How far can a shot Deer go?

[Sagitarius]

Ok just wondering how far you guys have had a shot deer travel on ya?

I got a double lung, with 3 confirmed sightings (by spotter) of at least 300mm of penetration on a Rusa at 25m. I saw my arrow go in right behind its shoulder blade (confirmed by spotter), we tracked the bugger for ~30min and over a km before losing it in the green bracken sea. The blood trail decrease in flow too ~800m where it apparently ended. Last visual was at about a km.:o

Now I've never had anything go over 40m with a good shot and the same gear, and that was rolling down a hill. WTF has happened here, my spotter and I are nearing insanity?:confused:

[XTfreak]

Adrenaline can carry a hurt animal a long long way.
I have personally seen deer travel up to 1 mile with a double lung hit.
Your spotter and you are not going insane...
Bill

[Sagitarius]

Adrenaline can carry a hurt animal a long long way.
I have personally seen deer travel up to 1 mile with a double lung hit.
Your spotter and you are not going insane...
Bill
---

But, but, but... the physiological damage... How is it getting wind to move... Why'd he stop bleeding :confused:

Does it still count as a good hunt? Doesn't really feel like it, though it was a brilliant stalk and shot.

Think spotty got a happy snap before we moved in, will post when I get a copy.

[rory]

Rusa (I'm yet to arrow one) are regarded as some of the toughest (carrying a wound) deer about.

Living in such dense cover also gives them a head start on something like a fallow etc.

I know many guys who have searched and searched never to find a heart shot deer. Some ended up finding the deer no more than 30m from where it was shot, but almost 100% concealed!

[irish murphy]

It would feel for me if the same happend like the hunt was somehow incomplete or hadnt ended.Havent had this happen with a deer and bowhunting.I havent shot a deer with my bow yet.I have been doing a lot of stalking deer lately just watching them.When i have had a lot more practise with my bow i will have a go.I would really hate to have that happen to me and want to give myself and the deer the fairest ending.Bad luck mate,its part of hunting.

[Sagitarius]

Yep, cervus interruptus. A terrible waste really. :-(

[snowy1]

---

Why'd he stop bleeding :confused:

.

in order for a deer to die it must loose at least one third of its blood.

the location of the wound counts also ie a superficial wound (muscle)will result in a lot of blood for a short time before it stops but what really counts is internal hemeorage.
if it was a high lung shot the deer must bleed and fill the cavity before it expires from lack of blood or drowning .
if the shot was a quartering shot and was a little far back only to clip the rear of the lungs ie stomack,intestinal and or liver very little if any blood will actually hit the ground

never the less an animal hit in this region wil go down(eventually) espcially if a hit to the kidneys takes place .

it also makea a hell of a difference when an animal is not left to bed and bleed out ,if pushed they will run a lonnnnng way

snowy

[XTfreak]

in order for a deer to die it must loose at least one third of its blood.

the location of the wound counts also ie a superficial wound (muscle)will result in a lot of blood for a short time before it stops but what really counts is internal hemeorage.
if it was a high lung shot the deer must bleed and fill the cavity before it expires from lack of blood or drowning .
if the shot was a quartering shot and was a little far back only to clip the rear of the lungs ie stomack,intestinal and or liver very little if any blood will actually hit the ground

never the less an animal hit in this region wil go down(eventually) espcially if a hit to the kidneys takes place .

it also makea a hell of a difference when an animal is not left to bed and bleed out ,if pushed they will run a lonnnnng way

snowy
A very good reason to sit still and relax for 30 minutes to an hour before tracking begins. Give them time to lie down and expire.
Totally unacceptable language my friend, totally...;)
Bill

[Luke]

You're a cheeky bugger Bill :P

[snowy1]

:P

[rudy]

Just a thought, could your arrow have deflected off one of the near side ribs and the shot not been quite as good as you thought?

[Sagitarius]

in order for a deer to die it must loose at least one third of its blood.

the location of the wound counts also ie a superficial wound (muscle)will result in a lot of blood for a short time before it stops but what really counts is internal hemeorage.
if it was a high lung shot the deer must bleed and fill the cavity before it expires from lack of blood or drowning .
if the shot was a quartering shot and was a little far back only to clip the rear of the lungs ie stomack,intestinal and or liver very little if any blood will actually hit the ground

never the less an animal hit in this region wil go down(eventually) espcially if a hit to the kidneys takes place .

it also makea a hell of a difference when an animal is not left to bed and bleed out ,if pushed they will run a lonnnnng way

snowy

This one was really square on, center of the lungs. No great volume of lost blood, maybe just under a liter over a km, but constant. Then it just stopped, no more blood for 200m before last visual. :confused:

This animal was pushed on by the mob, we stayed back far enough to not pressure them but they kept moving. So we just tried to keep it in sight. Still if they were spooked it was probably enough to keep em moving.

[Sagitarius]

Just a thought, could your arrow have deflected off one of the near side ribs and the shot not been quite as good as you thought?
---

Possible, I thought it odd to only get ~300mm of arrow into it.

