How often do you find unrecovered animals?

[Ross]

Through the decades I have found a pile of them. Things happen at shot time, some could be prevented, others not. I have the opportunity to talk to a good number of archery hunters chasing elk, because that is the ultimate for so many. I heard stories of 8 lost bulls this year, most were shoulder shot so will likely survive. Experience only comes with experience. You can practice all day at the range, but that is the range. I’ve found them lost by hunters, killed by wolves and two killed by trees.

 

[Slickhill]

I found a really nice muley buck two years ago that someone lost. Guessing from the lack of decomposition and the weather conditions I’m pretty sure he was shot in 2nd rifle. I found him the 4th day of 3rd rifle. Coyotes had eaten his hindquarters and the hair had just started to slip on the rest of his carcass. Had an entry wound right in the shirt pocket between the shoulder and base of the neck, exit perfectly halfway up the body 3 ribs back behind the opposite shoulder about 2” diameter.

Based on the shot placement and where I found him in a coulee behind a little knob I think someone pulled up to the pullout on the trail, saw him standing on the knob and sent one at him but didn’t follow up. Pure speculation but it is open ground for a couple hundred yards in any direction and I don’t believe he traveled far after the shot with a good shot like that.

I euroed him and have him hanging in my shop. Beautiful heavy deep forked 4x4 just shy of 30” wide.

Around home and bird hunting in KS I’ve found lots of dead deer. Many around the house that matched the description of bucks friends shot and couldn’t locate. In KS it seemed like I’d run across carcasses within rifle range of the road in CRP pretty often.

 

[bpa556]

I train dogs for that very task. I (they) find a pile every year (rates vary by situation).


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[Sliverslinger]

Usually once a year, mostly while shed hunting I’ll find an unrecovered bull. Sometimes it could be winter kill, but most of the time it’s pretty obvious.