The black was turning to grey under the trees, and things were slowly starting to materialize around me. When I looked up, I could tell daylight was emerging above the thick canopy. I quickly snapped my jacket onto my pack and shouldered it as I picked up my bow. My brother stood ahead of me, impatiently waiting for us to continue our climb to the ridgetop.
It was my first hunt of the 2009 archery elk season. I had just returned home from baseball for the year, and after a few days of shooting my bow, I was feeling confident enough to go hunt. My brother had already been hunting for a week or so and had already had a close encounter with a good bull in the area.
We crested the ridgetop shortly after daylight and started working our way up a trail towards the top of the mountain. My brother stopped to bugle from a knob where we often tried to locate bulls. Off to the west, we heard one answer us and we started to work in his direction. We had barely gotten set up when I heard him coming through a brush field. He walked out broadside at 40 yards, looking for us, and gave me a perfect shot opportunity. I could see that he was a clean five-by-five and decided to pass on the shot. Something didn’t feel right, and after all, it was the first hour of my elk season.
Straightforward Shot
As we continued up the main ridge, we bumped into a small group of cows that were still out feeding. They scattered in all directions, and after the woods went quiet, my brother bugled again. Another bull answered him, off to the east this time. We were sandwiched between two bull elk with a herd of cows all around us. Not a bad place to be on the first hunt of the year. We crept down a nice ridge covered with mature timber. Below us lay a deep canyon with a thick forest floor. The thermals were gently rising up the ridge, but we knew if we dropped too far down into the canyon, they would surely change in the bull’s favor.
I positioned myself on the ridge with a small draw to my left. My brother fell back behind me and started calling. The bull’s bugle sounded impressive, and the canyon below amplified the noise as he came closer to us. Pretty soon I could see yellow hide materialize through the trees. As he approached, I could see that his rack lay back differently than the other bull, and I was certain he was a six-point.
He worked up the draw to the left of me, and I drew my bow as he passed behind some trees. When he emerged, he was 33 yards to my left. I mewed with my voice, and he stopped, looking across the draw in my direction. My arrow disappeared behind his front shoulder, and I stood watching quietly as his yellow hide faded away through the trees.
Search Party
Five hours later, my brother and I were frustrated and second-guessing everything that had happened. I was certain that my arrow had impacted the elk in the bottom third of the body, tight to the shoulder blade. My white fletchings had disappeared into the elk, but we had never found the arrow. In the hours that had passed, we had only found one drop of blood the size of a pencil eraser.
We had tried everything in our blood trailing process, but nothing was working. For the last two hours, we had been walking grids, keeping each other in view as we combed through the timber and underbrush. The underbrush had gotten thicker, obscuring our vision as we got deeper into the canyon.
Positioning ourselves perpendicular to the bull’s exit path, we walked parallel to each other, gridding from the bottom of the canyon back to the shot location. After meeting up and discussing the situation, we decided to continue our search up to the only spot of blood we had found. As we crested around the next little ridge, my brother looked up the hill and saw the bull lying dead underneath some thick brush.
All the feelings of despair turned into joy and relief. The bull had only gone 200 yards before dying in that brush patch. The brush and lack of a blood trail made him extremely hard to find, despite a lethal hit. The arrow had entered the left side of his body, puncturing both lungs. The entire arrow remained intact, working its way through his entire body cavity as he ran.
Eventually, the arrow had worked its way down the inside of his right rear leg, and the broadhead was under the hide, near the hock. There was one three-inch circle of dried blood at the entrance hole, and when we cut him open, his entire chest cavity was filled with blood. I can still remember my brother saying to me, “That’s why you never give up.”
In the Blood
Throughout my bowhunting career, I have had the opportunity to blood trail a surreal number of animals. Growing up where I did afforded me a lot of opportunities to hunt and many different species to pursue. Not only did I grow up around good hunting, but I learned from a lot of very good hunters as well. I developed a good skillset early in life and have had a lot of years to practice and perfect it. My family and friends are all passionate bowhunters, so even if I wasn’t hunting myself, I was being called to the woods to help with recovery.
It is important to acknowledge that not all animals have been successfully recovered. Despite being extremely ethical, there have been many unsuccessful blood trails. The losses are just as significant as the successes, and there are lessons to be learned from both. This is part of being a bowhunter; if one has not experienced it, they likely have not bowhunted very much.
Over the years, I have blood-trailed animals in a variety of situations. Whether hunting in thick timber, open country, flat or steep terrain, each presents unique challenges. Most of my blood trailing experiences come from steep areas with lots of underbrush and obstacles. This has led me to develop a specific process that I follow on every blood trail. Sharing this process aims to help hunters recover more animals.
After The Shot
Once an animal is shot, it is crucial to remain quiet. The hunt is not over just because an arrow has been released. Television has given people the misconception that they need to celebrate or make noise. This misconception has caused many hunters difficulty or the loss of an animal they would have otherwise found.
When an animal is shot, it is essential to observe its behavior closely. Stand motionless for at least five minutes, listening for any sounds. The animal may break something, cough on its own blood, or fall over, providing clues to its condition.
If acting as a caller for someone elk hunting, do not approach after the shot. Allow the shooter to process what has happened and retreat to you once they are comfortable. If discussion is necessary, withdraw from the area to have that conversation. Otherwise, remain still and listen.
