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Tracking Tips

4 Minute Read

By Lexi Quinn  on 10/1/2023

As whitetail season comes to a close for many of us throughout the United States, the preparation for next season begins.

As we stated in Off Season Tactics Every Deer Hunter Should Do, any serious hunter looking to harvest monsters must look at the season as a year long process, not just several months of fun. In order to become the best possible hunter that you can be, it is crucial that you are constantly shooting, scouting, and more importantly, brushing up on your whitetail knowledge. With that said, for the next 5 weeks, each Friday we will be posting an article on an important topic regarding whitetail hunting.  Although some of this might not be new information, it is never bad brushing up on old knowledge. Here are our 6 tips for blood trailing your deer:

 

Pay Attention to the Deer’s Behavior After the Shot

 

Watching how a deer reacted to the shot can help you determine if your shot was good or bad. Deer that kick when they are shot at are more times than not a heart/lung shot. On the other hand, deer that run 100 yards and stop, are most likely a gut shot. Understanding what reactions correlate with what type of shot will help you understand if your track will be a straight shot, or if you will be zig-zagging through the woods.

 

 

Keep an Eye Out on the Weather

 

Aren’t weather and temperature always a factor when hunting? Remember to keep both in mind when deciding how long to wait. It is still important to give a deer time, however, if a huge storm is coming in you will won’t to take that into consideration. Keep up to date on the wind and weather by checking your daily view on your HuntWise account.


 

Don’t Leave Your Blind or Tree Stand Until the Area is Clear

 

There is no given time for how long it takes for the deer you just shot to die.  It can take anywhere from 30 seconds to hours or even more. It all is based upon the shot you just make.  Therefore, try your best to stay put until the area is clear. Deer are known to get spooked if the shot was not the best, therefore, it is best to stay quiet and let the area settle back down.


 

Give the Deer Time

 

As we stated above, you are going to want to stay put and give the deer time to die.  Therefore, once you let the area clear, don’t go rushing to check your arrow just yet. Head back to camp, eat a little food, and tell your buddies.  The worst thing you could possibly do is bounce onto a blood trail right away.

 

 

Use Your HuntWise Markers to Mark Last Blood

 

This could possible be one of the most crucial steps.  It is always important to mark last blood before moving on to find next blood, especially if it’s a bad blood trail. Therefore, use your HuntWise customized markers to either make a walking path or mark last blood. You won’t be sorry when you find the monster, and don’t have to retrace your steps.

 

huntwise-markers

 

 

Bring Help, But Not Too Much

 

Finally, in our opinion, one person isn’t enough.  Having help when blood trailing your deer is always a good idea.  You can have one help mark last blood, or even help you drag your deer out of a thicket. It is nice to have an extra hand or two, but don’t get carried away. All in all, it is important to keep these simple tips in mind throughout deer season.  Whether it is bow-season or the off season and you are scouting, it is a good idea to take this tips into consideration when placing new stands and scouting new areas.  Having a nice area with good runs will help make your track more bearable and your shot more accessible. Good luck hunters, and shoot straight.

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