauling ours out, works great when you remember to take it    

nocams

[maineac]

Great job.  This post is a nice compliment to the blood trailing post.