Absolutely. Mark it in your mind visually, listen, sit on it & review those with yourself until things settle. Get down drop hat at 1st blood & wait. Eat chilli. Return to hat. Remain quiet and don't hurry. Pick up blood, find deer. Get more help to drag out lol... or just drop him closer to where you shot. Hunting is certainly a skill set. Happy hunting this year everyone! Thanks for another great video Jeff!
Great information Jeff. I've bowhunted for 30 years and only didn't recover one deer (shoulder hit and saw it running around 5 weeks later). I've always been very conservative with quietly waiting after the shot, backing out, etc. Until 6 years ago my wife had only gun hunted and was brought up to "go look" right away. She's getting much better. A month ago she shot a bear with .308. I told her to stay put and I would come out in 45 minutes. A (probably well intentioned) neighbor her heard shoot and was yelling for her to locate her 5 minutes after the shot and started tracking 9 minutes after the shot (he was on trail cam staring the tracking by the bait). I was livid with the guy but put on the happy face trying to keep his intentions in mind. Ultimately we did not recover the bear after tracking for 150 yards in 1 1/2 hours with sporadic blood and backing out, waiting 2 hours and bringing in a dog and tracking another 300 yards in 3 hours before losing blood. I honestly don't know if it was a mortal wound or not but I know the neighbor probably pushing it did not help.
That emotion and adrenaline when the deer gets close.. that first big heart beat you feel before telling yourself to cool your 💩. What a hell of a feeling
Excellent! Always appreciate you sharing your experience. No matter how long you have hunted or how many deer you have harvested hearing this advice is something that everyone who hears it will think about before they shoot. Learning patience is the most important skill to master. Thank you!
100 percent agree. Time is your best friend and when in doubt back out is always what I tell everyone. If you do not see them drop or hear them crash for sure leave and give it time.
A friend of mine has a thermal drone. In Michigan they are trying to make it illegal to use. The good thing with a quality drone you can fly it high enough it won’t spook game. Great vid!
Great video. The biggest problem with spooking deer (not being patient) is not so much them running, but the vasoconstritcion that comes with their fight-or-flight when they're spooked causing it to take longer to bleed out
I have a tracking dog that has recovered over a hundred deer. You are 100% correct on the impatience and hours to expire. Have seen rutty bucks that have lived 65+hours after a gut shot. They die from infection rather than blood loss.
Got my first deer with a bow today. Used HuntWise and took advantage of the cold and wind direction. Hit an 8 point and waited 4-5 hours (didn’t want to jump him) before recovering him. It wasn’t the best placement. Got him in the shoulder. When I found him he was about 70yards away and the arrow had punched through.
Hello from Northern Ontario. Just watching your video and it struck a cord. I’m a rifle hunter and over the years I’ve developed a routine when I first see a shootable deer in my lane. I get the rifle out of the window and because I’m so pumped up I’ve learned to come off the rifle take a deep breath then get back on it and shoot. I always watch where the deer runs and take a mental pic of bush or tree that it took off into the bush after my shot. Then I usually sit down notify my crew that I shot and I slowly take off my heavy clothes, grab my nitrile gloves, knife, rope, Shappell sled and flagging tape. After 15-20 minutes I get down and head to the tree or bush I marked in my mind where the deer bolted into the bush. It’s a routine that I always do and once while waiting 15-20 minutes to find the deer I shot another buck stepped into the lane and I shot it too! As you say patience is the key. The reason I bring flagging tape is one year it took me 1 1/2 hours to go 185 yards to find a deer I shot and had no tracks to follow on exposed limestone ground. Very little blood and mostly hard hood print. I didn’t give up and found him. Great advice great episode I’m subbed!
Very crazy! I loved right there at the end of Watkins Lake by the old Herts Auto from 83 to 94. Was a teenager going to that old movie theater there 😊 Caught giant carp in the Clinton River. So many great memories!!
150 deer? I'm so jealous. I'm disabled veteran in Michigan and I've been bow and gun hunting since 2006. My brother in law taught me how to hunt and I got a four point my first year with a cheap $75 bow and a whisker biscuit. I've been addicted ever since. Seriously, nothing beats that rush. However, I haven't harvested anything since. I'm so ridiculously frustrated and discouraged. I love being outdoors and the experience, but it gets old not seeing anything because the bucks only come out at night. I'm honestly thinking about giving up. I keep thinking "this year is the year" and it never happens. What kills the most is when my friends send me pics of their monster bucks. Meanwhile all I ever see is does. I don't get it.
I always tell myself when a deer walks in"its not a state record so what does it matter if I mess up" that way I stay calm and can actually concentrate better and get good shot placement and release by telling myself that and following through just like I'm standing in front of my target
I've seen more deer lost because people getting excited and rushing the tracking to the point they get beyond the last blood and then getting off the blood trail. Sometimes, a small drop of blood takes you in the right direction and if you get into too big of a hurry, you will miss that one spot that takes you in a different direction. You are correct - patience, patience, patience...if you don't have a lot of experience tracking a wounded deer , ask someone else that does have experience to do the tracking for you. They will be less excited and may do a better job in the patience department!
Great info bud. If in doubt back out. I have exercised that several times and recovered that deer the following day or later in the day. Buddy shot a big buck a few years ago and he wasn’t sure of the shot. He backed out and then called me to help track. We went to the shot location and there was good blood then it stop so we let it go over night. Went out at first light and took our time and found the deer .5 miles later but the coyotes beat us to it and then a bear was on top of it when we found it. We found it but nothing was able to be salvaged meat wise but he did tag it as a part of a creed we both follow
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 judging from what was left of the hide after the coyotes and bear is he hit it in the liver and guts which also explained the dark and gut smelling blood we had. After going back to his stand I looked where the deer was standing and he had actually hit a twig and it deflected his arrow back to the liver and guts. He shot a doe a few weeks later with his rifle during the gun season and got near for the freezer and I gave him a doe I shot as well
One of the most important parts of my kit is a small biomass camp stove and fire kit with fresh water and a coffee french press kit. everything fits in a 1 liter bottle bag plus a canteen. I hit a deer and i get back to the vehicle and make a cup or 2 of strong fresh brew and sit and strategize and plan the next step.
My brother once shot a decent 8 point in South Carolina, didnt see it drop. He called other members to let them know. After dark, a truck pulled up and he hears a cowbell. Another member took it upon himself to let loose his unleashed dog who took off in the direction the deer went. Needless to say, the deer was never recovered. Our leashed beagle recovered 11 deer in one year for other members. If using a dog, always have on a leash.
