For anyone who hunts, recovering game should be the most important task. New hunters that have no one to aid them are almost sure to lose an animal due to their lack of tracking experience. The sad fact is, most hunters spend the least time practicing and studying how to recover downed game.
The old saying goes, “if you haven't lost an animal, you haven't hunted long enough.” We have all heard a braggart hunter say that they have never lost an animal. The chances are that they are either full of it, or have never shot at and hit an animal. Therefore, they have never lost one. I have also heard gun hunters make the comment that they don’t like bow hunters because they wound too many deer. Don't make the mistake of thinking using a gun will prevent the loss of game. Anyone that hunts needs to understand, regardless of weapon, that what is done after the shot will directly affect your recovery rate.
Of the animals I have shot, the most memorable are the ones that were not found. I hate losing an animal! The feelings you go through are nearly indescribable, and will affect most hunters for their entire lifetime. You reflect on what you did and could have done to the point that it can make you want to quit. Most sports blunders only create a temporary feeling of insufficiency, while the loss of a hit animal will likely stick with you for life. For this reason, hunters should do everything they can to learn about and practice tracking techniques before entering the woods.
The number one rule in tracking wounded game is when in doub,t back out. If you aren’t 100 percent sure you have made a perfect shot, leave the area in the opposite direction the animal went. This may cause you to walk further to return home or to your vehicle, but can prevent jumping the animal. Once the deer has bedded, it will typically stay in that spot until it passes or is pressured. I recommend waiting at least four hours unless rain or heavy snow threaten to cover or wash away the blood trail.
For a perfect or questionable shot, start at the point that you believe the animal was hit. Do everything you can to locate hair or blood, which indicates a hit has been made. Then attempt to find blood leading in the direction the animal has gone. Take it slow, as you may lose or disrupt the trail if you proceed too quickly. Use marker tape or toilet paper at regular intervals in case the trail may be lost. This can help you get back on track, and can aid you in determining which direction the animal has gone. This is done by backing up several markers. You can use the line made by the series of markers to predict which direction the animal went.
If this has proven to be ineffective, you have some choices to make. Either go for help – if dark out wait for daylight – or continue to search. It's always best to do as little walking around and looking for signs as possible. This can create new signs in the form of broken twigs, overturned leaves and place mud on leaves, sticks, and live vegetation. Walking around can also turn leaves over with blood on them, and cover the trail up. All of which can make it harder to find your animal.
You may choose to wait until the following morning, but be prepared to find your animal half-eaten by coyotes. This commonly happens, and the only upside is that it doesn't happen every time. You may also contact the DEC and they will take the animal if it has been eaten. You will get to keep your tag, but you may not keep the horns if it's a buck.
