Hit/lost bull

[Flatlander3]

If he was bleeding out on level ground, that tells me the shot was low enough to bleeding out. I've had animals not bleeding out until the body cavity fill with blood up to the hole. If he stopped bleeding right when he went up hill, that tells me the shot it not far back and the hole is more forward, thus more in the boiler room. The blood on the ground can tell you alot. Post a couple pictures, but if he was bleeding constantly for 250 yards, not a speck here a speck there, I'd keep looking. Dark blood could mean liver, lighter blood lungs, heart.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Most of the tracking problems I’ve helped resolve occurr when folks stop tracking when the blood stops and start grid searching. Some one mentioned getting on your hands and knees, absolutely. You’re running out of time if he’s down. Go back to the last blood. Go inch by inch looking at the brush along side his last direction of travel. Heavy blood may indeed be pooling inside given the direction change but he still has a wound, still has blood on his hide. It’s amazing where they can hide when they go down. I’ve seen elk go 250 yards with their heart shot out of them, start staggering in a circle and go down under a windfall where it’s unlikely they would have been found if we hadn’t seen the animal drop. Nothing worse than going into the same area next year and walking up on some bones.
Good luck hope you find him.

 

[338win]

Someone will find a cool deadhead next fall

 

[Hammsolo]

I’d really be back tracking in my head and finding all the learning I can. It’s tough, but necessary. We’ve all been there.

One of the tough lessons I’ve learned is to slow down. Let the bull chill. Move slow, be meticulous, and have a plan.

I stalked past my first bull 30 years ago multiple times searching for him after a poor hit. I was 15 and amped… Once I knew that wasn’t going to work I grid searched loudly. He spooked and stood up at 10 yards. I dumped him. He was mortally wounded and went back to his calf strategy.