My cousin has a thermal drone. His drone picked up the deer I shot clear as day after we let the deer lay in the snow for 4 hours in 15 degree weather. Also playing with it this summer, deer don’t spook from the drone. We got within 10 feet of a doe in a corn field before she started walking away. From 100+ feet it wouldn’t even spook a mature buck I’m confident. It really is awesome to see and play with and I can’t wait to use it in the future, hopefully I won’t need to though 😂
All good points. As far as dogs go I think anymore we have the united bloodhound tracker list of "certified" trackers and they came out with this app called TRAKR and u can go to their website and it asks questions about the shot and the certified ones all have criteria on if they'll come out and look for your deer. The certified ones seem to really know if its a mortally wounded deer or if it needs 2 hours 5 hours the next morning etc. Its their time putting into it. Son in law hit his biggest buck ever last october we called a tracker that we found out was less than a mile away from where he hunted he wasnt real sure on a couple things she wouldnt even come over and put her dog on it. I and my dad knew some of the guys on country block put the word out and neighbor picking corn a mile away found him so we were able to recover the deer but it was luck. In instances like that the adrenaline i think makes you forget or makes things foggy. Great video that everyone can learn from or be reminded for the next time they shoot an animal.
Another point I would add is consistent shooting practice. Practice practice practice shooting in all different positions and with deer targets at different angles. Practice makes perfect on getting a good lethal shot.
Themal drones are NOT always legal to use to retrieve a deer or aid in hunting. If there is any compensation (cash or money for gas, gifts), or if the is video use on social media (RUclips, Facebook, Instagram or TikToc, where money can be made) then the pilot will need to have an FAA Pilots license (not T.R.U.S.T.) or an FAA part 107 (commercial drone pilots license). Night flights are also a topic all together. In short if you don’t know what the rules are don’t even think about a drone or hiring someone with a drone. You can also be fined if the pilot you hired is not following the rules because you hired them. The courts, FAA, local governments and state DNR agency’s will start to clarify this but right now it’s a big gray area. Be smart with the use of any drone for deer hunting including deer recovery.
Great information. Key word , mortality wounded!! Which goes back to being patient for an ethical shot. I know guys that shoot compound bow and crossbow, that aren't patient. Personal friends for years don't remember their shot. Guys get so worked up the don't know where they hit the deer or what angle it was standing, did you shoot through brush etc... Anyway, my opinion finding your deer starts with not rushing your shot and knowing your ability with your equipment and taking ethical shots.
Yeah I went looking for my deer too soon once. I still found him with help from some friends, but he was a good 200 yards further away than he would have been if I had waited for an hour or two. Maybe 250 yards. It wasn't an easy drag by any means. If you see the deer fall go ahead and start dragging. Otherwise wait a while. Just make sure you know where the initial blood is and the direction he went from there.
@@zackroehl6416 50 yards is to close to call if your not in thick cover. Or if you can cast your call away from your location. Mostly why deer calls don't work is because they've been educated and called at.
Thermal drone deer recovery: Great option. I've got a part 107 commercial license to do it for myself or others commercially but.... It's illegal here! (Fish & game want only tracking dogs in the woods, no drones.)
I recently saw a video of a guy using the drone with heat imaging and it was unbelievable. The buck was bedded in a soybean field and you could see where the hit was hit. High above lungs. The next day using the drone they saw him walking around still alive.
I’m so disappointed in myself first sit of the year 2 doe 2 fawns came past me 5 yards away I’m newer hunter wasn’t positioned right the fawn looked at me I didn’t know if he could see me didn’t want to spook them by time I got turned around and got back window open I could only see one and wouldn’t have been able to get a good shot on it just totally choked any advice?
I took serious note of these tips over the last few years and it helped me Monday. I shot a doe and didn't make a sound or movement. She ran 80 yards, stopped, and bedded down. I gave her an hour before I even leaned fowards to where I could see a white belly. It wasn't a perfect shot, if I had just jumped up and or got down out of my tree, I definitely would have lost her.
2 days ago my buddy made a liver shot on a good buck and we called in a drone 3 hours after the shot and found the deer in his bed 200 yards in the opposite direction from where my buddy thought the deer had went. once an hour for 4 hours we would fly the drone over to see if he was expired until the last time we flew over and could tell that he was completely laying on his side and not breathing. If it was not for the drone I don’t think we would’ve ever found the deer.
About 15 years ago, I lost the best buck that I ever shot. It was on public land, in a big block of woods, about 150 yards from a Seneca reservation. The deer was broadside, but stepped ever so slightly just as I released. It went a short distance, then bedded in a shallow brushy depression. Every few minutes its head would come up, like it was gasping for air, but there was no way to get a clear finishing shot, but it was only early afternoon, and I had a book to read, so there was no hurry. Then, I heard the cracks of bullets passing overhead, and the buzzing sound as they tumbled after hitting some overhead limbs. At least 3 hit the ground right near the deer, causing him to jump up and head for the reservation, which is a no-go area. I found my arrow, and it was coated with dark red blood from tip to nock, sign of a liver hit. He might have gone about 120 to 130 inches, which is a big deer for the area.
Had a few nice Bucks on my property since last winter all they way threw September of this year, now I'm not seeing any Big Bucks on Camera, not sure whats going on. Camera's are picking up a few Does fawns and spikes. First time in 20 plus years something like this happened. Has me puzzled Thanks Jeff for all of your Common Sence information 👍🏻
This video was educational. I'm remembering the last deer I shot, and it was just before sunset. I did recover it, but I think it would have been easier if I had gone home and come out the next morning to do the tracking. Sounds like you might do well always waiting till the next morning to track deer that you don't see fall. Is this accurate? I know weather is a factor. I live in the Chattanooga TN area.
Do you ever have an issue with bears Jeff? I had to give a warning shot to a bear this morning, worried this bear being around is going to completely screw up my hunting on this cold front coming this weekend
Just watched this video this morning because i chose to skip hunting due to swirling wind. Went out in the evening and oddly had a shot at the biggest buck in the neighborhood. And of course i partially gut shot him. Couldn't eveb check my arrow due to other deer. Waited until rain hit hard to sneak out. Now i wait a sleepless night.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751i love your optimism. Ran onto neighbors hunting lease and they gave me the green light. Hey, i hit him further foward than the one in your video at the water hole. Just not quite as quarting away!
