You often see post asking about DRT or "Bang/Flop" rounds, usually for deer. How about some information about the best cartridge/bullet combination for a decent blood trail for deer. I'm going to be hunting in really heavy woods and I would like to have a good blood trail to follow. I know no matter how well a deer is hit they'll sometimes get up and run a littles ways. Who here usually gets a good blood trail and what are you using? Thanks.
Good blood trails
- Thread starter jneilson
- Start date
Big bullets more blood. That's pretty much a simplification.
Most bullets will expand as advertised and how much the deer bleeds has more to do with shot placement than bullet type.
But everything else being equal, the bigger the bullet the bigger the wound track and thus the more blood.
Ok, now a word on tracking. Know the land you're hunting on. I can't say that enough. scout out the area you plan to hunt, take notes and mark up your own map.
Don't pop up and run after the deer as soon as you pull the trigger. Deer tend to run less than 50 yds when they do take off and then they lay low till they bleed out. So if wait a few minutes and then quietly walk in the direction you saw them head out, you'll find them without a blood trail. If you know the land you'll also know likely hiding places.
Take your time. It isn't a race and the odds are if you can't find your deer it's because you walked right pass it. Before you walk out passed 50 to 75 yds, turn back and cast 10 yds to either side of what you believe to be the track the deer took.
Shooting in scrub or thick woods means you have to make sure of your shot. The chance of a bullet being deflected is very real. Take your time before you shoot and you probably won't be doing much tracking.
Most bullets will expand as advertised and how much the deer bleeds has more to do with shot placement than bullet type.
But everything else being equal, the bigger the bullet the bigger the wound track and thus the more blood.
Ok, now a word on tracking. Know the land you're hunting on. I can't say that enough. scout out the area you plan to hunt, take notes and mark up your own map.
Don't pop up and run after the deer as soon as you pull the trigger. Deer tend to run less than 50 yds when they do take off and then they lay low till they bleed out. So if wait a few minutes and then quietly walk in the direction you saw them head out, you'll find them without a blood trail. If you know the land you'll also know likely hiding places.
Take your time. It isn't a race and the odds are if you can't find your deer it's because you walked right pass it. Before you walk out passed 50 to 75 yds, turn back and cast 10 yds to either side of what you believe to be the track the deer took.
Shooting in scrub or thick woods means you have to make sure of your shot. The chance of a bullet being deflected is very real. Take your time before you shoot and you probably won't be doing much tracking.
Kreyzhorse
New member
A good bullet, but a better shot is the key. Hit your deer well. I've only seen two deer drop where they stood. One was a head shot and the second was shot with a .375 H&H. The .375 did some damage but wasn't as bad as you would expect but that's another post.
My doe last year was hit with a 300gr 45-70 govt at 50 yards or so, double lung, and she ran a good hundred yards up hill (which was better than running down hill since my truck was at the top of the hill.)
In my opinion, I'd count on your deer running not matter how well they are hit. The key is to sit after the shot for 10 or 15 minutes. Let them run and then bed down and or expire. The second key is to memorize the exact location the deer was shot prior to leaving your spot. It is very easy to walk 50 yards and not be able to find the exact spot the deer was standing when you fired. Trust me, I can never find the exact spot when I first walk to it. I've always got to search. If you can't find it, start working in ever increasing circles until you do find the blood trail. Track it from there, but track slowly.
My doe last year was hit with a 300gr 45-70 govt at 50 yards or so, double lung, and she ran a good hundred yards up hill (which was better than running down hill since my truck was at the top of the hill.)
In my opinion, I'd count on your deer running not matter how well they are hit. The key is to sit after the shot for 10 or 15 minutes. Let them run and then bed down and or expire. The second key is to memorize the exact location the deer was shot prior to leaving your spot. It is very easy to walk 50 yards and not be able to find the exact spot the deer was standing when you fired. Trust me, I can never find the exact spot when I first walk to it. I've always got to search. If you can't find it, start working in ever increasing circles until you do find the blood trail. Track it from there, but track slowly.
Art Eatman
Staff in Memoriam
One of the reasons we regularly holler about shot placement is that without an exit wound, there's little or no blood trail. Entry wounds rarely bleed very much. Angling shots can be a problem. Shots into a full paunch also.
If you're not confident about taking a neck shot, or figure you won't get a good shot at the heart/lung combination, then bigger cartridge/heavier bullet is the deal for you. A medium power .35 cartridge will work, or something like the .308/.30-'06 with 165- or 180-grain bullets.
If you're not confident about taking a neck shot, or figure you won't get a good shot at the heart/lung combination, then bigger cartridge/heavier bullet is the deal for you. A medium power .35 cartridge will work, or something like the .308/.30-'06 with 165- or 180-grain bullets.
simonkenton
New member
When you take your shot, look carefully for the exact spot where the deer was standing when hit. Mark a boulder, or a large oak tree, or a stump that is nearby that spot.
