Good Blood on This Hit?

[wytx]

Was he going uphill or down with the blood trail you found ?
Listen and watch for ravens, they will lead you to him if he's expired.
Check the waterholes near by as well.

 

[IndiaZero3]

Was he going uphill or down with the blood trail you found ?
Listen and watch for ravens, they will lead you to him if he's expired.
Check the waterholes near by as well.

He ran uphill, away from a creek. Thru a thicket of ferns and salmonberry.

 

[Bighorner]

I can feel for your predicament. I don't think that was a brisket shot based on much blood was on your fetching. In my limited experience a brisket or leg will have very little blood on the fletching and some hair. The fact that he didn't move so long makes me think it was a vital shot. I really would not give up on him. Griding from the end of your blood trail would be a good idea. He could have turned hard once he started he ran a little ways. He very well may have spent whatever he had left when he spooked. I understand the emotional swings that go with a thing like this. Good luck.

 

[ElkNut1]

In addition to all the very good replies, when all else fails go search the very first area you contacted him. More times than not a wounded animal retreats back to where he came from one way or another if he can. I'd focus some serious efforts there! Good luck, closer is a good thing regardless of the meat loss!

ElkNut/Paul

 

[7Bartman]

That looks like a good hit to me. I'm thinking a single lung hit given that he didn't die in 30 minutes. Crazy part is they can survive a single lung hit. I'd keep searching.

 

[cardbender1]

2016 , I hit this 6pt bull low. Arrow passed through him.At first I thought it hit his heart, ran 50 yards and just stood there with head hanging low for few minutes. After 10-15 minutes he started acting like nothing happened. He began chasing cows again and I was lucky when a cow lead him passed me a 2nd time. ( I hadn't moved) this time I hit him dead center. He ran about 60 yards and fell over in sight. 1st shot never penetrated the chest cavity.
Blood pretty good between 1st and second hits.
Not sure it would have been a lethal hit.
Your story brought back memories for me.(similar)
Good luck

 

[IndiaZero3]

2016 , I hit this 6pt bull low. Arrow passed through him.At first I thought it hit his heart, ran 50 yards and just stood there with head hanging low for few minutes. After 10-15 minutes he started acting like nothing happened. He began chasing cows again and I was lucky when a cow lead him passed me a 2nd time. ( I hadn't moved) this time I hit him dead center. He ran about 60 yards and fell over in sight. 1st shot never penetrated the chest cavity.
Blood pretty good between 1st and second hits.
Not sure it would have been a lethal hit.
Your story brought back memories for me.(similar)View attachment 119751
Good luck

Lower hit was the first shot? Looks pretty close to where I thought I hit. Glad yours worked out.

 

[Bubblehide]

In addition to all the very good replies, when all else fails go search the very first area you contacted him. More times than not a wounded animal retreats back to where he came from one way or another if he can. I'd focus some serious efforts there! Good luck, closer is a good thing regardless of the meat loss!

ElkNut/Paul

About 35 years ago, I experienced exactly that on a buck I shot. I knew I hit it good. I saw it do a wobbly walk for over 300 yards, almost in a straight line. After grid searching unsuccessfully, I finally went back to where he was when I hit him. There he was, not even 5 feet away. He must have done a huge circle as I followed the path I saw him go.

I have been exceptionally fortunate to have never lost an animal. However, I have had two hunting buddies lose animals to people prior to us tracking them to the places they died/were stolen from.

I feel for the OP and hopes he finds that closure you brought up Paul.

 

[Blockcaver]

I rather have the extra cut area from a 3 or 4 blade head on your shot. And I’ve shot a bunch of elk with the bow over the past 45 seasons. I am not a two blade fan, double or single bevel. Hope you find the elk. Good
Luck.

 

[Nossback]

Brisket or flesh wound is my guess.


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[wytx]

Look for the birds, if he's dead they will be on him and they make lots of noise.
Good luck in the search.

 

[Northwinds308]

I'd agree with the above, I had that on a brisket shot with a rifle once too.

 

[joshf303]

2016 , I hit this 6pt bull low. Arrow passed through him.At first I thought it hit his heart, ran 50 yards and just stood there with head hanging low for few minutes. After 10-15 minutes he started acting like nothing happened. He began chasing cows again and I was lucky when a cow lead him passed me a 2nd time. ( I hadn't moved) this time I hit him dead center. He ran about 60 yards and fell over in sight. 1st shot never penetrated the chest cavity.
Blood pretty good between 1st and second hits.
Not sure it would have been a lethal hit.
Your story brought back memories for me.(similar)View attachment 119751
Good luck

I hit a cow much like this a few years ago, maybe a skosh tighter behind the shoulder. Misjudged the distance a little and shot was at an upslope angle. Blood looked like the OPs for about 100-150 yards and then just completely stopped. We backed out and started again the next morning. Found where she had bedded up in a large pool of blood big enough to make you question why she wasn’t dead right there. All I could figure is I just went under the vitals. Never found her...

Sucks, but it happens.

 

[sneaky]

Single bevel two blades can do more damage than three blades on any given shot. It amazes me what the single bevel can do. The broadhead choice may have made no difference other than a three blade may not have gone thru and the bull run for days. Then have a totally different scenario on your hands. Maybe better maybe not.

I like single bevels, but every animal I've ever shot with a 3 blade head has bled better and had shorter blood trails. Single bevels penetrate very well, but the blood trails have left much to be desired in my field experience. Ymmv

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[sneaky]

Also, hard to tell anything with the fletching colors you chose lol

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[IndiaZero3]

Also, hard to tell anything with the fletching colors you chose lol

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Haha... Need to rethink those.

Definitely a trade-off with the single bevel 2 vs a 3 blade. Could have used the better blood in this case.

 

[nidaho]

Was the shot right behind the elbow low and broad side. Have seen the same thing when a friend shot a bull right in front of me. Arrow went right behind the elbow and a little lower elk stood for five minutes or so and walked off never to be found

 

[IndiaZero3]

Was the shot right behind the elbow low and broad side. Have seen the same thing when a friend shot a bull right in front of me. Arrow went right behind the elbow and a little lower elk stood for five minutes or so and walked off never to be found

It was... sounds familiar.

 

[JuddStrow]

I dont know what your state laws are, but look into finding someone with a dog. I witnessed it for the first time tonight. Guy brought a tracking dog out, helped us look for a deer that had been stuck before noon.

Dog looked for about 5 hours and never found anything. Got a call from the shooter, he was the last truck coming out of private property. Said the dog followed exact path of deer after shot for almost a 1/4 mile(he watched deer run off after shot) on his way out, the deer crossed the road in front of him and seemed to be fine. Very little blood on arrow, and none to speak of for tracking.

Was cool and informative to watch the dog work.

 

[mylsuhat]

How was the angle? May have been just one lung.

I have had a very similar situation with a whitetail from a tree stand. Shot looked good but a tad low and it was only one lung and I never recovered the buck. Tracked him and bumped him for 1000+ yards