Update for the WHS faithful. Waited about 15 hours. That was tough. Slept no more than 3. Ton of rain overnight. Found zero sign, no arrow, no hair, not even kicked up leaves. Worked an expanding cone back and forth into the 3YO clear cut. Found him about 100 yards in, stiff. Of the things I "knew" before finding him, none were exact. He did run a straight line and bed. I was off a few degrees on this trajectory as I found the arrow on the drag out. Hit him further back that I had thought, but he was angling away further and the arrow exited behind his left shoulder. I doubt he lived long but no way would you want to try that search in the dark in the rain. Big body for Northwest PA, not a super big rack. I doubt he will go more than 120", 9pts, but he is in fact the biggest in the neighborhood according to my cams.
4:32 I take out my compass and get an azimuth to the last place I saw the deer before I leave the stand. That helps me because things look different on the ground, but the direction and a good estimate of the distance will get you pretty close.
Great insight! Perfect timing for “On Point” reminders! In the heat of the draw, are there reminders you go over in your head? Hunting reminds me of Texas Hold’em! Thank you Jesus!
It will be awesome for deer recovery. Always remember tho they commonly spook deer and likely the more they are used the more they will spook deer. I bet states will outlaw them quickly if used for spotting deer and then hunting them. Which could in turn make them illegal for deer recovery too, which would be a shame.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I use a thermal for getting in and out of my stand also for tracking. I’m sure I’ll get a drone at some point for tracking. I just worry what the majority of hunters would do with one. Cats out of the bag now so we’ll see what happens
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 they are questionable if they are even legal to use to recover deer with in many states. I posted another comment regarding this also. Most people who fly or hire a drone don’t know the FAA rules especially flying at night and use of the videos on social media. Some very steep fines if you violate FAA rules and get DNR fines tacked on also.
After deer season we need to get together and get you on a rabbit hunt with beagles again! I’m from Tennessee but willing to travel and have the hounds!
As if I couldn't feel worse about losing my first deer last week... 😞 Good info though. Appreciate it. During tracking, I found a spot with more blood, which probably where she stopped (I realize this after watchihg this video). I definitely should've waited in the blind at least another 30-45 minutes. Ended up pushing her further into deeper swamp area that I just can't get thru. 😪
I'm going through the same thing, just lost a buck a couple of days ago. Best advice I've gotten is a lot of people have been there, and the best thing is just learning from our mistakes. Try not to sulk too much, and definitely get back out there. I know I will definitely try to be much more patient in the future. Good luck in the future!
I've personally never lost a deer, but the constant threat of it happening at some point is pure nightmare fuel every time I start to go looking for it. Thanks for covering this type of stuff.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 The way I look at it is if I don't stay put like I was before the shot I could bump it to a neighbor's property and end up impacting their day by bugging their wife/kids by knocking on a door to ask to recover a deer when I know that guy/wife/kids are likely trying to hunt too. I'm just seriously embarrassed by the thought of that. That's my strongest motivator there.
@@kylen1922 I thankfully haven't run into that in my neck of the woods yet. Although, I am pretty tempted to do it to the guy that rented my neighbor's south lot this year, even though I'll ultimately end up doing the gentlemanly thing. The guy literally parked his truck on the high side of the field in the center of a deer trail with almost 270° of view on it for a couple hundred yards, winded himself away from the truck so everything on the unseeing side of it could smell him, and definitely made way too much noise getting in there and going out of there and way too late after sundown. The dog is literally almost deaf and he was reacting to his presence with great offense. I don't mind out of state hunters that have at least a general idea of what they're doing, but I seriously don't think this guy's it, and that kind of pressure affects my outcomes too (sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts).
Post shot routine for my last big buck: text my wife to cook me up some bacon. Walk out and eat the bacon. Good warm food is about the only thing that can keep me from trying to recover too early.
Wanted to share a story from the other night after watching this video. I was out in the stand and I was down to my last few minutes of sunlight. I hear some noise directly behind me, but I'm afraid to turn for fear I might get busted. A few minutes pass by and the noise moves from left to my right when I have a better view of what it is. Low and behold it's a buck strolling along eating acorns. He's in the woods where the light is nearly gone. I take the shot and hit him, he runs up into the woods making a ton of noise. I sounds as if he starts to loop back heading in the direction he came from. I'm trying to take visual notes of all the noise/directions. Then I hear Jeff say " if you have a camera take pictures of where you shot and where he ran". I pull out my phone take pics and then climb down to relieve myself. I suddenly find myself in the pitch dark, my pitures are useless as I can't tell what tree is what tree even w/ flashlight. I'm afraid to walk to much from the stand for fear I might not have hit him good, especially because the arrow wasn't right there. So I left for the night. It was already 49 and dropping more. I got up first thing the next morning and it was 39 degrees. I went back pulled up my pic was able to identify the trees, walked a bit past my spot I hit him at and there was my arrow and nasty blood bath. He ran all of about 60 yards and laid down. The noise I heard looping back must have been deer he kicked up. I love watching your videos. Often times like this video I know better then do the "don't do" things, but can't resist myself sometimes. But everything I have watched on here and I've tried has worked. It's for that reason I listen more to "Do's" vs what the don't are trying to make me do. I'm still amazed by the licking branch video. I share w/ everyone I know that hunts, and then share my pics of mind that I made and the bucks I get on it. I just wanted to say thanks for making these videos. I think they are hands down the best on RUclips when it comes to hunting!
One time I shot a deer, thought I hit a little bit back. I only waited half-hour till I got down and wanted to check the arrow. I heard one get up about 70 yards away. Turns out the blood trail went to its first bed then no blood afterwards. Luckily the neighbors found her but I definitely won't make that mistake again
Jeff’s right always watch we’re the deer went or stand by the stand and tell them we’re the deer was sometimes it looks deferent out the stand than the ground I like to go home get dressed in light clothes have coffee and go back if I don’t see it crash I’ve lost so many big bucks because yea I smashed him nope there not a doe remember that so if shots not perfect just wait cuz you will never find it lost some nice bucks and it’s still sad and hurts because we owe it too the animals too find them stay blessed!
Thank you Jeff, I believe that's why my current target buck is still alive. Shot him with snow and kept bumping him looking. Btw he is a 3.5-4 yr old monster this year. I pray I don't mess up again
I like to mark my last blood with toilet paper,it lets you go back and get a view of it's route and it is biodegradable. Also, I've noticed they seem to go to water if possible, like their instints are telling them to run into water or cross a swamp or creek,river to escape whatever is chasing it..? Anyway nice video, important topic.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , just remember, it also records sound . After the shot , I tend to think out loud without filters . Sometimes I gotta edit before I share 😂😂
I’m only on my third season and had 4 kills last year and only 1 my first year but I pride myself on my kill shots. 4 out of the 5 were rifle kills and one crossbow kill but every single one dropped where they stood which made recovery super easy. Well a couple weeks ago I had my first shot at a real buck right around sunrise and even though I was confident with my shot placement it had to have been a deep shoulder shot because it ran off with my bolt. I waited about 40 minutes to climb down. Looked for almost 2 hours exactly where it was shot and ran but I didn’t find any blood whatsoever. Just for my peace of mind I had 2 dogs come out that evening and they ran for a couple hours and couldn’t find any blood trail or the bolt even though we went through some pretty thick brush. I was extremely disappointed in myself but went back out on Sunday and got myself a doe that was recovered 60 yards from the shot with a double lung.