If it is believed that the animal has been hit through both lungs, it is advisable to wait one hour before taking up the blood trail. If the hit is marginal or potentially only one lung, it is recommended to wait two hours before attempting recovery.
Over the past 20-plus years of bowhunting, I have seen animals shot with a variety of broadheads, arrows, and bows. Animals are tough, especially females, who often exhibit a stronger will to survive. Some of the most challenging blood trails have involved female game.
Finding Mortally Wounded Game Blood Trail
When taking up a blood trail, approach the location of the shot cautiously. Look for the arrow or a piece of it that may provide information about penetration and blood. If the arrow passed through the animal, it can usually be found; if not, do not waste excessive time searching for it. One should have a good idea of whether the animal is still carrying the arrow or not.
While blood trailing, treat it like stalking the animal. It may take time for an animal to start bleeding, depending on the hit location. Begin tracking in the direction the animal left, using landmarks for guidance. Move slowly and look for any evidence to ensure the correct direction. Signs include tracks, disturbed dirt, broken sticks, or blood.
Upon finding blood, stop and mark it by tying a piece of flagging tape to something nearby. Continue marking the trail in the same manner to maintain visibility of the last piece of tape. Move slowly, quietly, and avoid damaging or altering any signs.
As blood is searched for, consider which side the animal was hit and the height of the impact. This information can guide the search area. Blood may spray out to the side or drip underneath the animal. If the hit is above center, blood may leak out on the hair and drip, making it difficult to track, despite a likely lethal hit. Look on the undersides of small trees and brush the animal may have brushed against as it ran away.
Shot Placement and Blood
Heart shots typically result in immediate collapse. Blood trails from heart shots resemble a garden hose spraying blood. This article does not focus on shot placement, but it is generally not advisable to aim for the heart on large game like elk due to the associated risks. Aiming for both lungs just below center is recommended.
Blood from lung shots is usually bright red and may contain bubbles or coagulation. It often sprays out the side of the animal or from its mouth as it runs. Shots that penetrate both lungs are ideal, but caution is warranted with single-lung hits. Even animals that appear broadside may receive a single-lung hit.
When an animal looks in the direction of the shooter, its body may bow, obscuring the opposite lung. As the arrow enters, it may deflect and miss the opposite lung. The importance of hitting both lungs when shooting large game like elk cannot be overstated.
The liver is primarily located on the right side of the body, and blood from the liver is darker. It typically drips or squirts in smaller amounts, making it challenging to follow. However, a direct liver hit is lethal. Allow extra time for the animal to expire after a liver hit.
Animals hit behind the diaphragm often leave grit on the arrow along with dark blood. Unless the arrow contacted lung or liver, it may be difficult to track. Blood from gut shots is minimal and hard to locate. It is crucial to give a gut shot animal ample time to bed down and expire before pursuing the blood trail.
Losing the Blood Trail
- The VEER
Even during successful recoveries, it is common to lose the blood trail temporarily. In such cases, remain calm and use logic. Avoid becoming frantic and wandering aimlessly. If blood is not found after a fair distance, return to the last known blood spot and mark it with flagging tape. From there, examine the animal’s possible paths. The animal may have veered off the obvious trail in search of cover.
Keep in mind that the animal is likely dying and may be in a state of panic. They may deviate from the obvious path. Begin by walking all possible “veers” for approximately 20 yards, searching for blood or signs of the right path. Sometimes, retreating to the flagging tape path helps visualize the animal’s previous line before blood loss.
- The 180
If the blood trail remains elusive, stop and perform a 180-degree turn. Look for signs that the animal may have doubled back or taken a 90-degree turn. Often, when close to death, the animal may take an unexpected path, such as crashing through thick brush. This can obscure the obvious trail. - Doing Circles
If the blood trail remains unfound, start doing circles, moving outward from the last blood spot. These circles can reveal significant changes in the animal’s path. Conduct three to four circles from the last known blood location. This method has proven effective in locating lost blood trails, especially when dealing with rolling game. - Splitting Up
This strategy can be beneficial for time-sensitive recoveries. When darkness approaches or temperatures rise during early season hunting, splitting up can save valuable time. If the blood trail is lost, have one person continue searching for blood while the other checks obvious travel routes for signs or the animal itself. - Grids
Walking grids is a last resort but has successfully located several animals that would not have been found by following blood. The grids consist of large parallel lines perpendicular to the animal’s direction. The spacing between lines depends on the density of the timber and underbrush. Utilizing a GPS that tracks paths aids in visualizing covered areas and identifying gaps in the grid.
Conclusion
This process is not intended for easy blood trails that can be followed at a steady pace. It is designed for challenging situations that may lead to self-doubt. If there is a belief that an animal has been mortally hit, persistence is essential in recovery efforts. Respect the animal and the hunt. The importance of achieving both lungs on large game like elk cannot be overstated. When the opportunity arises, resist the urge to shoot until confident of a lethal hit.
Over the years, remarkable recoveries have been made using these methods. Many challenging situations have resulted from single-lung hits. It is hoped that when the blood runs out, this guidance will provide a fallback. Bowhunting has been a significant part of life, and it is the hope that this article assists others in recovering animals for years to come. Each blood trail offers a learning opportunity, and never give up on a mortally hit animal.