Got hair but no blood?

[singleshot12]

I got a shot on a big 2pt blacktail yesterday. It was an open broadside slightly quartered away 50-60 yard shot. I was using a 20ga. slug. The buck flinched as if hit on the shot but continued to silently bolt off with out hearing the familiar death kick crash. I waited a few minutes and listened,nothing. I walked up the where the deer was when I shot and found a significant amount of hair(looked like mostly hair from the lower front of a deer) but not sure. I thought I hit him sollid and really did expect him to be piled up within several yards. I tracked him for about a half mile before loosing track without finding a speck of blood.
I was hoping I just creased him and he'll survive,but at the same time a part of me feels the slug went in far back missing the vitals and lodging somewhere's in the opposite shoulder.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation or any thoughts on an unlucky shot like this?

[h20hunter]

The flinch......hunched back or kick? Did you see him lift a leg when he took off like he was packing it? Silently bolt off......no normall crashing through the woods like I just got shot?

[Swatson]

If you hit that thing with a slug and followed him for that distance you'd find blood!

[boneaddict]

I just appreciate you took the time to track him.   

[Swatson]

I just appreciate you took the time to track him.

 

[jackelope]

If you hit that thing with a slug and followed him for that distance you'd find blood!

 

My buddy's 15 year old kid shot a whitetail buck saturday night. I couldn't see the deer when he shot him as I was laying in the grass. Anyway...we went to the spot where the deer was standing and we found a tiny speck of blood and a small wad of hair. I thought for sure it was a grazing wound and we'd never find it. We found no blood for 75-100 yards or so walking in the direction he watched the deer go. I was about to concede to a long night of tracking when the kid decided he was going to look over the next draw just for grins. Sure enough, the deer was laying there dead as a door nail. Massive blood spray all over the nearby brush. It looked like a hose sprayed blood all over the place. It was weird that there was none for ~75 yards than what seemed like all the deer's blood sprayed all over the brush.

[singleshot12]

The flinch......hunched back or kick? Did you see him lift a leg when he took off like he was packing it? Silently bolt off......no normall crashing through the woods like I just got shot?

I only had a split second to see him bolt,I thought he slightly hunched and also kicked a little. I'm dreading the fact that the small slug may have gone through the gut and never exited,only bleeding internally.

[h20hunter]

Well...I hope you can get out and find him. Good luck.

[singleshot12]

I searched again this morning, kind of hoping I wouldn't find him knowing that the meat would be spoiled anyways.

I creased a deer a few years back and found meat and fat with the hair. That deer survived becuase I got him a week and half later.

[singleshot12]

I guess my main question is would a slug leave hair on the ground entering the side of a deer but not exiting?

[sirmissalot]

It sounds to me like you grazed him with that much hair on the ground. I've had animals hunch up when I missed, and do nothing but run when I nailed them... Its hard to say. I hope you grazed him and kill him another day.

[AOD]

Last year I shot a nice 3pt blackie with a hornady sst 300 grain 12ga slug. Shot was at 50 yards, held right behind the shoulder. Fired. The buck took off to the left and I lost sight of him. I did not hear the slug strike him and he didn't even flinch, no kick, no hunch, just straight to the left. I searched the field for any sign of a hit...yes it was a field. No sign of a hit. It got dark, grabbed a flashlight and continued to look for blood...no luck. The next morning I went back out searched the field again. Nothing. Looked at the situation again. Checked the only way he could have exited the field without me seeing him. Found him! He went 150 yards after the shot, jumped a 5 strand barb wire fence, and headed for the jungle. I found the slug hit true to point of aim, penetrated about 5 inches and turned right 90 degrees and ended up in the guts. My advice, check again, rethink the facts, and do a radial (circular) sweep of the area. You might find this................

[lokidog]

Sounds like an unethical shot with too small of a bullet.....    but it seemed fitting....   

Hope the deer's Ok and that you just pulled the shot creasing his brisket.

[singleshot12]

Last year I shot a nice 3pt blackie with a hornady sst 300 grain 12ga slug. Shot was at 50 yards, held right behind the shoulder. Fired. The buck took off to the left and I lost sight of him. I did not hear the slug strike him and he didn't even flinch, no kick, no hunch, just straight to the left. I searched the field for any sign of a hit...yes it was a field. No sign of a hit. It got dark, grabbed a flashlight and continued to look for blood...no luck. The next morning I went back out searched the field again. Nothing. Looked at the situation again. Checked the only way he could have exited the field without me seeing him. Found him! He went 150 yards after the shot, jumped a 5 strand barb wire fence, and headed for the jungle. I found the slug hit true to point of aim, penetrated about 5 inches and turned right 90 degrees and ended up in the guts. My advice, check again, rethink the facts, and do a radial (circular) sweep of the area. You might find this................