Check the legality of that. I’ve seen that a couple states consider that illegal. What a joke. It is such an effective method and improves overall conservation efforts.
@@trollhunter4510not always. There are many rules to look at with drone use in any aspect of deer hunting including recovery. Know all the facts, rules and regulations and the reasoning behind those rules to know why they were introduced and put in place.
This always annoys me immensely. I’ve killed in the neighborhood of 50-60 deer with a season seldom passing without limiting out (in at least one state) . I can think of maybe 3-4 deer I shot that I failed to recover. Of those 3-4 I’ve spent more time looking for them than for all the other 50-60 combined. Those three bother me to this day. Called a dog in on the last one. Muzzleloader gut shot deer that I waited over an hour to even get down, slipped up to the point the deer was standing, saw gut contents, marked the hit site with toilet paper and left the area until about 12-16 hours later and came back with a dog. Dog kept circling back to the hit site and the handler kept restarting it. Turns out the deer made a 75-100 yard dash in thick cover, bedded down (wound bed) and came right back up the same trail and crossed at the same point and entered even thicker cover. Found the deer a couple days later when the buzzards started circling. Still annoys me that none of us thought to trust the dog and follow it into that 5 year old clearcut and see what we could find, we kept second guessing it and restarting it instead. Deer was maybe 100 yards into the thicker clearcut.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I was being slightly facetious. I see these stories on social media often where people are taking 40+ yard shots in thick cover with a compound bow from 20 feet up and then they can't find their deer. In most of those instances, the bad decision was to shoot in the first place. My archery skills are...decent. I wouldn't shoot a 40 yard shot from a +20 foot tree stand no matter how zeroed my pins are. But that's me, I don't have infinite time to track a deer on public land as that's all I can really hunt. I'm only shooting during bow season if i'm 90% confident I can lay a kill shot down, and for me in a tree stand that's about 25 yards or less. idk if the right answer is to practice more if you insist on taking longer, more risky shots or simply not shooting deer from that far away, but I don't want to spend hours chasing.
Funny you mention deer bedding and people thinking the can walk up on them. Sure you can. But as a hunter , I think of it as , it's a game vs animal and man , and as man we can kill . They can't kill us , I have strict rules I fallow for myself personally. And killing a deer in a bedding area or in it's bed is absolutely against my rules , I will walk by beds and I've walked up in deer laying in a bed and have a 5 minutes stair down . But I won't shoot them in a bed , idek if that's legal in my state but to me it's not fair to the deer , I won't shoot a doe that has a fawn with her , I won't attempt a bad shot or unethical kill. I won't shoot them if they are drinking water . Just little rules I have for myself to make it fair for the animal as well. I just feel better about myself and know that the deer in the right situation may be safe no matter the case under my set of rules . And I stick by them . And I always think to make sure it's a good deer decent size , cause that deer could be it's last day experiencing life.
Tracking Skills?! What about us poor souls with red/green color blindness. I can barely see red spray paint in green grass. Blood on the ground at dusk or after dark might as well not be there.
The hood drones are 400 ft up with thermals and 200x cameras. You should do more digging as it’s going to completely disrupt hunting when people use it to located their bedded target deer. Illegally buying its comin for sure
Overcharged people with drones and don’t pick up under wood canopy dog any day of the week specially if they’ll catch or bay !! Y’all be safe thisbyear
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Absolutely. Mark it in your mind visually, listen, sit on it & review those with yourself until things settle. Get down drop hat at 1st blood & wait. Eat chilli. Return to hat. Remain quiet and don't hurry. Pick up blood, find deer. Get more help to drag out lol... or just drop him closer to where you shot. Hunting is certainly a skill set. Happy hunting this year everyone! Thanks for another great video Jeff!
Thanks Lena!
This video should be automatically reposted every October 1st. Everyone should be reminded of this every year.
Great information Jeff. I've bowhunted for 30 years and only didn't recover one deer (shoulder hit and saw it running around 5 weeks later). I've always been very conservative with quietly waiting after the shot, backing out, etc. Until 6 years ago my wife had only gun hunted and was brought up to "go look" right away. She's getting much better. A month ago she shot a bear with .308. I told her to stay put and I would come out in 45 minutes. A (probably well intentioned) neighbor her heard shoot and was yelling for her to locate her 5 minutes after the shot and started tracking 9 minutes after the shot (he was on trail cam staring the tracking by the bait). I was livid with the guy but put on the happy face trying to keep his intentions in mind. Ultimately we did not recover the bear after tracking for 150 yards in 1 1/2 hours with sporadic blood and backing out, waiting 2 hours and bringing in a dog and tracking another 300 yards in 3 hours before losing blood. I honestly don't know if it was a mortal wound or not but I know the neighbor probably pushing it did not help.
Hi Jeff ! I know your a busy man. But I'm really excited to see some footage of you out in the field sticking a nice buck. 💪Good luck !
😊 me too 😁 hopefully soon and I appreciate it!
Great video, these steps are just as important as everything you do leading up to the shot.
So true Lee! Thanks a lot
That emotion and adrenaline when the deer gets close.. that first big heart beat you feel before telling yourself to cool your 💩. What a hell of a feeling
AMAZING AND IMPORTANT VIDEO FOR ALL HUNTERS . Some have Hunt all of their Life but some are just starting and really need this video.
Thanks guys for another video! I found your channel a few months ago and I’ve been learning lots! I always look forward to your videos!
Excellent! Always appreciate you sharing your experience. No matter how long you have hunted or how many deer you have harvested hearing this advice is something that everyone who hears it will think about before they shoot. Learning patience is the most important skill to master.
Thank you!
So true...just so hard to learn!
Very sound advice as always. We have never lost a deer but always relax, get down, walk back to camp (
Great video for new hunters and mental note for the old guys!
For sure!
This is one of the most important videos you have made, good job
100 percent agree. Time is your best friend and when in doubt back out is always what I tell everyone. If you do not see them drop or hear them crash for sure leave and give it time.
Amen! Such a simple and clean rule that isn't followed enough!
