Pulled the trigger on a good buck about 15 minutes before dark tonight. The deer was almost directly facing me with a slight quarter to my right, and head down at the shot. I was aiming just left of the center about 2/3 of the way up.

At the shot I immediately lost sight of him as he headed into the thicket uphill. Sounded like he was struggling quite a bit and crashing through a lot of brush.

I waited about 15 minutes after dark and snuck to the site of the hit.

Once there I found this:

https://i.postimg.cc/651Lk7Vn/image.jpg

And this:

https://i.postimg.cc/8z2dCq0C/image.jpg

I'm pretty sure that the bone is a rib bone. Anyone think it could be a different bone?

The blood almost seemed like gut matter or liver, and there was a decent sized spot both in front of the deer with the bone, and behind him. I followed the trail into the thicket about 50 yards but just wasn't finding that much blood so I backed out.

I guess I am just looking for thoughts on if this is likely a dead deer? I've never had bone at a shot site before.

Does anyone have a name or contact for a tracking dog that works in Randolph county? I really want to find this deer and will be calling a tracker if there is one for the county.

Thanks gents!

What about trying this fella?

https://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/tracker-profile/?user=513

Give him a call he's a good tracker...…...bone fragments on tracks are just about always from the leg. Sometimes its not but those are pretty rare.

Well if she ain't, he's hurtin

CNC I was hoping you'd respond since I know you're very experienced. I will reach out to the gentleman you two suggest.

I have seen you comment on bone fragments before on tracks being from the leg but I swear this was a rib bone. I should have picked it up and taken better pictures but I wasn't sure with the possibility of calling in a dog if that would screw things up.

I agree. Leg bone fragments. Dark blood. I'd bet it was a low hit. Hope I'm wrong and he is dead close by.

I'd wait to morning and track him possible get a shot if he ain't dead...

You can’t ever say anything for sure with these situations…..you just have to look at the percentages. Chances are about 95% or better that its leg bone. If it were a rib bone then that deer probably wouldn’t have gone anywhere. That means that you would have drilled it through the body at the angle you described. A deer hit like that would be smoked and not going far. ……There’s a good chance that you shot low…..It's possible you may still be able to get him.

Leg bone.

I’d have to disagree. Almost straight on, exit through liver back of ribs, dead deer.

I agree with atoler

Well guys I spoke to a tracker who covers the county and he is not going to come out for this one. Totally his call and I understand because of the size of this property, the patchwork property access in the area and the thought that it appears likely to be a leg bone from his experience tracking as well. It was a bit disappointing to hear him say that if we had 500 acres we would put it in the truck but I understand that there are places we couldn't access and areas that could potentially be unsafe for his dogs with roads in the area. I am pretty sure this is one of the two really nice deer I had gotten on camera so that is a bummer because I know the tracking dogs are impressive.

I should have taken better pictures and picked up the bone but I was worried about messing up a dog if one came out. Thank you to those of you who provided insight into situations where they have seen decent pieces of bone after a shot as this is a first for me.

I've not been hunting as long as many of you but the dark thick blood surprised me too. It almost appeared to be gut matter but wasn't what I had seen before with gut shot deer and was right at the shot location. I guess I was thinking liver and have heard that can take time so I backed out. That was made a bit difficult as the deer ran towards my parking spot but I dont think I bumped him.

All of that being said I will be out there at first light tomorrow following up on the trail. I plan to move slowly and quietly through the thick stuff. Maybe I will get lucky.

I will follow up.

Take your time in the morning. Mark each spot of blood with a piece of toilet paper. I’d also call another tracker if you can’t find it in the morning. And I would go ahead and get landowner names tonight off the gis map and be ready to call as needed tomorrow.

Agree with Atoler. Do not give up. Look hard and slow in the morning.

X2, I really hope you find him!

Any update??

Best of luck finding him. If I ever called a tracker, he'd better by god come and track! You either find him or you don't. Period..
If you don't call a tracker, take your's or a buddy's yard dog, it's a WHOLE lot better than nothing. Dogs can smell.

Well gentlemen he is dead. I'll follow up with some pictures and info shortly. Thank you for all who provided information and advice.


It's the tall tined 8 from this thread:

http://www.aldeer.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2597007#Post2597007

Great news! Waiting for pics. Congrats!