I need some advice

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Marlin95

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Ok i was hunting with my dad couple hours ago.We were setting under a rock believe it or not.We were getting ready to leave then a monster buck at least 11 points prob 150 class stepped out and was moving fast.I tried to get a shot but i couldnt and my dad could except by now the deer was about 400 yards away.My dad was kneeling with a rest againt a tree he shot and the deer dropped in its tracks and never made a move but when we finally got to the deer and got about 20 yards from it.It put its head up and looked back at us.Then it jumped up slid down the bank then ran off for the valley.We couldnt follow it because it was almost pitch black.There was blood everywhere.The deer ran with its chest almost on the ground for about 10 yards.Then just ran like it normally run.What are the odds that this deer is laying dead or paralyzed somewhere.

The deer was shot with a .270 ruger m77 with balistic silvertip bullets and the deer was shot in the woods
 
it is most certainly dead.

if you could see there was blood everywhere, why couldn't you follow it? I'm going to go out on a limb and say it probably didn't make it very far...
 
well i left out a part we seen the deer moving through the woods about a 100 yards away and had no chance of stopping.We didnt follow it because we didnt have time the snow here is to deep to wade through in the pitch black.About 11 inches of snow
 
Go back tomorrow and look some more . . . having snow is a tremendous asset. I'd guess he hit it either far forward or very high (but below the spine) or very low & nicked a shoulder/shoulder blade.
 
my guess he hit right below the spine where theres a small void.Close enough to paralyze it and enough to bleed alot but not fatal
 
Nighttime is not prime tracking time

With all the wolves reintroduced, no ungulate will ever go to waste. Although wolves don't really need help by offering easy handouts, I'm sure they enjoyed a free lunch without having to work for it. In Nature, nothing is ever wasted.

This is not an excuse to abandon every option regarding following up on one's shot. Wading through deep snow at night can create problems regarding wolf and bear attacks. But always go back early next morning to take-up the trail. Whether one finds viable meat or bones, this knowledge will ease the human conscience as to what happened. Hunters always care! cliffy
 
I shot a doe once with my 7mm Mag at probably the same distance....

I was younger, ballistics wasn't my thing. Needless to say, I didn't aim high enough on her. The bullet struck her leg, almost completely blowing it off. I did not know this at the time, but found out the next morning.

The blood looked good, a massive amount that was consistent. But, after about 70 yards, it stopped...totally. I tracked and tracked her, and ended up exiting the woods only 40 yards from her.

The next morning, I went back. My friend, who lives nearby, pulled his truck in the driveway and pulled out a rifle. He let his son shoot at this deer bedded by the road, which only had 1 leg. His son missed and the deer ran off.:banghead:

I looked for another day and a half, but turned up nothing.
 
sorry bout ur luck bang bang.Well i dont have to worry about wolves.Maybe coyotes but they wont drag it very far.But a bear i will have to worry about.I doubt we`ll even find it but if we do ill post a pic.I dont care about the meat anymore i just want the neck and up.
 
My guess...is that if it's bleeding, that much, it's probably not a high shot.

If your father hit vitals, it should of died within the 400 yard hike to the deer.

Possible arterial wound would be my first guess. Nicked the neck, leg, or something of semi-importance.


"The deer ran with its chest almost on the ground for about 10 yards." 2nd's the leg shot....
 
well i wouldnt think it could continue running for about 100 yards or more at full speed.We saw the deer run until it when in a creek bed but it never came back out.The deer isnt in the creek bed because we looked.there was also a smell of deer close by.My thoughts on that were that it was close by in the brush hidden
 
True...

Wait until daylight and try to follow the tracks in the snow. The tracks will lead somewhere, and take your dad or a friend with you in case they get mixed up with another set. The snow could make it or break it...

Has it snowed anymore since it was shot?
 
Marlin the biggest Muley I've ever shot spoiled on me and it gives me little joy to have that rack today. If you have snow I would be out now tracking with a coleman lantern. If that is not possible then be there at dawn to resume the search and given the cold temps and snow the meat will likely still be good.
I had neither snow nor freezing temps and found him at first light but he had probably died within 15 min of being hit he just got in deep brush and did very little external bleeding. He scored 190 before deductions and like I said, it gives me no pride to have that head today and I may never get a crack at a bigger one.
 
If anything its melting its 25 degrees now and its supossed to be 47 tomorrow.Its gonna be me,my dad,and my dads friend.Dads gonna follow the deer from where it was shot and im gonna look around in the creek bed area
 
I'd say, with the snow and all, the meat will be fine if found early. The thing is probably half froze solid by now anyways....

Chances are, you'll find it. POST PICS as soon as you can.
 
Best of luck to you and your dad.
A little more advice, keep a lantern gased up and ready in your truck if you hunt a ways from home. Keep a good flash light like a surefire nitrolon with a spares set and a good headlamp in your pack. I have never used the blue lights that are supposed to reveal blood better but one of these might be nice to.
And always approach downed animals slowly and ready to shoot.
 
"And always approach downed animals slowly and ready to shoot."

In this situation, shoot it again. Make sure that bugger won't run again.

Good luck and be careful.
 
if you have any doubt that the animal you have shot is dead on the spot wait 10 minutes before you walk up to it. hold the rifle ready and should it's head go up then shoot it again. I always carry a small bag and in that is a head torch. I have to say 400 yards is a long way.

an animal might be hit and lie down without realising there is human involvement. the 10 minutes will give it chance to lie and die by bleeding out. as soon as a person gets near then the adrenaline gets going and they will be up and away.

If you smoke then it is a great time to roll a smoke and and smoke it before walking in. I don't smoke and i am not starting just for that! but i do have a coffee from my flask.
 
an animal might be hit and lie down without realising there is human involvement. the 10 minutes will give it chance to lie and die by bleeding out. as soon as a person gets near then the adrenaline gets going and they will be up and away.
Click to expand...

This touches on part of why I think this was a better shot then some might give credit for. If it was a high, semi-harmless shot - I don't think it would act quite as it did. I didn't think it would limp/run low due to a leg injury (given that after a second or two it was fine).
I think what caused that, was that the animal had begun to bleed severely - and "stiffen up". This only happens after significant blood loss, which normally only occurs after a solid hit to something fatal. I think given another bunch of minutes, the animal would have bled out - and what happened is that the adrenalin kicked in for a brief sprint, and it's probably laying dead somewhere.
 
If you smoke then it is a great time to roll a smoke and and smoke it before walking in. I don't smoke and i am not starting just for that! but i do have a coffee from my flask.
Click to expand...

oh man, but you guys have real cubans, and you don't smoke?!?!?! :D
 
sorry guys no deer we followed for 1/2 mile with blood but then it just disapeared.He laid down two times but better luck next time
 
marlin,
Please look at the post above about waiting while they die. The deer laid down twice. it probably got up because you were nearby. Next time have a smoke or a coffee!

uk
 
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