Also remember which direction the deer ran.
After a few minutes go to the spot where the deer was standing. You may see a big splash of blood. You may see some white hair. You will be able to see deep hoof marks, where the deer sprung away as he was hit.
Mark this spot with a flag. I take a roll of toilet paper into the woods with me. Put a couple pieces on a bush 5 feet high. If you don't mark this spot now, you may be unable to find it again.
From this point there is a trail that leads to your deer, you just have to know how to read it.
Hopefully there is a good blood trail, splotches of blood a couple inches wide.
However, you may have little drops of blood, only as big as a bb. If so, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see them.
I have trailed a deer for 100 yards on my hands and knees, in the dark, following blood drops the size of a bb.
Be sure to carry a flashlight, as the minutes just before dark are some of the best deer hunting. Those little blood drops light up under a flashlight like they have little light bulbs inside.
Every 15 feet or so put up another flag.
Some deer go in a straight line until the drop, maybe 100 yards away.
Many times, however, a deer will go about 30 yards, and make a sharp turn, and from that point go straight until they pile up. This turn may be as sharp as 180 degrees.
Wounded deer almost always go downhill.
The reason for the flags is that, you may go 50 yards, and the blood trail may conk out. Then, you can look back and see the exact path that the deer has taken.
A good trick at that point is to just walk in that same direction, even if you can't find more blood if the deer is well hit you will find him in the next 70 yards.
I have gotten the best blood trails on a lung shot with the .50 roundball from a muzzleloader. It looked like a 7 year old boy was walking through the woods with an opened, full gallon of red paint in each hand, every 4 feet on either side a big blotch of blood about 5 inches across.
Also remember which direction the deer ran.
After a few minutes go to the spot where the deer was standing. You may see a big splash of blood. You may see some white hair. You will be able to see deep hoof marks, where the deer sprung away as he was hit.
Mark this spot with a flag. I take a roll of toilet paper into the woods with me. Put a couple pieces on a bush 5 feet high. If you don't mark this spot now, you may be unable to find it again.
From this point there is a trail that leads to your deer, you just have to know how to read it.
Hopefully there is a good blood trail, splotches of blood a couple inches wide.
However, you may have little drops of blood, only as big as a bb. If so, you have to get down on your hands and knees to see them.
I have trailed a deer for 100 yards on my hands and knees, in the dark, following blood drops the size of a bb.
Be sure to carry a flashlight, as the minutes just before dark are some of the best deer hunting. Those little blood drops light up under a flashlight like they have little light bulbs inside.
Every 15 feet or so put up another flag.
Some deer go in a straight line until the drop, maybe 100 yards away.
Many times, however, a deer will go about 30 yards, and make a sharp turn, and from that point go straight until they pile up. This turn may be as sharp as 180 degrees.
Wounded deer almost always go downhill.
The reason for the flags is that, you may go 50 yards, and the blood trail may conk out. Then, you can look back and see the exact path that the deer has taken.
A good trick at that point is to just walk in that same direction, even if you can't find more blood if the deer is well hit you will find him in the next 70 yards.
I have gotten the best blood trails on a lung shot with the .50 roundball from a muzzleloader. It looked like a 7 year old boy was walking through the woods with an opened, full gallon of red paint in each hand, every 4 feet on either side a big blotch of blood about 5 inches across.
guntotin_fool
New member
short light bullets dont like to exit the body, longer heavier bullets do. Also blazing speed means more likelihood of extreme expansion and less likelihood of exit wounds. All of the above are generalities, all will have exceptions. EG, a 340 weatherby shooting any bullet at top velocity will exit a deer.
One reason the older chamberings are liked by some hunters is that older rounds, firing a longer solidly constructed bullet at modest velocity will kill nicely and more times than not, punch thru for a nice big exit wound/blood trail.
Great rounds with blood trails in my experience are 6.5 swede when loaded with 140 and above bullets, 300 savage with 180's, 3030's with 170's 7 mm mauser and 8 mm with heavier for caliber bullets. 180's in 06, 35 rem, 32 specials, 300 gr 44 mags. 38/55's with heavy bullets.
Another point, most of these will leave modest areas of blood shot meat as well.
I once watched a deer my son had shot that was head on to me when my boy shot it broadside. With every leap, the deer would pump nearly a pint of blood out the exit wound. it was like the heart was trying to drive all the blood it could into the missing lungs, and on impact with the ground, it was all expelled, that deer ran past me a little ways before expiring. A total run of about 100 yards. My son saw the shot and knew it was a good one, and I knew there was no way an animal losing that much blood was going far.
