After the release

[tuffshot]

Gentlemen,

Just wondering what do you see and look for after the arrow is released at your intended target such as a deer. Do you watch the arrow in flight to the spot aimed? Do you watch for the deer to duck down and then spring up and away from the arrow? Do you watch to see if you can see the entry point of the arrow on the deer? Are you observing his escape route after the hit or just try and follow the blood trail?

All of these questions can help determine whether or not one has made a good shot and they all seem to run together in a split second after the arrow is released. So after the shot, there is a lot more to think about.

Good Hunting Gents

[Cato]

Seeing where you hit a deer is hugely helpful, in knowing how and when to proceed with trailing, so obviously, I try to see where the arrow hits the deer. But there are other things as well. How much penetration did I get? It there a lot of shaft sticking out, or did I get enough to expect and exit hole. And how did the animal react to the shot? A vital shot and a gut shot will react quiet differently most of the time.

Also, I try to watch the animal run out of sight. Then I take a compass reading from my stand. That will enable me to walk out some areas if I cannot follow the blood trail, or if there is none.

I also listen. Sometimes you will hear them crash, and can get a pretty good idea where they were.

I also try to mark the spot the animal was at when shot. Sometimes you can follow tracks or turned up leaves to the first sign of blood.

I'm curious to hear from others.

Cato

[Pinelander]

Same thing....

1. Arrow placement (and just as importantly, the angle of entry/travel)
2. Depth of penetration
3. Mark a spot where last visible
4. Listen intently after visibilty is lost
5. Pick up on bloodtrail, if that fails (very seldom), then check every deer trail in the vicinity of escape.
6. Find the arrow if possible and inspect closely!

Seeing flight of arrow is nice, but when the shot is CLOSE, the only thing really obvious is the actual hit.

Sometimes I wonder... when I see a bowhunter with a quiver full of camoflage/dark-colored fletching with not one bright-fletched arrow in the set.

[Cato]

Good point Piney. Those dark shafts are hard to see, but if you add some dark fletch you make it worse. And also, some fletch shows blood coloration much better than others. I want to know the color of the blood if at all possible. I love to be able to pick up that arrow with at least one white fletch, and see that bright red blood!

[tuffshot]

All good thoughts and observations. A lot can happen after the release of the string even a small unnoticed limb or twig can be in the way the arrow can get deflected sometimes not enuff to miss but to make what might have been a good shot go bad. I also agree with arrow and fletching coloration, one has to be able to tell what kind of blood is on the arrow to determin what area may have been hit on the deer.

[Boho]

My arrow will be easy to find. It will be laying on the ground right where the deer was standing when it was shot. Just reload and she's ready to go again. :cheers: