Before last year I had not needed to track an animal as they had all died in sight with both rifle & bow. Last year I shot a cow elk with my bow & made mistakes even though I had read & heard all of the right things to do. I thought I would post & maybe help someone in the same circumstance this season. The first mistake I made was not stopping the animal, I took a 30 yard shot at a walking cow with my bow without leading her and hit her a little far back. Still hitting vitals. My second mistake was after seeing the less than perfect hit I only waited one hour. The next mistake I made was taking up the trail with my hunting buddy ( great blood ) & talking out loud about the blood trail & sign. She had bedded a 100 yards from the shot & left a pool of blood. Still talking we kept after the trail & found a second bed a 1/4 mile away, I then heard a loud groan & headed that direction. We chased her for a mile until found. I should have waited much longer especially with clearly seeing the hit, I should of been quiet & still hunted the blood trail ready for a second shot, I just got excited & antsy. I turned my trail from a 100 yards to a mile with my mistakes. I have learned from my first & hope you all can learn from mine. Be patient ! Mike