One reason the older chamberings are liked by some hunters is that older rounds, firing a longer solidly constructed bullet at modest velocity will kill nicely and more times than not, punch thru for a nice big exit wound/blood trail.
Great rounds with blood trails in my experience are 6.5 swede when loaded with 140 and above bullets, 300 savage with 180's, 3030's with 170's 7 mm mauser and 8 mm with heavier for caliber bullets. 180's in 06, 35 rem, 32 specials, 300 gr 44 mags. 38/55's with heavy bullets.
Another point, most of these will leave modest areas of blood shot meat as well.
I once watched a deer my son had shot that was head on to me when my boy shot it broadside. With every leap, the deer would pump nearly a pint of blood out the exit wound. it was like the heart was trying to drive all the blood it could into the missing lungs, and on impact with the ground, it was all expelled, that deer ran past me a little ways before expiring. A total run of about 100 yards. My son saw the shot and knew it was a good one, and I knew there was no way an animal losing that much blood was going far.
I have never had the fortune/misfortune to learn the skill of tracking blood trails of less than heavy blood loss. Furthest I have gotten to test my skills was maybe 50 yards on deer. Each time I or we knew it was a dead deer real near by most often in sight. We just wanted to see what we could from the blood trail. Best blood loss I have seen was from well placed .30-06 and .308 shots. Other than that I have not seen many shot with anything but 12 gauge or .30-30
I did try a night search for a butt shot hog a buddy shot on the run and lost the trail quick, found the skull a few months later about 60-70 yards further from where we lost the blood trail.
Brent
I did try a night search for a butt shot hog a buddy shot on the run and lost the trail quick, found the skull a few months later about 60-70 yards further from where we lost the blood trail.
Brent
W. C. Quantrill
New member
Git'cha one a them spray bottles that put out a real fine mist. Fill it with Hydrogen peroxide when you go to hunt. If you loose the blood trail begin sprayin that H202 and it will foam up white on blood. Blue light works ok too.
simonkenton
New member
I have killed over 80 whitetail, and the worst blood trails I ever got were with the 180 grain Core-Lokt in the 30-06.
Just won't expand on a lung shot deer.
Get some ammo that will expand better.
Just won't expand on a lung shot deer.
Get some ammo that will expand better.
simonkenton
New member
The 180 grain Core Lokt will ext, no problem.
The problem is it won't expand much.
The problem is it won't expand much.
Kreyzhorse
New member
Hard telling the number of critters that met their demise with Core Lokts. Good bullets that will do the job. May not expand but they'll exit. I used them for years with no issues. If you make a good shot, there isn't a problem with using them.
jackmcmanus21
New member
definitely bullet placement is the most important when it comes to blood trails
W. C. Quantrill
New member
I certainly agree with that. I use a .30-06 for all big game. I handload with Hornady 165gr boattails, over IMR or H 4350 powder at 2900fps min velocity. When I get ready to shoot the animal, I make a mental note of the location. I pull the trigger, and immediately walk to that spot, and they are laying within sight, usually on the spot.
The 165's mushroom well, and often time are under the skin on the off side. I have only had one shot that I had to follow up, and I have been killing deer since 1962.
That shot was last season, and I cannot explain it. I was pulling out of my alfalfa field and I looked into the morning sun and on a tall bluff about 275 yards out and above me stood 4 very nice Whitetail bucks. I got out of the pickup and rested my rifle over the corner post there and took the shot on the biggest one. He humped up, went down, then got back up and ran. The bullet struck him low on the left side just behind the elbow. Should have been a heart shot. Well I hunted for about an hour before I found him a good quarter of a mile north where he had turned and doubled back into a side canyon and then had crawled in under a brush pile. There was not a drop of blood anywhere, even approaching or where he laid. Should have been a heart shot???---it was. The angle to the top of the bluff was about 45 degrees, the bullet took out the heart and the right lung and exited in the prime rib on the right side. The buck still ran about 500 yards and left no blood trail. I guess you should never say never.
I should add that the top of that bluff is pure chalk. There is very little grass or cover, just white rock. There is some short grass over the edge, but in the bottom it goes back into white chalk rock. You cant spit on the ground without making some sign. Any blood at all would have shown up like the yellow line in the highway.
The 165's mushroom well, and often time are under the skin on the off side. I have only had one shot that I had to follow up, and I have been killing deer since 1962.
