STEPS FOR FINDING DOWNED WHITETAILS

Carefully Analyze What Your Deer Has Done

Editor's Note: Often your hunt really begins once you've shot or arrowed a deer. Merely inflicting a mortal wound on a whitetail doesn't finish the hunt. Only after you've recovered the animal can you call your hunt a success. Let's look at the steps that will help you locate your downed whitetail.

• Find the point of impact
  When you leave your stand, go directly to the spot where you think the shot has hit the deer. Look for hair, blood, bone and stomach content. The deer's shortest and usually darkest hairs cover the top of its back. Although a deer's side will have longer, lighter-colored hair, his stomach will have the lightest-colored and longest hair. Deer have short white hairs under their chins, inside their ears and on their tails. The hair you discover often will tell you where the shot has hit the deer. Too, if you locate blood that has air bubbles in it, you've more than likely made a lung shot. If you find stomach content, you've probably hit the deer low and may need to wait several hours before you begin tracking the animal. Try to obtain all the information you can from the place where you've hit the deer.
  
  
• Follow blood and tracks
  A good blood trail may make following the animal easy. With no blood trail, you may have to rely on tracks and what you've already seen and heard to locate your buck. However, even if you do see a blood trail, study the tracks of the animal. Note the size and shape of the track -- its width and its length. Identify any characteristics that will help you distinguish this deer's track from another's. Once you've studied the shot site carefully and obtained all the information you can gather, begin to follow the trail.
  
  
  
• Leave a flagging-tape trail
  By using flagging tape to mark the trail as you go, you can see the deer's direction of travel. You also can find your way back to your tree stand and the last place where you've located the deer's blood. Flagging tape provides an invaluable tool for trailing a wounded animal.

TOMORROW: GO SLOW AND LOOK UP