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The Shot and Recovery

_____________________________________ CB

If you are not a bowhunter you really should consider taking up this challenging sport. We are firm believers that bowhunting will change the way that you hunt forever. Bowhunters in general are aware of the importance of shot placement, and a respectable bowhunter will only shoot when they have a shot at the vital area. We use the same principle when we hunt with a firearm. If we don't have a shot at the vital area we don't take it. A good rule to establish is that your shot should be planned and carefully taken. Most of our bucks are one shot bucks that we are very proud of.

Have you ever wondered why you see so many paper plates on hay bales that are used as archery targets? Every veteran bowhunter should be able to answer this question. This is simply common knowledge, but for the benefit of those new to this sport, a paper plate is simply close to the size of the heart and lung area of a mature whitetail. The vital area of a whitetail includes the heart and lung area as well as the liver, spinal column, jugular vein, and the brain. We concentrate on a shot in the heart, lung, and liver area. If you hit a deer in this location or any other part of the vital area the recovery trail should be a short one. The heart and lung area combined creates a good size target with some room for error. This area creates the largest target within the vital area so start practicing and shoot those paper plates.

Recovery can be the greatest challenge of all, but if a hit is made the deer should be trailed until found or until it is reasonable to believe that you didn't hit the deer in the vital area. When you take a shot at a whitetail watch the reaction of the whitetail. If the deer is gut shot it may hunch up as it runs off and hold its tail down. The deer may give a hind leg kick as it jumps and runs off which usually indicates a heart shot. If you hit the deer in the spinal column it will drop immediately, and the same holds for a brain shot.

The first thing to do after the shot is to stay put especially if you're bowhunting. During the firearm season with intense hunting pressure it may be wise to continue your pursuit, but under most circumstances you should wait. You may see the deer go down for the count or you may even hear the deer crash. Be alert, quiet, and continue trailing this animal at a very slow pace. If we are bowhunting we wait at least one hour before trailing the deer. If we think that we may have gut shot the animal then we wait at least six hours. You should also note the direction that the animal traveled after being shot. Mark the spot that you shot from with surveying ribbon or toilet paper and then move to the spot where the deer was shot. You should be looking for signs of a hit like hair, blood, or even your arrow if you were bowhunting. You should trail the animal very quietly and avoid talking if you're with your hunting partner. Continue to mark the trail as you find more blood or abnormal deer sign that would indicate a wounded deer. If you lose the trail go back to the last marked spot and check all of the main deer trails at that spot for at least a half a mile. If you have no luck at this point try a circle or grid pattern from the last spot of blood. Continue until you find more sign. Remember to listen for sounds from other wildlife especially the crows, because they could point you in the right direction.

A deer that was hit in the vital area will often go down hill instead of climbing and may head toward water. Be sure to check all streams and swamps in the area if the deer is heading in that direction.

After the deer is recovered remove all marking ribbons from the blood trail.