That shot was last season, and I cannot explain it. I was pulling out of my alfalfa field and I looked into the morning sun and on a tall bluff about 275 yards out and above me stood 4 very nice Whitetail bucks. I got out of the pickup and rested my rifle over the corner post there and took the shot on the biggest one. He humped up, went down, then got back up and ran. The bullet struck him low on the left side just behind the elbow. Should have been a heart shot. Well I hunted for about an hour before I found him a good quarter of a mile north where he had turned and doubled back into a side canyon and then had crawled in under a brush pile. There was not a drop of blood anywhere, even approaching or where he laid. Should have been a heart shot???---it was. The angle to the top of the bluff was about 45 degrees, the bullet took out the heart and the right lung and exited in the prime rib on the right side. The buck still ran about 500 yards and left no blood trail. I guess you should never say never.
I should add that the top of that bluff is pure chalk. There is very little grass or cover, just white rock. There is some short grass over the edge, but in the bottom it goes back into white chalk rock. You cant spit on the ground without making some sign. Any blood at all would have shown up like the yellow line in the highway.
Select your Shot
I don't even consider wheather there will be A blood trail or not. I try to take shots that will produce instant kills when possible. Blood trails are usually created by bad shots. I've made my share of those so I'm not critizing anyone. I think as A hunter matures he will become more selective with his or her shots and will spend less and less time trailing wounded Deer.
I don't even consider wheather there will be A blood trail or not. I try to take shots that will produce instant kills when possible. Blood trails are usually created by bad shots. I've made my share of those so I'm not critizing anyone. I think as A hunter matures he will become more selective with his or her shots and will spend less and less time trailing wounded Deer.
I agree with the tissue paper trail marker. I use the same method.
I do disagree with the statement " blood trail are usually created by bad shots" This is a little crass to me.
I plan on and take shots at double lung/ heart area. It is a sure fire method to kill every animal on this continent.
"I try to take shots that produce instant kills" Huh? Your success rate of instantly killing game is? If you aim for neck or high shoulder shots every time, you will undoubtably lose more game due to misplaced shots. A good high shoulder shot or neck shot will not guarantee an instant kill either.
The heart/lung area is a bigger target and a sure kill. High shoulder shots have their place. Area, circumstance and quarry determine that.
Furthermore, if you have no patience to wait 15 min.s to trail and harvest your kill, you are in the wrong sport. Slow down and enjoy the experience.
A quality kill shot is dependant on the circumstance and choice in shot is where ethics comes in to play. Anyone who says a heart lung shot is a poor shot is either ignorant or arrogant. Possibly both.
Plus 1 also to the expanding circle while looking for sign.
I do disagree with the statement " blood trail are usually created by bad shots" This is a little crass to me.
I plan on and take shots at double lung/ heart area. It is a sure fire method to kill every animal on this continent.
"I try to take shots that produce instant kills" Huh? Your success rate of instantly killing game is? If you aim for neck or high shoulder shots every time, you will undoubtably lose more game due to misplaced shots. A good high shoulder shot or neck shot will not guarantee an instant kill either.
The heart/lung area is a bigger target and a sure kill. High shoulder shots have their place. Area, circumstance and quarry determine that.
Furthermore, if you have no patience to wait 15 min.s to trail and harvest your kill, you are in the wrong sport. Slow down and enjoy the experience.
A quality kill shot is dependant on the circumstance and choice in shot is where ethics comes in to play. Anyone who says a heart lung shot is a poor shot is either ignorant or arrogant. Possibly both.
Plus 1 also to the expanding circle while looking for sign.
rantingredneck
New member
Being a bowhunter, I've learned to track blood trails. I thought I knew how before I started bowhunting. I really didn't. I've tracked a double lunged deer near 500 yards once. I have no idea how the deer ran that far, but it did. arrow got both lungs and some big vessels. Blood trail was massive in spots, drips in others. Strange things happen.
As deer run their hide moves and sometimes seals off the wound temporarily. As they continue to run the would will open back up and you get a gush.
Persistence on the trail. Must find the deer. Look ahead of you at likely paths the deer would take. Path of least resistance. Get on hands and knees to see trails deer would see that you won't with your eyes six feet off the ground.
Using paper to mark trail is good. If night trailing look into purchasing one of those new blood tracking lights. They work. At least the Gerber Carnivore does. Makes blood almost look 3D.
As to bullets. I've had good results with Corelokts too. Typically 150 grainers. Never had one not exit. They usually leave a nice size exit wound too.
As deer run their hide moves and sometimes seals off the wound temporarily. As they continue to run the would will open back up and you get a gush.
Persistence on the trail. Must find the deer. Look ahead of you at likely paths the deer would take. Path of least resistance. Get on hands and knees to see trails deer would see that you won't with your eyes six feet off the ground.
Using paper to mark trail is good. If night trailing look into purchasing one of those new blood tracking lights. They work. At least the Gerber Carnivore does. Makes blood almost look 3D.
As to bullets. I've had good results with Corelokts too. Typically 150 grainers. Never had one not exit. They usually leave a nice size exit wound too.