Good advice, thanks Jeff
A friend of mine has a thermal drone. In Michigan they are trying to make it illegal to use. The good thing with a quality drone you can fly it high enough it won’t spook game. Great vid!
Great video. The biggest problem with spooking deer (not being patient) is not so much them running, but the vasoconstritcion that comes with their fight-or-flight when they're spooked causing it to take longer to bleed out
I have a tracking dog that has recovered over a hundred deer. You are 100% correct on the impatience and hours to expire. Have seen rutty bucks that have lived 65+hours after a gut shot. They die from infection rather than blood loss.
i love your realistic approach to most anything hunting wise.
Thank you I just hope it all helps!
Got my first deer with a bow today. Used HuntWise and took advantage of the cold and wind direction. Hit an 8 point and waited 4-5 hours (didn’t want to jump him) before recovering him. It wasn’t the best placement. Got him in the shoulder. When I found him he was about 70yards away and the arrow had punched through.
Hello from Northern Ontario. Just watching your video and it struck a cord. I’m a rifle hunter and over the years I’ve developed a routine when I first see a shootable deer in my lane. I get the rifle out of the window and because I’m so pumped up I’ve learned to come off the rifle take a deep breath then get back on it and shoot. I always watch where the deer runs and take a mental pic of bush or tree that it took off into the bush after my shot. Then I usually sit down notify my crew that I shot and I slowly take off my heavy clothes, grab my nitrile gloves, knife, rope, Shappell sled and flagging tape. After 15-20 minutes I get down and head to the tree or bush I marked in my mind where the deer bolted into the bush. It’s a routine that I always do and once while waiting 15-20 minutes to find the deer I shot another buck stepped into the lane and I shot it too! As you say patience is the key. The reason I bring flagging tape is one year it took me 1 1/2 hours to go 185 yards to find a deer I shot and had no tracks to follow on exposed limestone ground. Very little blood and mostly hard hood print. I didn’t give up and found him. Great advice great episode I’m subbed!
Really cool experiences Orest...really appreciate you commenting and subbing all the way up there!
It’s still so crazy to me that your from the Waterford area I have lived at 59 and crescent lake rd since 86! Watch every video!
Very crazy! I loved right there at the end of Watkins Lake by the old Herts Auto from 83 to 94. Was a teenager going to that old movie theater there 😊 Caught giant carp in the Clinton River. So many great memories!!
150 deer? I'm so jealous. I'm disabled veteran in Michigan and I've been bow and gun hunting since 2006. My brother in law taught me how to hunt and I got a four point my first year with a cheap $75 bow and a whisker biscuit. I've been addicted ever since. Seriously, nothing beats that rush. However, I haven't harvested anything since. I'm so ridiculously frustrated and discouraged. I love being outdoors and the experience, but it gets old not seeing anything because the bucks only come out at night. I'm honestly thinking about giving up. I keep thinking "this year is the year" and it never happens. What kills the most is when my friends send me pics of their monster bucks. Meanwhile all I ever see is does. I don't get it.
Man I hope the info helps you out...keep at it brother! Just enjoy it all...
Stay out there dude! What else are you gonna do with that time?
I always tell myself when a deer walks in"its not a state record so what does it matter if I mess up" that way I stay calm and can actually concentrate better and get good shot placement and release by telling myself that and following through just like I'm standing in front of my target
I've seen more deer lost because people getting excited and rushing the tracking to the point they get beyond the last blood and then getting off the blood trail. Sometimes, a small drop of blood takes you in the right direction and if you get into too big of a hurry, you will miss that one spot that takes you in a different direction. You are correct - patience, patience, patience...if you don't have a lot of experience tracking a wounded deer , ask someone else that does have experience to do the tracking for you. They will be less excited and may do a better job in the patience department!
Amen Jerry...great comments!
Great info bud. If in doubt back out. I have exercised that several times and recovered that deer the following day or later in the day. Buddy shot a big buck a few years ago and he wasn’t sure of the shot. He backed out and then called me to help track. We went to the shot location and there was good blood then it stop so we let it go over night. Went out at first light and took our time and found the deer .5 miles later but the coyotes beat us to it and then a bear was on top of it when we found it. We found it but nothing was able to be salvaged meat wise but he did tag it as a part of a creed we both follow
Great job on that Corey! Likely wouldn't have found it at all and never known if pushed...I agree on that tag for sure! Important creed...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 judging from what was left of the hide after the coyotes and bear is he hit it in the liver and guts which also explained the dark and gut smelling blood we had. After going back to his stand I looked where the deer was standing and he had actually hit a twig and it deflected his arrow back to the liver and guts. He shot a doe a few weeks later with his rifle during the gun season and got near for the freezer and I gave him a doe I shot as well
I like these tips a lot. Interestingly we have had birds tearing at dead deer within 2 hrs in northern MN.
One of the most important parts of my kit is a small biomass camp stove and fire kit with fresh water and a coffee french press kit. everything fits in a 1 liter bottle bag plus a canteen. I hit a deer and i get back to the vehicle and make a cup or 2 of strong fresh brew and sit and strategize and plan the next step.
My brother once shot a decent 8 point in South Carolina, didnt see it drop. He called other members to let them know. After dark, a truck pulled up and he hears a cowbell. Another member took it upon himself to let loose his unleashed dog who took off in the direction the deer went. Needless to say, the deer was never recovered. Our leashed beagle recovered 11 deer in one year for other members. If using a dog, always have on a leash.
Great advice as always!
Very true. I have been a victim of impatience several times over the years.
Your videos are incredible I have learned so much senior member of Team Morgan The American Legend from Lackawanna New York
Thanks a lot Gary, I appreciate you watching!
Great reminder video
Thanks Tony, I hope we both get to practice patience soon 😁
My cousin has a thermal drone. His drone picked up the deer I shot clear as day after we let the deer lay in the snow for 4 hours in 15 degree weather. Also playing with it this summer, deer don’t spook from the drone. We got within 10 feet of a doe in a corn field before she started walking away. From 100+ feet it wouldn’t even spook a mature buck I’m confident. It really is awesome to see and play with and I can’t wait to use it in the future, hopefully I won’t need to though 😂
They are awesome! But I have seen them spook deer many, many times 😉 Small tiny ones...big ones, etc.
