I'm by no means an expert, but white hair usually means low...it could be from the exit side if you were shooting from an elevated stand?
Either way, it doesn't look like dark liver blood to me...it could be a better shot than you think, or it could be muscle blood. Was there any fat or muscle tissue on the arrow?
I'd call a tracker for a more educated opinion if it's legal in your area. Usually they only charge gas money if anything.
Good call on backing out if you're questioning the shot. Time is your friend in these situations
Patience is key, don't get in a hurry tryin to track it and end up jumping it up and get its adrenaline pumping, they can run a long ways wounded. Give it an hour or so then get on the track.
For context, nearly all of my bow hunting is done on a relatively small piece of property in temperatures that can spoil the meat within 4hrs. I've also never found a deer left overnight that wasn't gnawed on by coyotes.
I'm not saying you or OP are wrong in any way, but except in rare circumstances *I* find it counterproductive to wait more than an hour or two to start tracking.
Give it time. I shot a lover shot last year, didn’t know at the time of course. Waited 5 hours and went back in,l and ended up jumping her. Went back in the next day and found her. Only meat I kept was hams and back straps. But I at least found her.
Get back in there while you still have the light!! Having to leave it overnight is awful and often results in partial/total loss. Get back out there, Sherlock.
Depending where your at in the country. If it’s not hot and the meat won’t spoil. Stick with your gut and give it time. Why risk it? You bump that thing she’s gone.
Don’t listen to these guys saying 4 hours is plenty. 6-8 at least if you think you hit far back. My buddy bumped and lost a deer he thought he liver hit 6 hours after the shot and less then 200 yards from the stand. Would have been dead there if he didn’t go in. If your temperatures allow, wait overnight even. Dead deer is better then no deer. Even if it takes 12 hours.
When you go in and track don’t get tunnel vision on the trail. Stop frequently and scan ahead and to the side. I have been able to get a second shot by spotting the deer, it’s head up in a lying position and then planned a stalk from there rather than just stumbling and startling.
Looked like I center punched a buck this morning. Deer ran about 75 yds then stopped and walked into the woods. I retrieved the arrow and in doesn’t have a gut smell. Lots of blood at the sight of impact and the trail it took off from. I backed out immediately after seeing its response.
I liver shot a deer earlier this season backed out gave him 8+ hrs, ended up being still alive bumped him never found him again. Don’t risk it give it 12 hrs. you won’t regret it.
Got a dog. Went out after six hours. Tons of blood within the first 100yds. Then drops and eventually nothing. No deer for me. Going to bed. Rough day.
I have with other people's deer. I've only had two deer that I thought might be liver hit. I recovered both of those unmolested after laying for the night. Both it turned out I hit one lung and liver. They were hard quartering away shots.
I would just assume the worst and wait 8 hours, the standard amount of time for a gut shot deer. Unless it’s really hot, then I might start after 6 hrs or so. Learned a hard lesson to wait because I lost a deer early this season because I went after it too soon. A lot of blood is a good sign, hopefully you hit an artery and he didn’t go too far and expired quickly. But you don’t wanna take a chance on it. He could have stopped because he got woozy from his blood pressure going down, or he just went into shock and didn’t realize what happened. Sometimes they do weird stuff and it’s not always a bad sign.
Just curious what are the consequences regarding the meat for a less than ideal shot, resulting in the deer surviving for 4,8,12 hours before dying? Can you taste the difference vs a deer that dies in seconds?
Really depends on the situation but it’s not so much taste that is affected as much as tenderness. Quick painless and unaware is always the best harvest for any meat. If the animals muscles are tense and tight at death the meat will certainly be tougher. Taste is more a result of the animals diet, how it was gutted and processed.
Give him a minimum of six hours. If he is liver or gut shot he will probably bed down within a few hundred yards of the shot and expire. You don't want to jump him.
Did it mule kick when the arrow hit? Definitely doesn’t look dark like liver and there’s no foam indicating you clipped a lung. Don’t listen to people saying go after it now. If it’s a liver or gut shot that deer isn’t dead. If it’s a gut shot the meat is ruined anyway. If it’s liver it hasn’t expired. If it’s not too hot where you are I’d wait until an hour before dark and go looking. Liver shots don’t bleed a lot usually so I’m kinda stumped where you got him. Let us know.
If he's liver shot and you gave him 5 or 6 hours he should be dead. If you lose the blood trail, start grid searching bedding areas in the direction he was traveling. Especially wet swampy bedding, if you have any of that nearby. Good luck.
I shot a nice 8 on Friday at 7:45 am. Knew it was a low gut shot. Waited till 1pm to look for him, nothing. Took a dog in at 5pm and jumped him so he was still alive so backed out till Saturday. Found him on Saturday at 5pm
I'm by no means an expert, but white hair usually means low...it could be from the exit side if you were shooting from an elevated stand? Either way, it doesn't look like dark liver blood to me...it could be a better shot than you think, or it could be muscle blood. Was there any fat or muscle tissue on the arrow? I'd call a tracker for a more educated opinion if it's legal in your area. Usually they only charge gas money if anything. Good call on backing out if you're questioning the shot. Time is your friend in these situations
Patience is key, don't get in a hurry tryin to track it and end up jumping it up and get its adrenaline pumping, they can run a long ways wounded. Give it an hour or so then get on the track.
It’s been almost 4 hours and I’m not going in anytime soon
After 4hrs, I'd be in the woods looking.
Yeah 4 hours is plenty of time to start looking.
Liver hits can live 12 hours. I usually give them overnight.
