My son shot his first deer this morning. I am not sure of the shot placement but we have blood and covered over a couple hundred yards. Blood is/was bright red. Started in good drops than had some
areas of six inches in diameter or so. Went back to drops and we lost it. Any ideas from you guys besides circling the last know blood drop. Any dogs near Carbon that could help look. We will continue to look while I see what comes back in from you guys.

give it a little time to bleed out or otherwise you might be pushing it farther. Not seeing the blood, but you state bright blood, usually means lung and they can cover some ground if even slightly pushed. After 30-45 minutes go back to last blood found and look for possible tracks and direction. Go SLOW or otherwise you might screw up what little blood trail there might be. They will crawl up under something with their last bit of ability often times. Look under brush, cedars, low hanging branches.

The drops are when the deer is on his feet. The 6 inch diameter blood is from the deer laying down. Starting drops again tells me you bumped him from his bed, where he may have died if you hadn't pushed him. Back out and leave him alone for awhile. Then go back to last sign and start tracking again.

I'd give these guys a try..

Tony Dixson
817-996-6551
Hunt in Young County, but will go anywhere in north Texas

Dale Love
817-629-1100
Tarrent, Young, Parker and surrounding counties......only cost is fuel and dog food

Micah Hawkins and Gus
940-210-0279 cell
Young, Jack and surrounding counties.

If you are going to call in a dog, then back out and do not continue. Your scent will only hurt.

^^

Ditto - dog handler does not want you stomping around the area the deer may be. Will probably cost you $200-300 for the dog plus tip

Well?

Well we were unable to find the deer. I made a bunch of mistakes from pre shot to post shot that I will learn from. Too many to list here. We backed out and gave it some time after reading what was posted. Called a couple of folks with dogs, but none were available and the one that was, is out of my price range. He was really helpful on what to do and from what I described thought it was more of a muscle shot. We went back to the last known blood and started searching from there. Deer crossed a dry creek bed and went into an old overgrown field. After many circles I somehow came across another small circle of very light blood. No blood drops in any direction. Started circling again and never found another sign. Finally called off the search to head back home. I am really disappointed on so many fronts, but especially on losing the deer. Not that I have killed a bunch, but its never happened before. We are headed back out this weekend and I hope we see him walking around. My biggest realization from the whole deal - helping a first time shooter is much harder than I expected when the time came. I think my son did great, but his father made too many mistakes for him to overcome.

A lot of times you will only find blood at the tops of high grass sorry that happened better luck next time just keep hunting it happens.

Don't be too hard on yourself. Good learning experiences come from making bad decisions. Unfortunately, you have to make a few bad decisions to have a few good learning experiences!

Amen. It's upsetting for sure, but you learn way more from wounding something than a "bang-flop". Get back out there with your boy as soon as you can and try for another deer. "Get back on that horse." If you hit something and it doesn't fall within your sight and doesn't move, always, always, always wait 30 to 45 minutes before follow-up. Something the kids hunting on my lease are learning the slow, hard way.

second that, truthfully even among the most experienced hunters, anyone who says they've never missed or wounded a deer/made a lesser shot. they just haven't shot enough deer. it happens. good practice and preparation will keep it from happening frequently, but it does still happen.

just put as many things in your favor as possible. close distance, good bullets, shoot at the shoulder...take high percentage shots. start with that and either stay with it, or work up from there as confidence and experience build.