I failed to mention that the one we got within 10 feet of was at night and the light on the drone had it blind so it was just confused
All good points. As far as dogs go I think anymore we have the united bloodhound tracker list of "certified" trackers and they came out with this app called TRAKR and u can go to their website and it asks questions about the shot and the certified ones all have criteria on if they'll come out and look for your deer. The certified ones seem to really know if its a mortally wounded deer or if it needs 2 hours 5 hours the next morning etc. Its their time putting into it. Son in law hit his biggest buck ever last october we called a tracker that we found out was less than a mile away from where he hunted he wasnt real sure on a couple things she wouldnt even come over and put her dog on it. I and my dad knew some of the guys on country block put the word out and neighbor picking corn a mile away found him so we were able to recover the deer but it was luck. In instances like that the adrenaline i think makes you forget or makes things foggy. Great video that everyone can learn from or be reminded for the next time they shoot an animal.
Excellent video - Thanks!
Another point I would add is consistent shooting practice. Practice practice practice shooting in all different positions and with deer targets at different angles. Practice makes perfect on getting a good lethal shot.
Themal drones are NOT always legal to use to retrieve a deer or aid in hunting. If there is any compensation (cash or money for gas, gifts), or if the is video use on social media (RUclips, Facebook, Instagram or TikToc, where money can be made) then the pilot will need to have an FAA Pilots license (not T.R.U.S.T.) or an FAA part 107 (commercial drone pilots license). Night flights are also a topic all together. In short if you don’t know what the rules are don’t even think about a drone or hiring someone with a drone. You can also be fined if the pilot you hired is not following the rules because you hired them. The courts, FAA, local governments and state DNR agency’s will start to clarify this but right now it’s a big gray area. Be smart with the use of any drone for deer hunting including deer recovery.
Good comments!
Great information. Key word , mortality wounded!! Which goes back to being patient for an ethical shot. I know guys that shoot compound bow and crossbow, that aren't patient. Personal friends for years don't remember their shot. Guys get so worked up the don't know where they hit the deer or what angle it was standing, did you shoot through brush etc... Anyway, my opinion finding your deer starts with not rushing your shot and knowing your ability with your equipment and taking ethical shots.
So true...great points!
Yeah I went looking for my deer too soon once. I still found him with help from some friends, but he was a good 200 yards further away than he would have been if I had waited for an hour or two. Maybe 250 yards. It wasn't an easy drag by any means. If you see the deer fall go ahead and start dragging. Otherwise wait a while. Just make sure you know where the initial blood is and the direction he went from there.
Watched my target buck 75 yards away in truck yesterday evening in a hay field! Can’t believe he hasn’t shifted yet?
Do you recommend blind grunting or rattling this weekend with this cold front coming
Not at all...you will do more spooking than good 👍
👍🏼thank you, would you grunt at a buck if it’s 50 yards away walking away or just wait for another chance, different sit
@@zackroehl6416 50 yards is to close to call if your not in thick cover. Or if you can cast your call away from your location. Mostly why deer calls don't work is because they've been educated and called at.
Thermal drone deer recovery: Great option. I've got a part 107 commercial license to do it for myself or others commercially but.... It's illegal here! (Fish & game want only tracking dogs in the woods, no drones.)
Great topic. The key to a successful recovery is PATIENCE!!!!
So dang true Shannon!
Hi Jeff, just wondering how deep does my woodlot have to be for depth of cover to be applicable. before it becomes a pinchpoint instead? thanks
I recently saw a video of a guy using the drone with heat imaging and it was unbelievable. The buck was bedded in a soybean field and you could see where the hit was hit. High above lungs. The next day using the drone they saw him walking around still alive.
I’m so disappointed in myself first sit of the year 2 doe 2 fawns came past me 5 yards away I’m newer hunter wasn’t positioned right the fawn looked at me I didn’t know if he could see me didn’t want to spook them by time I got turned around and got back window open I could only see one and wouldn’t have been able to get a good shot on it just totally choked any advice?
I took serious note of these tips over the last few years and it helped me Monday. I shot a doe and didn't make a sound or movement. She ran 80 yards, stopped, and bedded down. I gave her an hour before I even leaned fowards to where I could see a white belly. It wasn't a perfect shot, if I had just jumped up and or got down out of my tree, I definitely would have lost her.
What a great informative video.
2 days ago my buddy made a liver shot on a good buck and we called in a drone 3 hours after the shot and found the deer in his bed 200 yards in the opposite direction from where my buddy thought the deer had went. once an hour for 4 hours we would fly the drone over to see if he was expired until the last time we flew over and could tell that he was completely laying on his side and not breathing. If it was not for the drone I don’t think we would’ve ever found the deer.
About 15 years ago, I lost the best buck that I ever shot. It was on public land, in a big block of woods, about 150 yards from a Seneca reservation. The deer was broadside, but stepped ever so slightly just as I released. It went a short distance, then bedded in a shallow brushy depression. Every few minutes its head would come up, like it was gasping for air, but there was no way to get a clear finishing shot, but it was only early afternoon, and I had a book to read, so there was no hurry. Then, I heard the cracks of bullets passing overhead, and the buzzing sound as they tumbled after hitting some overhead limbs. At least 3 hit the ground right near the deer, causing him to jump up and head for the reservation, which is a no-go area. I found my arrow, and it was coated with dark red blood from tip to nock, sign of a liver hit. He might have gone about 120 to 130 inches, which is a big deer for the area.
Had a few nice Bucks on my property since last winter all they way threw September of this year, now I'm not seeing any Big Bucks on Camera, not sure whats going on.
Camera's are picking up a few Does fawns and spikes. First time in 20 plus years something like this happened. Has me puzzled
Thanks Jeff for all of your Common Sence information 👍🏻
This video was educational. I'm remembering the last deer I shot, and it was just before sunset. I did recover it, but I think it would have been easier if I had gone home and come out the next morning to do the tracking.
Sounds like you might do well always waiting till the next morning to track deer that you don't see fall. Is this accurate? I know weather is a factor. I live in the Chattanooga TN area.
Jeff, I think we should send a topographical map of our small parcels and $50, and you scrible what you would do in it!
😊 I wish I could work that cheap!
Do you ever have an issue with bears Jeff? I had to give a warning shot to a bear this morning, worried this bear being around is going to completely screw up my hunting on this cold front coming this weekend
Jeff, have you ever heard a buck blow after being lung shot?
No, I have not...
Just watched this video this morning because i chose to skip hunting due to swirling wind. Went out in the evening and oddly had a shot at the biggest buck in the neighborhood. And of course i partially gut shot him. Couldn't eveb check my arrow due to other deer. Waited until rain hit hard to sneak out. Now i wait a sleepless night.
Oh dang Kes, I bet you find him in the morning! Good luck!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751i love your optimism. Ran onto neighbors hunting lease and they gave me the green light. Hey, i hit him further foward than the one in your video at the water hole. Just not quite as quarting away!
