Understanding the Challenge
The air hangs crisp and still, the scent of damp earth and pine needles a comforting backdrop to the adrenaline surging through your veins. You’ve waited patiently, the morning sun casting long shadows across the forest floor. Then, a magnificent buck steps into your shooting lane, its muscles rippling beneath its tawny coat. You draw back your bow, anchor, and squeeze the release. The arrow flies, and you watch with bated breath… but instead of a perfect double-lung shot, you see the arrow impact the deer’s shoulder. The buck whirls and disappears into the thicket. What now? Dealing with a shot deer in shoulder with a bow is a challenging scenario, demanding quick thinking, careful assessment, and a strong understanding of what to do next. This article will guide you through the necessary steps, from initial assessment to tracking and ethical considerations.
Understanding a shoulder shot requires a cold dose of reality. While not always a death sentence, a shoulder shot presents a significantly more difficult situation than a well-placed shot through the vitals. The shoulder is a complex structure, designed for powerful movement and also for protection. It comprises dense bone (the scapula and humerus), thick muscles, and vital blood vessels. Successfully harvesting the deer depends on how you react in the situation.
Assessing the Impact
When your arrow connects with the shoulder, the potential for various outcomes is immediately present. The arrow could break a bone, sever a major artery, or simply become deflected. The severity of the wound will dictate the animal’s behavior and the likelihood of a successful recovery. Recognizing the potential, however, is only the first step.
Immediately after the shot, observe the deer’s reaction. Did it bolt and run full speed? Did it hunch up, showing signs of distress? Did it react differently? Was it limping, or appear as though it would not leave? Note the direction it takes and the speed at which it moves. This initial assessment offers clues about the severity of the injury.
Now, examine the area where the deer stood when you shot. Your goal is to analyze the blood sign. Blood can tell a story, even though you might not know what it says.
Analyzing Blood Sign
The color and texture of the blood are critical indicators. Bright red, frothy blood often suggests a lung hit, which, while not ideal in a shoulder shot scenario, still offers a chance. Dark red blood is more indicative of muscle damage, which can still be a kill shot, but is less likely.
The amount of blood is another important factor. A heavy blood trail indicates significant damage, potentially to major arteries. A sparse blood trail, even if it’s bright red, could mean a clean pass-through, or a wound that is not actively bleeding. A lack of blood altogether could mean a non-lethal hit, a deflected arrow, or the arrow only grazed the animal.
Also, make note of the appearance and behavior of the arrow. Was the arrow lying nearby? What did it look like? Does it show a decent amount of blood? This can help inform where the arrow entered the deer.
Your arrow itself, and the broadhead you use, also play a significant role. A properly placed broadhead, designed for deep penetration, may still penetrate far enough into the chest cavity to inflict a fatal wound, even if it hits the shoulder. Poorly designed broadheads, or those with dull blades, are more likely to deflect or fail to penetrate deeply, resulting in a less than ideal situation. Your broadhead choice, when bowhunting, should reflect the type of game you are hunting.
With this basic understanding in place, it’s time to make some critical decisions before moving on.
Tracking the Wounded Deer
Before you even consider tracking, be patient. Allow the deer time to bed down. Depending on the severity of the shot, this waiting period can range from a few minutes to several hours. It’s always best to err on the side of caution. Prematurely pushing the deer can cause it to run further and may worsen the wound, making recovery more difficult, and even increasing the potential for suffering.
When you are ready to track, begin at the point of impact, or where the deer stood when you shot. The blood sign you noted earlier will now become your primary guide. Mark the spots where you find blood with flagging tape or other markers. These markers will help you stay on the trail and keep track of the deer’s movements.
Following the Trail
Carefully follow the blood trail. If it’s heavy and consistent, your task is simpler. If it is sparse or nonexistent, you will have to rely on other signs: tracks, broken branches, disturbed vegetation, or perhaps a bed site where the deer may have rested.
Examine the direction the deer was moving. Try to predict where it might be headed. Deer often travel towards areas where they feel safe. This might be a thicket, a water source, or familiar bedding grounds.
Be mindful of weather conditions. Rain can wash away blood trails, making tracking far more difficult. Consider the time of day, and how quickly the sun is setting. If the tracking job is not going to be finished quickly, it may be necessary to back out and return in the morning when you can see better and have more time.
In difficult tracking situations, it can be wise to enlist the help of a trained tracking dog, where legal. These dogs are specifically trained to follow blood trails and can greatly increase your chances of recovery.
Ethical Considerations
Tracking a deer shot in the shoulder is not just about following a blood trail; it also involves ethical considerations and making difficult decisions. As hunters, we have a responsibility to act ethically and to minimize the suffering of the animals we pursue.
The first question you must ask yourself is: is this deer likely to survive? If the deer is moving strongly, showing no signs of a fatal wound, and the blood trail is minimal, the chances of recovery may be slim. In this case, it may be wise to back out and give the deer more time.
If the deer is moving slowly or is showing signs of distress, and the blood trail is substantial, then continuing your pursuit is more justifiable. However, you must still proceed with caution.
Recovery and Meat Preservation
Even if you recover the deer, and are able to harvest it, the work isn’t over. You must be prepared to properly care for the carcass and salvage the meat.
Field Dressing and Processing
If you locate the deer, field dress it immediately. This involves removing the internal organs to prevent spoilage. Be sure to check the extent of the damage to the shoulder area. If the shoulder is badly damaged, some of the meat may need to be trimmed away.
After field dressing, consider the best way to transport the carcass. Getting the deer out of the woods as quickly as possible is key to preserving the meat.
Remember, the meat from a deer shot in the shoulder may be damaged. The shoulder muscles may be bruised or torn. Use your best judgment when butchering the deer, trimming away any damaged areas.
Depending on the damage, you may choose to grind the meat, make stew meat, or use it for other recipes. The important thing is to use as much of the deer as possible, and to respect the animal.
Preventing Shoulder Shots
The ultimate goal is to prevent shoulder shots in the first place. There are several steps you can take to improve your shot placement and reduce the risk of this scenario occurring.
Improving Your Accuracy
Practice is paramount. Consistent practice at various distances and shooting angles is critical. Know your bow intimately. Practice with the equipment and broadheads you’ll be using during the season.
Shot placement is key. Understand the vital areas of a deer (heart, lungs, liver) and aim for those areas. Focus on making a clean, ethical shot every time. Avoid taking low-percentage shots, such as shots at very long distances or through thick brush.
Know your limits. Only take shots within your comfortable effective range. Be honest with yourself about your abilities. If you are not confident in the shot, don’t take it.
Consider your equipment. Use broadheads designed for good penetration. Ensure your bow is properly tuned. Choose arrows that are the correct spine and weight for your setup. All of these factors will play a role in shot placement.
Conclusion
Dealing with a shot deer in shoulder with a bow is a difficult and often heart-wrenching situation, but by understanding the anatomy, assessing the wound, tracking the deer ethically, and taking the necessary steps for meat preservation, you can still achieve a positive outcome.
Remember the importance of patience, observation, and ethical hunting practices. Your actions in the moments after the shot are critical.
The most important thing, in any hunting situation, is to respect the animal and take every opportunity to make a clean, humane harvest. Every successful hunt starts with planning and preparation, and ends with the ethical execution of the shot.
By taking precautions and understanding what to do, you can take responsibility when dealing with a shot deer in shoulder with a bow. And by taking the time to understand the impact of a shoulder shot and taking the proper steps for tracking, you will be ready, should you ever face this difficult situation. By understanding the basics, you can be prepared, even in the less-than-ideal scenario.