Damn! I didn't need to hear that story. but no blood and no hair with a 12ga slug? Amazing. Atleast he was in an open field, mine is in acres and acres of a salmon berry,salal,and fern night mare jungle

[singleshot12]

Sounds like an unethical shot with too small of a bullet.....    but it seemed fitting....   

Hope the deer's Ok and that you just pulled the shot creasing his brisket.

I knew someone was going to say that, Leave it to you Loki I do admit I've been unlucky the last couple years. Making up for all the lucky years before now I guess

I have more of a feeling now he's ok looking at the hair again with some of it appearing to be cut or shaved in half.

[N7XW]

I had a similar situation last year during early archery.  I finally found the spike I shot after 4 days of looking every minute I could.  Needless to say the meat was bad but I found him and tagged him.  I learned a lot with that experience - the most important lesson being that the shot can be a fatal wound even though there is no blood trail to follow.  I would return and slowly follow the trail, on my hands and knees if necessary looking for any sign of hair or blood.  You'd be amazed how faint a blood trail can be.  Hope you find him.

[h2ofowlr]

A high hit may not produce any blood or it may be higher on branches vs. at your feet.  Go look again to be on the safe side.  A chunk of hair may mean you connected better than you realize.

[jnevs23]

About 10 years ago I got a shot at a nice 4 pt mulie, broadside and only about 60 yards.  Put the crosshairs right behind the shoulder and squeeze.  The deer kicks both back legs up and hunches like drilled him perfect And takes off. I'm pumped thinking he's laying dead within 100 yards.  I walk down to where he was standing when I shot and there is nothing but a couple clumps of hair.  I spend the next 3 hours looking and dont find a thing.   Went back to camp and grabbed 4 guys and we head back in an look until dark without finding anything at all.   I went to bed feeling like garbage thinking that deer is dead up on the hill somewhere.  I got up early the next day and went back to the spot.  A little after first light I see the deer walking through the brush not 100 yards from where I shot at him!  I never did get another shot at him but did jump him a little while later and he ran 100% fine.  I'm assuming I must have just grazed his belly (dont ask me how I missed at that distance).   The way he reacted after the shot I was 100% sure he was dead.

[billythekidrock]

I guess my main question is would a slug leave hair on the ground entering the side of a deer but not exiting?

Yes.

I shot a small two point with 12 gauge slug behind the ribs. The slug never exited the chest and the buck ran off. We only found hair and tracks so we went home for a lantern. Came back and followed fresh tracks, but no blood, for about 100 yards and then lost them.

We started doing circles and just when we were giving up we found the deer about 75 yards away with small splotches of blood a couple feet away. We backtracked and only found a couple specks of blood.

[mikeybuck]

When you look at the hair, what hair is it? Belly hair? Back hair,neck hair, etc?
Good chance you burned him.

What 20 ga slug? I've never seen much if any blood at all come from a deer that was taken with a shotgun.

I burned the back of a buck with a 12 ga, he flinched. Buck took off without missing a beat.  Shortly after the buck was back to chasing a doe, but that time I was unable to take a shot

[Tiger1358]

I got a shot on a big 2pt blacktail yesterday. It was an open broadside slightly quartered away 50-60 yard shot. I was using a 20ga. slug. The buck flinched as if hit on the shot but continued to silently bolt off with out hearing the familiar death kick crash. I waited a few minutes and listened,nothing. I walked up the where the deer was when I shot and found a significant amount of hair(looked like mostly hair from the lower front of a deer) but not sure. I thought I hit him sollid and really did expect him to be piled up within several yards. I tracked him for about a half mile before loosing track without finding a speck of blood.
I was hoping I just creased him and he'll survive,but at the same time a part of me feels the slug went in far back missing the vitals and lodging somewhere's in the opposite shoulder.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation or any thoughts on an unlucky shot like this?

I would recommend you to take a dog and find that deer. 20 gauge slug is a big deal,even though people think it's weak. My grandpa shot a brown bear with a 20 gauge slug in Europe and bear just dropped and didn't even move. So if you're sure that you hit the deer then take someones dog and you will find that deer very quick. I have had couple situations like that back in Europe. The only way you can solve that problem is to find a hunting dog and your problem will be solved. Good luck!!!