Update for the WHS faithful. Waited about 15 hours. That was tough. Slept no more than 3. Ton of rain overnight. Found zero sign, no arrow, no hair, not even kicked up leaves. Worked an expanding cone back and forth into the 3YO clear cut. Found him about 100 yards in, stiff. Of the things I "knew" before finding him, none were exact. He did run a straight line and bed. I was off a few degrees on this trajectory as I found the arrow on the drag out. Hit him further back that I had thought, but he was angling away further and the arrow exited behind his left shoulder. I doubt he lived long but no way would you want to try that search in the dark in the rain. Big body for Northwest PA, not a super big rack. I doubt he will go more than 120", 9pts, but he is in fact the biggest in the neighborhood according to my cams.
As a new hunter, I have a question! Do deer hide under leaves after they are shot? Thanks!
They do not ..
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thank you!
I agree with you mostly, but in south Texas it’s a race who gets to the kill first. You or Coyotes, it’s like ringing the dinner bell.
4:32 I take out my compass and get an azimuth to the last place I saw the deer before I leave the stand. That helps me because things look different on the ground, but the direction and a good estimate of the distance will get you pretty close.
Great insight! Perfect timing for “On Point” reminders! In the heat of the draw, are there reminders you go over in your head? Hunting reminds me of Texas Hold’em! Thank you Jesus!
Ha, good parallel Naomi! So true...
Great video
I’m nervous about the drone situation. I’m worried it’s gonna end up being a common tool to locate deer 10 years from now. Then what… game over
It will be awesome for deer recovery. Always remember tho they commonly spook deer and likely the more they are used the more they will spook deer. I bet states will outlaw them quickly if used for spotting deer and then hunting them. Which could in turn make them illegal for deer recovery too, which would be a shame.
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I use a thermal for getting in and out of my stand also for tracking. I’m sure I’ll get a drone at some point for tracking. I just worry what the majority of hunters would do with one. Cats out of the bag now so we’ll see what happens
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 they are questionable if they are even legal to use to recover deer with in many states. I posted another comment regarding this also. Most people who fly or hire a drone don’t know the FAA rules especially flying at night and use of the videos on social media. Some very steep fines if you violate FAA rules and get DNR fines tacked on also.
After deer season we need to get together and get you on a rabbit hunt with beagles again! I’m from Tennessee but willing to travel and have the hounds!
I remember hearing about that bank getting robbed
Crazy...happened 3 times at that branch in about 3 to 4 years!
As if I couldn't feel worse about losing my first deer last week... 😞 Good info though. Appreciate it. During tracking, I found a spot with more blood, which probably where she stopped (I realize this after watchihg this video). I definitely should've waited in the blind at least another 30-45 minutes. Ended up pushing her further into deeper swamp area that I just can't get thru. 😪
I'm going through the same thing, just lost a buck a couple of days ago. Best advice I've gotten is a lot of people have been there, and the best thing is just learning from our mistakes. Try not to sulk too much, and definitely get back out there. I know I will definitely try to be much more patient in the future. Good luck in the future!
I have been bowhunting deer since 1990 and i have only lost 2 deer
I called in a tracking dog on a bull moose after he went into a swamp with tall grass and it worked great, recovered my archery moose
That is awesome!!
I've personally never lost a deer, but the constant threat of it happening at some point is pure nightmare fuel every time I start to go looking for it.
Thanks for covering this type of stuff.
Amen Dan! It's constant for me too... patience after the shot is so critical. Sounds like you are doing great with that!
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 The way I look at it is if I don't stay put like I was before the shot I could bump it to a neighbor's property and end up impacting their day by bugging their wife/kids by knocking on a door to ask to recover a deer when I know that guy/wife/kids are likely trying to hunt too. I'm just seriously embarrassed by the thought of that. That's my strongest motivator there.
@danorris5235 I hunt small parcels allot of time so u better not push them. Sometimes people are not friendly and give u permission to recovery.
@@kylen1922 I thankfully haven't run into that in my neck of the woods yet. Although, I am pretty tempted to do it to the guy that rented my neighbor's south lot this year, even though I'll ultimately end up doing the gentlemanly thing.
The guy literally parked his truck on the high side of the field in the center of a deer trail with almost 270° of view on it for a couple hundred yards, winded himself away from the truck so everything on the unseeing side of it could smell him, and definitely made way too much noise getting in there and going out of there and way too late after sundown. The dog is literally almost deaf and he was reacting to his presence with great offense.
I don't mind out of state hunters that have at least a general idea of what they're doing, but I seriously don't think this guy's it, and that kind of pressure affects my outcomes too (sometimes it helps, sometimes it hurts).
Post shot routine for my last big buck: text my wife to cook me up some bacon. Walk out and eat the bacon. Good warm food is about the only thing that can keep me from trying to recover too early.
Wanted to share a story from the other night after watching this video. I was out in the stand and I was down to my last few minutes of sunlight. I hear some noise directly behind me, but I'm afraid to turn for fear I might get busted. A few minutes pass by and the noise moves from left to my right when I have a better view of what it is. Low and behold it's a buck strolling along eating acorns. He's in the woods where the light is nearly gone. I take the shot and hit him, he runs up into the woods making a ton of noise. I sounds as if he starts to loop back heading in the direction he came from. I'm trying to take visual notes of all the noise/directions. Then I hear Jeff say " if you have a camera take pictures of where you shot and where he ran". I pull out my phone take pics and then climb down to relieve myself. I suddenly find myself in the pitch dark, my pitures are useless as I can't tell what tree is what tree even w/ flashlight. I'm afraid to walk to much from the stand for fear I might not have hit him good, especially because the arrow wasn't right there. So I left for the night. It was already 49 and dropping more. I got up first thing the next morning and it was 39 degrees. I went back pulled up my pic was able to identify the trees, walked a bit past my spot I hit him at and there was my arrow and nasty blood bath. He ran all of about 60 yards and laid down. The noise I heard looping back must have been deer he kicked up.
I love watching your videos. Often times like this video I know better then do the "don't do" things, but can't resist myself sometimes. But everything I have watched on here and I've tried has worked. It's for that reason I listen more to "Do's" vs what the don't are trying to make me do.
I'm still amazed by the licking branch video. I share w/ everyone I know that hunts, and then share my pics of mind that I made and the bucks I get on it.
I just wanted to say thanks for making these videos. I think they are hands down the best on RUclips when it comes to hunting!
One time I shot a deer, thought I hit a little bit back. I only waited half-hour till I got down and wanted to check the arrow. I heard one get up about 70 yards away. Turns out the blood trail went to its first bed then no blood afterwards. Luckily the neighbors found her but I definitely won't make that mistake again
Can't tell which way he ran if the black powder smoke blinds you. When it clears to see he's gone!