[adam]

What kind of head, what height and how tight on the shoulder was the hit. did the animal stick to a game trail, did it head up hill at any stage or lag behind the mob.

Adam

[Sagitarius]

What kind of head, what height and how tight on the shoulder was the hit. did the animal stick to a game trail, did it head up hill at any stage or lag behind the mob.

Adam

130gr Outback.

The arrow entry height was about 1/3 the way up his chest. 20-30mm clear from the shoulder blade.

It stuck to the trail, first sighting was seeing it laying down <100m away with the mob standing around. As the mob were moving to bed before the shot, they continued on their path, uphill first (most blood found here) then down hill, and he got up and followed. We may have moved too much at this point which also encouraged him to follow his mates. He was lagging back but seemed to catch up with them in the thick stuff.

[special]

Bills suggestion to wait 30--40 mins before traking is very good advice IMO...let them bed down and bleed out...a liver shot will ussually pull them up better than heart or lungs..so im told.

[snowy1]

This animal was pushed on by the mob, we stayed back far enough to not pressure them but they kept moving. So we just tried to keep it in sight. Still if they were spooked it was probably enough to keep em moving.

the animal, i think ,were not pushed on by the mob they were pushed on by YOU .
a mortally hit animal ,double lung ,as you say it was should as bill said be left to bleed out ,

STOP , sit and WAIT !minimum 30 mins(unless you see the critter fall and expire before you )
if you continue to keep them in sight sure it will get up and run with his mates ,

visuall blood stopped after a km ?get down on your hands and knees ,look for scuff marks and match head size drops,direction of blood splatter will indicate travel,these small drops are dificult to see while standing up .

it is possible that after 1 km going thru scrub that the hide has been "wiped" clean of blood ,

deer will go(if left ) from bed to bed ,but because of clotting the external wound blood may NOT show on the ground between beds.

when in a bed however the deers hide will again become saturated with blood and it will reach the ground,causing blood to end up in the bed ,

blood on both sides of the bed indicates an exit wound ,it could only be a small amount of blood and after some time will be drying and difficult to see .
wounded deer will seek refuge in a thicket and watch its back trail,see WAIT!,
game trails the verg are a problem also ,walk or CRAWL along the side of the trail NOT on the trail as you will afer 3 or 4 trips up and down the trail
you will effecitively camoflage any possible blood to be found ,

mate ,
imo some pointers for you but i feel your pain it really hurts when you loose one ,

(i have tracked one 1800 meteres in pine forest on the hands and knees and found it ):D

snowy;)

[rudy]

Bills suggestion to wait 30--40 mins before traking is very good advice IMO...let them bed down and bleed out...a liver shot will ussually pull them up better than heart or lungs..so im told.

Mate, give me heart or lungs any day.

[Sagitarius]

the animal, i think ,were not pushed on by the mob they were pushed on by YOU .
a mortally hit animal ,double lung ,as you say it was should as bill said be left to bleed out ,

STOP , sit and WAIT !minimum 30 mins(unless you see the critter fall and expire before you )
if you continue to keep them in sight sure it will get up and run with his mates ,

visuall blood stopped after a km ?get down on your hands and knees ,look for scuff marks and match head size drops,direction of blood splatter will indicate travel,these small drops are dificult to see while standing up .

it is possible that after 1 km going thru scrub that the hide has been "wiped" clean of blood ,

deer will go(if left ) from bed to bed ,but because of clotting the external wound blood may NOT show on the ground between beds.

when in a bed however the deers hide will again become saturated with blood and it will reach the ground,causing blood to end up in the bed ,

blood on both sides of the bed indicates an exit wound ,it could only be a small amount of blood and after some time will be drying and difficult to see .
wounded deer will seek refuge in a thicket and watch its back trail,see WAIT!,
game trails the verg are a problem also ,walk or CRAWL along the side of the trail NOT on the trail as you will afer 3 or 4 trips up and down the trail
you will effecitively camoflage any possible blood to be found ,

mate ,
imo some pointers for you but i feel your pain it really hurts when you loose one ,

(i have tracked one 1800 meteres in pine forest on the hands and knees and found it ):D

snowy;)

Some great tips there Snowy. Thanks a bunch.
Crawl next to the trail, ok didn't think of that. Will next time. ;)

Yeah it was probably us. Will avoid the temptation to keep an eye on it.

Ta, it does suck. I actually lost 2 deer the other day, the second one went over a cliff. If I ever find a way down it there should be a nice set of antlers waiting for me.

You finding it after all that is a testament to your method, well done! :cool:

[woodstoka]

mate i know how it feels i shot a fallow buck from 45 and struck hard bone and got about 5inchs of penetration thrugh the ribs and into the lungs erea there was no blood to be found because it was pouring with rain and i wen in to early and spooked the animal wile it was bedded and it bolted on adrenalin i still havnt got over that and wont until i bring one to the deck
jesse

[Sagitarius]

Bummer Jesse, good luck on the next one.

[killthatpig12]

that must of been 1 tuff deer