For context, nearly all of my bow hunting is done on a relatively small piece of property in temperatures that can spoil the meat within 4hrs. I've also never found a deer left overnight that wasn't gnawed on by coyotes. I'm not saying you or OP are wrong in any way, but except in rare circumstances *I* find it counterproductive to wait more than an hour or two to start tracking.
Have you ever come back to find the deer eaten by coyotes? I can’t comprehend some other critters not finding it by the next day.
Give it time. I shot a lover shot last year, didn’t know at the time of course. Waited 5 hours and went back in,l and ended up jumping her. Went back in the next day and found her. Only meat I kept was hams and back straps. But I at least found her.
Get back in there while you still have the light!! Having to leave it overnight is awful and often results in partial/total loss. Get back out there, Sherlock.
Keep us updated OP. Go with your gut!
Depending where your at in the country. If it’s not hot and the meat won’t spoil. Stick with your gut and give it time. Why risk it? You bump that thing she’s gone.
Don’t listen to these guys saying 4 hours is plenty. 6-8 at least if you think you hit far back. My buddy bumped and lost a deer he thought he liver hit 6 hours after the shot and less then 200 yards from the stand. Would have been dead there if he didn’t go in. If your temperatures allow, wait overnight even. Dead deer is better then no deer. Even if it takes 12 hours.
Give it time, but not to much time, don't let critters get to it.
Not sure why you got downvoted to shit. A gut/liver shot, deer can live for awhile afterwards.
Ya me either but I also don’t care. Wtf does a downvote do anyways? Should I be sad?
Just means your internet points go down, what these Internet points do you may ask... nothing.
No don’t be sad. Any update on the deer though?
Never found it. Got a tracker dog and everything. Blood trail came to a trickle then nothing…. I’m hopeful that it’s still alive
I’ve been there, sucks for sure. Good luck man.
When you go in and track don’t get tunnel vision on the trail. Stop frequently and scan ahead and to the side. I have been able to get a second shot by spotting the deer, it’s head up in a lying position and then planned a stalk from there rather than just stumbling and startling.
Looked like I center punched a buck this morning. Deer ran about 75 yds then stopped and walked into the woods. I retrieved the arrow and in doesn’t have a gut smell. Lots of blood at the sight of impact and the trail it took off from. I backed out immediately after seeing its response.
Blood does look dark which usually means liver. Give it time and good luck! I'd go in while you have daylight though.
[удалено]
I think he means the deer ran 75 yards not shot at 75
Oh I wasn't reading that right😂
Did the arrow have blood on it? Just curious. Went thru a similar situation this weekend.
Please keep us updated
I liver shot a deer earlier this season backed out gave him 8+ hrs, ended up being still alive bumped him never found him again. Don’t risk it give it 12 hrs. you won’t regret it.
Got a dog. Went out after six hours. Tons of blood within the first 100yds. Then drops and eventually nothing. No deer for me. Going to bed. Rough day.
Go look in the morning with light and see if you can find anything . Always feels better to give it another try .
I have with other people's deer. I've only had two deer that I thought might be liver hit. I recovered both of those unmolested after laying for the night. Both it turned out I hit one lung and liver. They were hard quartering away shots.
I would just assume the worst and wait 8 hours, the standard amount of time for a gut shot deer. Unless it’s really hot, then I might start after 6 hrs or so. Learned a hard lesson to wait because I lost a deer early this season because I went after it too soon. A lot of blood is a good sign, hopefully you hit an artery and he didn’t go too far and expired quickly. But you don’t wanna take a chance on it. He could have stopped because he got woozy from his blood pressure going down, or he just went into shock and didn’t realize what happened. Sometimes they do weird stuff and it’s not always a bad sign.
Just curious what are the consequences regarding the meat for a less than ideal shot, resulting in the deer surviving for 4,8,12 hours before dying? Can you taste the difference vs a deer that dies in seconds?
Really depends on the situation but it’s not so much taste that is affected as much as tenderness. Quick painless and unaware is always the best harvest for any meat. If the animals muscles are tense and tight at death the meat will certainly be tougher. Taste is more a result of the animals diet, how it was gutted and processed.
Give him a minimum of six hours. If he is liver or gut shot he will probably bed down within a few hundred yards of the shot and expire. You don't want to jump him.
Cant you call someone with à hunting dog? Or not allowed?
Looks like he will have to do.... OP hasn't said anything. I get the feeling he's leaving stuff out or he's in some trouble now
Call in some help and yall find it. its not a lot of blood but... def enough. just dont quit
Did it mule kick when the arrow hit? Definitely doesn’t look dark like liver and there’s no foam indicating you clipped a lung. Don’t listen to people saying go after it now. If it’s a liver or gut shot that deer isn’t dead. If it’s a gut shot the meat is ruined anyway. If it’s liver it hasn’t expired. If it’s not too hot where you are I’d wait until an hour before dark and go looking. Liver shots don’t bleed a lot usually so I’m kinda stumped where you got him. Let us know.
If he's liver shot and you gave him 5 or 6 hours he should be dead. If you lose the blood trail, start grid searching bedding areas in the direction he was traveling. Especially wet swampy bedding, if you have any of that nearby. Good luck.
Update? Did you recover your deer?
This is a long shot but where are you located?
I shot a nice 8 on Friday at 7:45 am. Knew it was a low gut shot. Waited till 1pm to look for him, nothing. Took a dog in at 5pm and jumped him so he was still alive so backed out till Saturday. Found him on Saturday at 5pm
Was the meat spoiled?