Carter Creek Drone Service in Oxford, WI!
What I did.. Take 25 yard & under quartering away shots, 415 fps crossbow, 425gn bolts with big Swhackers- works every time!
Do you feel like you're cheating at all using a crossbow?
@@jacob334j oh stop man ! We're all hunters here... gun, bow, crossbow... what do you care what makes other lagal hunters happy
Absolutely!!!@@jacob334j
Shoot fixed broadheads and aim for the vital V, they won’t go far…
Jeff’s right always watch we’re the deer went or stand by the stand and tell them we’re the deer was sometimes it looks deferent out the stand than the ground I like to go home get dressed in light clothes have coffee and go back if I don’t see it crash I’ve lost so many big bucks because yea I smashed him nope there not a doe remember that so if shots not perfect just wait cuz you will never find it lost some nice bucks and it’s still sad and hurts because we owe it too the animals too find them stay blessed!
Shot my first deer last season- couldn’t find it 💔
Don't give up...
I didn't find my deer this year because i didn't listen to Jeff last year. And i never saw a buck to shoot😢
Thank you Jeff, I believe that's why my current target buck is still alive. Shot him with snow and kept bumping him looking. Btw he is a 3.5-4 yr old monster this year. I pray I don't mess up again
I like to mark my last blood with toilet paper,it lets you go back and get a view of it's route and it is biodegradable.
Also, I've noticed they seem to go to water if possible, like their instints are telling them to run into water or cross a swamp or creek,river to escape whatever is chasing it..? Anyway nice video, important topic.
The one advantage to using my tactacam,
If im not sure of the shot . Hit the wifi and review the hit .
That's pretty dang cool! I'm taking 2 to the stand with me this year 😊
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 , just remember, it also records sound . After the shot , I tend to think out loud without filters .
Sometimes I gotta edit before I share 😂😂
I’m only on my third season and had 4 kills last year and only 1 my first year but I pride myself on my kill shots. 4 out of the 5 were rifle kills and one crossbow kill but every single one dropped where they stood which made recovery super easy. Well a couple weeks ago I had my first shot at a real buck right around sunrise and even though I was confident with my shot placement it had to have been a deep shoulder shot because it ran off with my bolt. I waited about 40 minutes to climb down. Looked for almost 2 hours exactly where it was shot and ran but I didn’t find any blood whatsoever. Just for my peace of mind I had 2 dogs come out that evening and they ran for a couple hours and couldn’t find any blood trail or the bolt even though we went through some pretty thick brush. I was extremely disappointed in myself but went back out on Sunday and got myself a doe that was recovered 60 yards from the shot with a double lung.
Check out Drone Deer Recovery.It’s cool.He finds them dead and alive.
Check the legality of that. I’ve seen that a couple states consider that illegal. What a joke. It is such an effective method and improves overall conservation efforts.
@@trollhunter4510not always. There are many rules to look at with drone use in any aspect of deer hunting including recovery. Know all the facts, rules and regulations and the reasoning behind those rules to know why they were introduced and put in place.
The average hunter makes staggeringly little recovery effort. Most of those who do make an effort are clueless as to what to do and why.
Many have just been taught so poorly and this subject has been over complicated to death!
This always annoys me immensely. I’ve killed in the neighborhood of 50-60 deer with a season seldom passing without limiting out (in at least one state) . I can think of maybe 3-4 deer I shot that I failed to recover. Of those 3-4 I’ve spent more time looking for them than for all the other 50-60 combined. Those three bother me to this day. Called a dog in on the last one. Muzzleloader gut shot deer that I waited over an hour to even get down, slipped up to the point the deer was standing, saw gut contents, marked the hit site with toilet paper and left the area until about 12-16 hours later and came back with a dog. Dog kept circling back to the hit site and the handler kept restarting it. Turns out the deer made a 75-100 yard dash in thick cover, bedded down (wound bed) and came right back up the same trail and crossed at the same point and entered even thicker cover. Found the deer a couple days later when the buzzards started circling. Still annoys me that none of us thought to trust the dog and follow it into that 5 year old clearcut and see what we could find, we kept second guessing it and restarting it instead. Deer was maybe 100 yards into the thicker clearcut.
the reason you can't find your deer: because you didn't kill it.
Unfortunately, so not true. Just lack of patience and lack of smart decisions...
@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I was being slightly facetious. I see these stories on social media often where people are taking 40+ yard shots in thick cover with a compound bow from 20 feet up and then they can't find their deer. In most of those instances, the bad decision was to shoot in the first place. My archery skills are...decent. I wouldn't shoot a 40 yard shot from a +20 foot tree stand no matter how zeroed my pins are. But that's me, I don't have infinite time to track a deer on public land as that's all I can really hunt. I'm only shooting during bow season if i'm 90% confident I can lay a kill shot down, and for me in a tree stand that's about 25 yards or less. idk if the right answer is to practice more if you insist on taking longer, more risky shots or simply not shooting deer from that far away, but I don't want to spend hours chasing.
I've probaly shot over 100 whitail and can only think of one I never recovered. It was a runnuning shot and was not fatal. Time is key give them time!
99% is pretty great. I've only heard stories of such high percentages and the alleged percentages never seem to survive 1st hand observation.
Funny you mention deer bedding and people thinking the can walk up on them. Sure you can. But as a hunter , I think of it as , it's a game vs animal and man , and as man we can kill . They can't kill us , I have strict rules I fallow for myself personally. And killing a deer in a bedding area or in it's bed is absolutely against my rules , I will walk by beds and I've walked up in deer laying in a bed and have a 5 minutes stair down . But I won't shoot them in a bed , idek if that's legal in my state but to me it's not fair to the deer , I won't shoot a doe that has a fawn with her , I won't attempt a bad shot or unethical kill. I won't shoot them if they are drinking water . Just little rules I have for myself to make it fair for the animal as well. I just feel better about myself and know that the deer in the right situation may be safe no matter the case under my set of rules . And I stick by them . And I always think to make sure it's a good deer decent size , cause that deer could be it's last day experiencing life.
Tracking Skills?! What about us poor souls with red/green color blindness. I can barely see red spray paint in green grass. Blood on the ground at dusk or after dark might as well not be there.
Be glad you live in the modern world
🦌😁
The hood drones are 400 ft up with thermals and 200x cameras. You should do more digging as it’s going to completely disrupt hunting when people use it to located their bedded target deer. Illegally buying its comin for sure
First
Yeppers
Overcharged people with drones and don’t pick up under wood canopy dog any day of the week specially if they’ll catch or bay !! Y’all be safe thisbyear