Tracking Wounded Elk

[Bookworm007]

U really didnt have your gun.....

Yeah I used my pack and rifle to mark where I made the original shot, and all I had was my side arm and was never close enough to feel comfortable taking a shot. I tracked it for over 2 miles in rough terrain and was not going to risk getting hunting rights revoked and rifle seized by crossing into another unit. Also I was already 2 miles behind a gate when I shot the animal so even if I got the 4 miles back to the gate and then to cell reception to get permission from an officer the animal would have been long gone into the next unit. Like I said I was inexperienced and going through that has made me be 110% sure that my shot will take the animal down where it stands.

[blackveltbowhunter]

Great thread! Lotsa great tips And any/or all can prove useful on a difficult track job. Couple things I would add.....

 1) As has been alluded to.... NEVER track without your weapon. I have seen this happen on more than one occasion and the frustrating thing is... its such an easy fix.

 2) Practice dry tracking!! This is huge IMO.... Look at the hoof print and measure the stride of the animal your trailing if possible. Make note of any defining characteristics, is the track overly large, or round, one toe shorter etc...... Wounds clot, and blood spore may become minimal. Rain will generally wash blood away long before tracks, so being able to follow tracks and being confident your on the right tracks is important.

  3) Try to keep you target animal separate if possible to do so.

  4) Patience, persistence and determination even when things look bleak is the ONLY attitude to have. But remember its trial and error..... and no amount of experience will ever change that. Animals will throw you curves, and even when you have done everything you possibly can correct and the sorrow of losing that animal sinks in.... learn what you can, and walk away with no regrets knowing you gave it every ounce of respect it was due.

 3)

   
   

[JPhelps]

 2) Practice dry tracking!! This is huge IMO.... Look at the hoof print and measure the stride of the animal your trailing if possible. Make note of any defining characteristics, is the track overly large, or round, one toe shorter etc...... Wounds clot, and blood spore may become minimal. Rain will generally wash blood away long before tracks, so being able to follow tracks and being confident your on the right tracks is important.

  4) Patience, persistence and determination even when things look bleak is the ONLY attitude to have. But remember its trial and error..... and no amount of experience will ever change that. Animals will throw you curves, and even when you have done everything you possibly can correct and the sorrow of losing that animal sinks in.... learn what you can, and walk away with no regrets knowing you gave it every ounce of respect it was due.

Just some more of my experience relating to blackvelthunter's advice.

2) a lot of times if hit near the front shoulders a wounded animals gate will be off.  Whether they are taking an abnormal stride or digging in one of their hooves differently.  This can be huge if the animal runs back through an area littered with tracks.

4) I hit my biggest blacktail to date in the neck (with a rifle and not on purpose).  He was bleeeding good out of both sides.  When all of a sudden the blood trail and brush breaking stopped.  Did he jump, Did he stop bleeding were some questions going through our head.  After an hour of gridding the direction the buck had been going we finally figured it out.  He came to that spot turned 180 and backtracked 30 yards before darting off and since he left such a good blood trail we never even thought that was what happened.  We were able to track him down shortly there after and put one more in him.

[throttlejocky20]

Longest tracking job i ever had was a neck shot animal. I will never take that shot again either i have the vitals or i have no shot!