I am so incredibly grateful to my late husband John Trout, Jr. because he taught me everything I know about what to do after the arrow is released from the bow. I can remember many late-night suppers because someone would call and ask for John to help them trail a deer. Many (including me) considered him to be an expert tracker, and he found many deer for fellow hunters.

Also, I must admit that lighted nocks are a favorite of mine because they cause you to follow through once the arrow leaves the string. In other words, seeing that light causes your eyes to follow it all the way to the deer, which means you will be following through. Oftentimes, an arrow will bury in the ground all the way to the nock. Finding it becomes easier when you see it lit up. I still hear John advising me, “Aim, concentrate, follow through, and you will kill that deer!”

I think I do everything according to my teacher, but since he is no longer here to assist, the tracking is up to me, and me alone. Now what? John taught me some details before we began trailing. Even to this day, the questions he would ask me, and that I now ask myself, have been a great help in recovering deer.

How did the deer depart after the shot?

It is especially important to pay attention to the reaction of the deer. Was the tail up, was it down, did it run off, did it walk off? Was it hunkered? Which way did it go? Here are helpful tips to find your deer sooner rather than later.

Tail up vs. tail down

The rule of thumb is that an injured deer will run off with the tail down. Oftentimes, that is true, but not always. Therefore, regardless of tail up or down, do not assume a particular type of hit or miss. Once you release, put in your mind that the deer has been shot. Deer hair should be at the exact location the arrow made contact.

A lighted nock on the arrow will assist in finding the arrow. Remember, though, that the arrow may be somewhat behind where you shot, especially on a pass thru. That is why it is crucial to make a mental note as to where you shot, so you can go to that spot and look for the arrow, blood and hair. Finding the arrow provides a plethora of information! It will provide blood color, tallow (some hits produce tallow while others do not), among other things. That is why I have two white vanes on each arrow.

Was the deer running or walking?

Typically, a deer will run off whether it is hit or missed. However, a deer that walks off is typically a good indication the deer has taken an arrow. Pay close attention to the reaction. If it is hunkered and hind legs spread wide, you can be sure the deer is gut shot and will head towards water. Trailing should be curtailed for at least four to six hours.

Which way did it go?

A deer that has taken an arrow will typically leave blood shortly after the point of impact. Finding this blood is important for two reasons. The color of the blood varies depending on where in the deer’s body it is shot. Trailing should commence based on the hit and blood color tells you that.

Color variations

Bright red or almost pink blood with air bubbles indicates a lung hit and that the deer should be an easy recovery. Heart-shot deer will begin bleeding almost immediately because the heart lays low (almost on the belly) in its body. The color of the blood will be crimson red and often splatter up to a few feet. Some hunters actually aim for the heart; however, the vital lungs are much larger and provide more room for error than the heart. It just makes sense to aim for the lungs.

Dark blood is typically found from a liver hit or other vital organ and will appear within 30 yards. If you speculate that the deer has been hit in the liver or other vital organ, waiting at least two hours is highly recommended. If you determine the deer may be gut shot, give it several hours before trailing. However, if rain or snow is in the forecast, trailing should begin sooner, providing you are quiet and trail slowly, watching ahead for a downed deer. It may be necessary to put another arrow in the deer.

Deer hair color and coarseness vary according to shot location. If you find short, coarse, white hair, the deer probably has a wound low in the belly. Very coarse and long, dark hair with black tips is typical of a heart or lung hit. Coarse, medium to short, gray to brown, with dark tips is evidence of a lower leg injury.

We spend countless hours shooting and preparing for deer season, and rightfully so. But, if you hunt long enough, there will be an occasion when your arrow or bullet did not hit exactly where you intended. That is the reason for this article. I hope it will help you!

For more hunting insight from the pros who know, check out the next issue of MidWest Outdoors, available by subscribing on our website.