STEPS FOR FINDING DOWNED WHITETAILS

Go Slow and Look Up

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.

• Go slow
  
  Often a hunter fails to find the deer he's shot because he hurries so quickly he loses the trail. Go as slowly as required to stay on the trail, even if you have to get on your hands and knees to search for pinhead-sized drops of blood or study tracks. If you have a hunting buddy helping you, don't let him pass in front of you as you trail the deer. Specify that only one person trail the deer, and any helpers must stay behind the trailer. Only when you lose the trail do you need to spread out from the last sign you've found and attempt to pick up the trail again.
  
  
• Look up
  
  Oftentimes you may find no blood on the ground. But if you'll look up, you may pinpoint blood waist-high on trees, bushes and leaves, due to the surrounding foliage smearing off the running deer's blood before it can fall to the ground. Often you'll find more blood on leaves than you will on the ground, especially if you've made a lung shot. So don't forget to look up while tracking sign on the ground.

TOMORROW: KNOW WHAT TO DO AND EMPLOY A KEENER NOSE