First - I know this is a really difficult question to answer due to variation of shot placement but lets assume it is a lower double lung (and yes - I know a spined deer doesnt run at all :))

I am just starting to bow hunt and am terrified of the first time I have to track a deer - I know it is a part of it (have never had to do it and the time or two I have helped was over 20 years ago). The fear is based on losing a deer. Hate the thought of it. On top of that it is just me on the land so I will have no help when the time comes.

The spots I am hunting will not allow me to watch the deer for very long after the shot so tracking will be a certainty. I am so apprehensive of it, due to the newness and uncertainty of it all, I am only going to hunt in the morning so that I have daylight to track. I am sure once I get confidence - this will change. I know I am a big puss

So, can you give me a ballpark on generally how far a double lunged deer will run? Is this even a question that can be reasonably answered? I guess blood trails vary as well - wish the blood trail resembled a massacre every time ? I do know that waiting is key to successfully locating your deer, which I understand.

Really curious to hear your stories and advice.

My average deer run 30 to 40 yards, but I've seen them run out of sight due to a bad shot.

Opening weekend I double lunged one high and it went about 40 yds.

I've never had a double-lunged deer run more than 50 yards or so. What I do after the shot is immediately replay the sequence of events in my mind. Where do I believe I hit it? Which direction did it go? I also always ensure I lock into my memory the last place I saw it, the direction it was headed, and wait 20-30 minutes if I don't see or hear it go down. I'll then mark the first blood I find with something, toilet paper, stick etc and continue to track (I actually LOVE to track deer). I'll also mark the LAST blood I find as well. Take your time and thoroughly search. You might be looking for pencil-eraser sized or smaller blood patterns at certain points. There may even be points where there is no blood and you must look for hoof prints leading to the next blood sign. It's very tempting in the thrill of the moment to just head off in the direction of where you think it "ought" to be and to just conduct a hasty visual search for it's body. However, if you don't find it you may have just trampled over and concealed the blood trail. Take your time and let the sign lead you to your kill. Good luck!

I got this out of Bow Hunting Magazine last year. It should give some indications of how a deer is hit and time before track.

Great answers. I am in my second season of hunting with the bow. I have never even taken a shot yet. Just have not had one that I felt good about yet. I also am only hunting mornings so that I will have plenty of light to try and track. I will eventually hunt evenings as well, but want to get my first kill in the AM time.

After you shoot listen. If you hear crash crash crash CRASH and then nothing else your deer is most likely down. no matter were you shot if you dont see them go down give them plenty of time.

X2 and the key is give them plenty of time. Don't rush it, it will be there. When you think you've waited long enough give it 15 more minutes. That to me is the number one reason people lose deer.

Update - Well I found out first hand this morning. First time out bowhunting and got a doe. She ran about 35 yards. Blood trail looked like a massacre - I tagged her good. I dont have a problem at all tracking em with trails like that. It was pretty fun - actually. I heard her crash but wasnt sure so I held tight and waited between 30-40 minutes. The only bad thing about all of it was having to haul butt to get her dressed and to the processor quickly due to warm weather. It was really awesome and gave me a lot of confidence. Thanks to all of you.

I would like to see pics. congrats!

Good deal! I'm glad things went good for you. Congrats.

Congrats!!!

Shortest: didn't take a step
farthest: 350 yards

X3, but with reservations...Twice I have had coyotes on my kill before I was. This post shot waiting game is a toss up. Used to I would wait a long time after a bad shot, but now I just figure out how to get another 10 yards closer before I loose... not that I have never had a shot both bad and close or anything...

edit: Oh, and 40-80 yards to answer the original question...

-ww

We have shot 6 off my buddy's place this fall. All were does/spikes, shot with the 2 blade rage broadheads. Two ran 20 yds, one ran 40, two ran 75-100 yds and one super man of a doe ran 250+ yds and was lost.

All of the deer were easy to find exlcuding the superman doe of course.

I shot my first with my bow on the 8th and had the same worries and still do.. I actually shot her high but it hit under the spine and I guess when it hit my arrow broke and continued going thru her breaking her front leg also.. So she dropped in her tracks but I waited for 30 mins and she was very alive so I had to finish her off.. But it was definitely a wierd ordeal.. It broke her back and leg due to a not so perfect shot...

But anyways just wanted to share that with y'all !!!

Congrats! I am a huge fan of the double lung shot. Plenty of blood and minimal ground to cover!

The mulie I took on saturday was the farthest I have had run. It went 100-125 yards. Most of mine have crumbled at under 30 yards. The doe I shot friday fell like a sack of taters, right there DOA. By the way I use those cheapy Muzzys

30 to 50 yards

With a good double lung or heart shot they usually go no more than 50 or 60 yards. But I have seen one or two deer run at least 200 yards with a perfect double lung shot. Some just don't want to die

If I am hunting in the afternoon, I ALWAYS take along Blue Star. I would have lost a couple of deer in the past if I had not had that stuff. If you are tracking after dark and lose the trail, all you have to do is spray a mist of Blue Star into the air and it will make microscopic spots of blood glow in the dark. The stuff is amazing! You will never have any anxiety about losing a deer if you take that stuff with you.

None of the hogs or turkey i have shot this year with my crossbow have gone more then 30 yards.

With that said, i think the most important thing is getting a complete pass through! If you don't you have a really hard time getting a good blood trail.

The good thing about my crossbow is it has so much power that i have blown through both shoulders on a boar that was 35 yards. the blood trail looked like you sprayed it with a pump up garden sprayer.

My buddy that almost lost his deer didn't get a pass through and we trailed it with my dog the following day for 100 yards.

All the blood was in the cavity.

i shot a doe last week and double lunged her. She only went about 20 yards

it varies, i've had a one lung shot deer run 300 yards but the longest double lung shot deer only ran 40 yards