[10thmountainarcher]

I got a shot on a big 2pt blacktail yesterday. It was an open broadside slightly quartered away 50-60 yard shot. I was using a 20ga. slug. The buck flinched as if hit on the shot but continued to silently bolt off with out hearing the familiar death kick crash. I waited a few minutes and listened,nothing. I walked up the where the deer was when I shot and found a significant amount of hair(looked like mostly hair from the lower front of a deer) but not sure. I thought I hit him sollid and really did expect him to be piled up within several yards. I tracked him for about a half mile before loosing track without finding a speck of blood.
I was hoping I just creased him and he'll survive,but at the same time a part of me feels the slug went in far back missing the vitals and lodging somewhere's in the opposite shoulder.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation or any thoughts on an unlucky shot like this?

I would recommend you to take a dog and find that deer. 20 gauge slug is a big deal,even though people think it's weak. My grandpa shot a brown bear with a 20 gauge slug in Europe and bear just dropped and didn't even move. So if you're sure that you hit the deer then take someones dog and you will find that deer very quick. I have had couple situations like that back in Europe. The only way you can solve that problem is to find a hunting dog and your problem will be solved. Good luck!!!

umm last time I checked the use of dogs for the tracking of wounded game in Washington state is illegal.  I have been gone for a few years but I doubt the awesome governing body for wildlife has changed it.

[singleshot12]

I guess my main question is would a slug leave hair on the ground entering the side of a deer but not exiting?

Yes.

I shot a small two point with 12 gauge slug behind the ribs. The slug never exited the chest and the buck ran off. We only found hair and tracks so we went home for a lantern. Came back and followed fresh tracks, but no blood, for about 100 yards and then lost them.

We started doing circles and just when we were giving up we found the deer about 75 yards away with small splotches of blood a couple feet away. We backtracked and only found a couple specks of blood.

Interesting.. This morning i spent a couple more hours and circled and checked under every root ball and brush pile I could possibly get to. And when I went back to where i shot him I found a small clump of hair connected to a little bit of hide which seems to be a good sign that i only creased him.

[singleshot12]

When you look at the hair, what hair is it? Belly hair? Back hair,neck hair, etc?
Good chance you burned him.

What 20 ga slug? I've never seen much if any blood at all come from a deer that was taken with a shotgun.

I burned the back of a buck with a 12 ga, he flinched. Buck took off without missing a beat.  Shortly after the buck was back to chasing a doe, but that time I was unable to take a shot

It looked to be a mixture of belly and brisket fur. I was using a federal hi-shok rifled.
I have to say most of my deer were killed with a 12 ga. between 10-20 yards away blowing a hole through the engine room with blood and lung shooting out both sides.

[singleshot12]

I got a shot on a big 2pt blacktail yesterday. It was an open broadside slightly quartered away 50-60 yard shot. I was using a 20ga. slug. The buck flinched as if hit on the shot but continued to silently bolt off with out hearing the familiar death kick crash. I waited a few minutes and listened,nothing. I walked up the where the deer was when I shot and found a significant amount of hair(looked like mostly hair from the lower front of a deer) but not sure. I thought I hit him sollid and really did expect him to be piled up within several yards. I tracked him for about a half mile before loosing track without finding a speck of blood.
I was hoping I just creased him and he'll survive,but at the same time a part of me feels the slug went in far back missing the vitals and lodging somewhere's in the opposite shoulder.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation or any thoughts on an unlucky shot like this?

I would recommend you to take a dog and find that deer. 20 gauge slug is a big deal,even though people think it's weak. My grandpa shot a brown bear with a 20 gauge slug in Europe and bear just dropped and didn't even move. So if you're sure that you hit the deer then take someones dog and you will find that deer very quick. I have had couple situations like that back in Europe. The only way you can solve that problem is to find a hunting dog and your problem will be solved. Good luck!!!

Yeah I thought about the dog thing,but don't really want my dogs getting into the habit of chasing deer.

[Tiger1358]

I got a shot on a big 2pt blacktail yesterday. It was an open broadside slightly quartered away 50-60 yard shot. I was using a 20ga. slug. The buck flinched as if hit on the shot but continued to silently bolt off with out hearing the familiar death kick crash. I waited a few minutes and listened,nothing. I walked up the where the deer was when I shot and found a significant amount of hair(looked like mostly hair from the lower front of a deer) but not sure. I thought I hit him sollid and really did expect him to be piled up within several yards. I tracked him for about a half mile before loosing track without finding a speck of blood.
I was hoping I just creased him and he'll survive,but at the same time a part of me feels the slug went in far back missing the vitals and lodging somewhere's in the opposite shoulder.
Just wondering if anyone has had a similar situation or any thoughts on an unlucky shot like this?

