Post by: Bucks2Ducks on June 24, 2011, 11:08:06 PM
Post by: rebal69972 on June 24, 2011, 11:29:58 PM
Post by: billdo5 on June 24, 2011, 11:35:35 PM
Post by: ghosthunter on June 24, 2011, 11:45:30 PM
Let the animal have time to lay down. It can save you a long search.
At each drop of blood look ahead and off to sides. And look back at your toliet paper trail.
Use your nose, especially on elk.
Post by: billdo5 on June 24, 2011, 11:46:31 PM
I use toliet paper to mark a trail. That way I do not feel bad leaving it. Ribbon lays there a long time. Also turn on your GPS if you have one to track.
Let the animal have time to lay down. It can save you a long search.
At each drop of blood look ahead and off to sides. And look back at your toliet paper trail.
Use your nose, especially on elk.
yeah me too.. i meant by the ribbon was when u shoot go out and put ribbon by the first blood then leave we use toliet paper too :)
Post by: RadSav on June 25, 2011, 12:04:56 AM
a small tip from me the only thing in the woods that foams with hydragen peroxide is blood. a small spray bottle full works great when bloods hard to find
That's a very good tip and one we use when blood is dry or brush is extremely wet. Though some feces do foam and so does the feces of ticks. A real problem trying to use it in the Winston where the ticks are so bad. Look at elk beds in the snow and you will know what I mean.
That being said it has helped us on a number of occasions. My last good buck would have been lost if not for it. We were at a point of giving up even though I knew the shot was good. Two sprays on the rain soaked pine needles and we were back on the trail. Ten yards later saw the deer. Man! That was close.
Lately I have given up on the use of tape. Seems to be a lot of that stuff around at the wrong time. Especially if tracking in the dark. Now I am using reflective twist ties from Hunters Specialties. Orange on one side and reflective on the other. Also, very nice if you are trying to get back to your elk quarters in the dark. Even a small LED light will get them reflecting from 50 yards out. Don't make them look like eyes close to the ground though. Scares the heck out of the wife :yike:
It's also nice to have clean paper towels or TP with you. If you find a leaf that has something on it, but you are just not sure if it is blood or not, wipe it on the clean white and you can get a good read on color.
Other wise just take your time. When you are feeling you've lost the trail just sit down right there, have a snack, maybe even take a nap and try again. Sometimes all you need is to give your eyes a little breather. If you still can not find blood start walking all the different trails one at a time for about 10 yards. Paying close attention to those leaves and sticks you know should have blood on them. If it looks like the trail they went down it usually is.
Look for unique features in their tracks. Short hooves, broken hooves, one dewclaw anything that reassures you're on the trail of the right animal. I know one guy that even measures the tracks.
If all else fails listen for ravens then try working trails going toward them. We've had them hovering above a dead elk within five minutes.
Finally, and most important! If you are single start dating Squaws. I married one and she is the best blood hound around. So good, infact, that my hunting partners don't even start trailing until they've reached her on the radio to make sure she is on the way.
Good luck, be safe and have fun!
Post by: bench beast on June 25, 2011, 06:31:51 AM
a small tip from me the only thing in the woods that foams with hydragen peroxide is blood. a small spray bottle full works great when bloods hard to findtry a little food coloring mixed in it, makes it easier to see in the rain.
Post by: youngbull on June 25, 2011, 11:36:07 AM
Post by: THEBUGLER on June 25, 2011, 03:56:20 PM
Follow your nose. Many times when the blood runs out, you can circle down wind of where he may be. Bull elk are very aromatic creatures and I have found a couple by just following the "rutting bull smell".
Most of all be persistent, the elk deserves nothing less than 110% of your effort. If the trail goes dry, start using logic and continue ahead in the direction that makes sense. If that shows nothing, look in directions that make no sense, such as; "the bull went down hill for about a mile and the blood gave out". One might think since he is mortaly wounded he would never go up hill......wrong. We found a bull once during that same scenario 200 yards straight above the last drop of blood on a very steep hillside. Rule nothing out and you have a good chance of finding more blood and your bull.
Last but not least, keep a possitive outlook. It will keep you from panicing and making bad decisions, and most of all it will lead you to your downed elk. :)
Post by: RadSav on June 25, 2011, 04:32:22 PM
That is great advise too. Reminds me of a story I just have to share. I was hunting Catalina Island for sheep and pigs. I had always wanted a BIG Silverhair goat and finally stuck one good. After about 50 yards of good blood it completely stopped. Last spot was a huge splatter against a tree and then nothing. I started doing circles for I'd say a half hour always coming back to the tree before starting out an a larger circle.
Finally I stopped at the tree to take a break and to eat some lunch. I could hear dripping as I sat there to relax. By the time I finished my granola bar it was driving me nuts. I walked around to the other side of the tree and there is a huge pool of blood I hadn't seen before. I looked up in the tree and there he was about eight feet above my head the whole time.
I'd shot a lot of them out of trees down there before, but I never thought one would go up there to die.
Post by: OlympicElkJunkie on June 25, 2011, 08:10:13 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on June 25, 2011, 08:33:05 PM
Post by: rebal69972 on June 25, 2011, 08:56:17 PM
another point i thought of before you go looking for your downed animal give it plenty of time to die. nothing sucks more then putting an arrow in an animal then tracking it just to jump it and having it run another 1/2 mile on you
Post by: sebek556 on June 25, 2011, 09:18:22 PM
Post by: rotty33 on June 25, 2011, 09:24:39 PM
Then it's a waiting game. Anyone else do this? It has been pretty effective for me.
Post by: brew on June 25, 2011, 10:10:30 PM
Post by: jasnt on September 11, 2013, 12:34:46 PM
Post by: sneakyjake on September 11, 2013, 01:17:37 PM
Post by: Stizz on September 11, 2013, 02:26:41 PM
Post by: erk444 on September 11, 2013, 09:06:56 PM
I gave in and bought some blue star off the net, figured what the hell if it helps me find the elk I arrowed then its worth it.I used some blue star last year to find a deer my dad shot. Stuff works awesome, but runs out to quick. It says to only use it to find the trail if you loose it, but it worked so good I just kept spraying it in front of me! It does react with some vegetation and a few other things, but you can tell the difference between those and blood pretty quick. It also stops reacting with the blood within an hour or so, so its still a good idea to mark the trail. Great product, and I'm going to by more for sure :tup:
Post by: Turner89 on September 11, 2013, 09:27:46 PM
:chuckle: :chuckle: Might be able to make some extra $$$ during hunting season.
Post by: RadSav on September 11, 2013, 11:51:01 PM
"Finally, and most important! If you are single start dating Squaws. I married one and she is the best blood hound around. "
:chuckle: :chuckle: Might be able to make some extra $$$ during hunting season.
If she hadn't gone blind I might have to make some extra money on that ;) Even now after a whole goober full of eye surgeries she is better than most. She's just a bit slower now.