Got hair but no blood?

[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.