I would recommend you to take a dog and find that deer. 20 gauge slug is a big deal,even though people think it's weak. My grandpa shot a brown bear with a 20 gauge slug in Europe and bear just dropped and didn't even move. So if you're sure that you hit the deer then take someones dog and you will find that deer very quick. I have had couple situations like that back in Europe. The only way you can solve that problem is to find a hunting dog and your problem will be solved. Good luck!!!

Yeah I thought about the dog thing,but don't really want my dogs getting into the habit of chasing deer.

That's the only way you can find your deer buddy....Don't worry ,it's not gonna get into the habit

[singleshot12]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

[Tiger1358]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

Dogs know their job man,if it died they will find it very very fast ,trust me ...Just wake up at 7 take your dogs and try to find it ..it is possible that your slug didn't hit a vital organ..maybe you it hit the liver or intestines. Just don't give up try to find it. If you're 100% sure you hit it ,it will die ...20 gauge slug is not a joke...if you have a pump action,semi auto, or double barrel shotgun always use the slug first then 00 or #4 buckshot ,and your game won't be able to run away.

[hillbilli]

I started deer hunting with 20guage slugs. it is a .62 caliber musket by any other name. if you tracked him a half mile with no blood like you say- you probably just grazed him.. 

[h20hunter]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

Only you can answer that. I'd say closeure......notch your tag, take the horns.....tag your deer. However, that is your call just like its your call on how and how long you look for it.

[lostbackpacker]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

respect to the life you took. 

[N7XW]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

Only you can answer that. I'd say closeure......notch your tag, take the horns.....tag your deer. However, that is your call just like its your call on how and how long you look for it.

[sakoshooter]

I looked hard for 4 days and finally found a buck I'd shot a few years back thanx to the ravens. I tagged it, saved the horns and believe it or not - the backstraps. It was right at freezing or below all that week. The hind quarters weren't any good. I did the right thing in my mind.

[Goldeneye]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

Only you can answer that. I'd say closeure......notch your tag, take the horns.....tag your deer. However, that is your call just like its your call on how and how long you look for it.

I agree with H20, only you can say when you have closure to this.  It won't take long and you will be able to smell him if he's down.  As Sako said, the scavenger birds will start working the body as well.

[lokidog]

Yeah but if that deer died yesterday morning somewhere what good would it do me to find it now?

Only you can answer that. I'd say closeure......notch your tag, take the horns.....tag your deer. However, that is your call just like its your call on how and how long you look for it.

   Be the ethical thing to do.....   

[singleshot12]

Thanks for all your comments guys Most definitely would notch my tag if i found his carcuss. I searched some more today with even wider circles with no luck. I'm almost positive now I only creased his hide. I'll keep hunting the area and hopefully find him alive again.

[brew]

Sounds like an unethical shot with too small of a bullet.....    but it seemed fitting....   

Hope the deer's Ok and that you just pulled the shot creasing his brisket.

wow...you must know more about the story than the rest of us to call it an "unethical shot"  i always thought ethics were the limitations you placed on yourself and if you exceeded them then it would be "unethical"....nothing in the original post told me the hunter had only shot slugs out to 40 yards accurately so anything beyond that range would be a reach....saying that a 20 ga slug fired from a gun at 60 yards at a "slightly quartering away" deer in the clear is unethical and too small of a bullet is assinine if you don't know all the facts.....sorry to say but it seemed fitting

[singleshot12]

never mind Loki he's just trying to get me back for ribbing him about him shooting hand fed pet deer

[hillbilli]

yeah.. unethical shot with too small a bullet.. I've seen a few deer in my time that took a freezer nap on account of 20ga slugs. It's what i started deer hunting with, and I never had a deer shrug off that .62 caliber, 315gr lead at 1600fps.. and I know I was just shooting whitetails, and usually broadside shots-but I dont recall ever not having an exit wound.. yep- too small a  round indeed.

[lokidog]

OK, y'all.  I've shot plenty of deer with a 20 ga as well.  I was making a point, that I think Singleshot got, regarding postings on other threads about ethics, and that

ethics were the limitations you placed on yourself and if you exceeded them then it would be "unethical

was well said by Brew.

[singleshot12]

Blacktail hunting can drive a guy crazy, I wouldn't reconmend it to anyone. I think this is my last year hunting these sneaky little bastages

[Tiger1358]

Blacktail hunting can drive a guy crazy, I wouldn't reconmend it to anyone. I think this is my last year hunting these sneaky little bastages

That's why it's called hunting. Not everybody can do that.... Don't give up ,a lot of hunters experience that once in a while....just take another 20 gauge slug and go get another blacktail. If you're not confident in your shot, you will fail again and again. Good luck and DON'T GIVE UP!