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You shot your deer, but it took off. Now what? Follow these 10 tracking tips to recover your deer and make your hunt a success.

 

Every deer hunter dreams of the perfect shot-but whether the hit is solid or less than perfect, the work continues after you pull the trigger. Tracking is a skill every hunter must master because recovering your deer is just as important as making the shot.

 

By Bryce M. Towsley

Very rarely do deer "drop in their tracks" at the shot. Once you make your shot, stay focused on the deer noting where it was when you fired and the direction it took off in.

Despite what we may see on television, deer usually do not drop in their tracks at the shot. Sometimes, too, "stuff" happens and the shot is less than perfect. That's when you have to unleash your tracking skills and go find them. Here are 10 tried-and-true tracking tips that have served me well over the years in finding deer after the shot.

What Should You Do First After the Shot?

Tip 1. Stay Focused

After the shot, stay as calm as you can and stay focused on the deer. Watch it as long as you can then listen even longer. Often you will hear the deer long after you can't see it anymore.

Before you leave your stand, pick a clear landmark where you last saw the deer and another where you last heard the deer. Also, pick a landmark noting where the deer was when you shot. Have these landmarks firmly in your mind before you exit your stand. If you have a compass, take a bearing to each of these locations. Snap a few photos with your cell phone or use a small notepad to note the locations or draw yourself a little schematic that shows these three key landmarks.

Before you leave your stand, use your phone to take a photo of where the deer was standing when you shot and the landmark where you last saw the deer before it disappeared.

Go to where you last saw the deer and look for blood and tracks. Remember to look on the bushes as well as on the ground for blood. If you fail to find any, go to spot where you shot the deer and search for blood and/or hair. If you still don't find a blood trail of any kind, go back to your stand and double check to make sure you were looking in the right places.

Next, start where you last saw the deer and walk to the location where you last heard the deer. Watch for blood and other sign along the way. Sometimes it takes a while for the blood trail to start.

How Do Blood Color and Clues Change Your Game Plan?

Tip 2. First Blood

When you find blood, note its location. Is it high up on the bushes and far out from the trail? That might indicate arterial spurting. Does it seem to be in the center of the tracks, even though you took a broadside shot? That might be lung blood leaking out of the nose and mouth. Is the blood in the track? Maybe it's running down the leg.

Is there green gunk on the ground with a little blood? That's a gut shot. Resist the tendency to keep tracking that deer. Leave quietly and come back in the morning, or at least six hours later. A gut shot deer will lie down very quickly and if you leave it alone, it will die in that bed. Usually it will be relatively close to where you shot it. But if you keep pushing and jump the deer, they can turn into the Terminator, unable or unwilling to die and they can run for miles.

When looking for a blood trail, heavy signs higher up on bushes or spurts off the trail may indicate arterial bleeding, which means you should find your deer shortly.

Did you find pieces of bone? Trust me, it's not ribs as so many people think; 95% of the time it is pieces of leg bone. You may get that deer, but it's not going to be easy.

A lot of blood at the start that turns into a few drips and then stops in a ¼ mile or so, is usually a low hit in the brisket. You are in for a long day with that deer.

With a leg or brisket hit, the deer is very mobile and will keep moving if pushed. If you can get some help, it's best to place hunters along the escape routes and hope the deer comes by as you track the blood.

How Should You Mark a Faint Blood Trail?

Tip 3. Mark the Way

If the blood trail is tough to follow, mark the blood you found with toilet paper or torn paper towels, so you can easily find it again. Although many people recommend using flagging material, I don't use it. I know you plan to come back and take it all down, but plans rarely work out. Flagging tape lasts a long time in the woods. Paper towels or toilet paper are biodegradable and will disappear rather quickly.

Often, if you line up several pieces of paper you left hanging on branches you can see a clear direction of travel, which is a good place to continue the search if you have lost the blood and tracks.

Why Stepping Off-Trail Protects Critical Sign

Tip 4. Watch Your Step

Take care to walk to the side of the deer trail. You never want to step on the tracks or the blood. You may think you won't need to come back and find them again, but you will probably be wrong. Leave all the sign untrampled.

What to do When the Blood Trail Disappears?

Tip 5. When the Blood Stops

If you lose the blood trail, make wide sweeping circles that start and end at the last place you found blood. Keep your eyes on the ground and miss nothing. If you fail to find the trail, make a bigger circle. Repeat as necessary.

How a Ground-Level View Reveals Hidden Tracks

Tip 6. Get Low

The recent passing of a deer will scuff up the leaves. Older tracks will settle from time and gravity, but a fresh track will show a bit higher. It's usually not noticeable when standing up, but when you get your eyes to ground level you can often see the trail very clearly.

How to Run a Systematic Grid to Recover Deer?

Tip 7. When All Else Fails

A grid search is just what it sounds like. Divide the land into a giant grid, just like on graph paper. The lines should be close together so that no part of the land is unseen. Walk along these imaginary lines one by one until you find the deer, or some sign of the deer, or have walked the entire grid.

If you simply cannot find a blood trail of any kind, divide the land where you last saw the deer into a grid and walk each grid point until you find the deer or a sign of its trail.

In that case, expand the grid and repeat. Look under every bush and in every brush pile. A mortally wounded deer will often crawl under cover and will die there.

What Lighting Works Best for Night Tracking?

Tip 8. Light the Way

You have no doubt read that when tracking at night, a Coleman lantern, "makes blood glow like neon." The lantern does show blood a bit better than a conventional flashlight, but it's always been a disappointment to me when I have used one. Besides, who has a Coleman lantern in their backpack?

A quality flashlight will show blood like its electrified. It's a good idea to have one in your pocket or backpack when hunting.

Where Would a Wounded Deer Go?

Tip 9. Become the Deer

Walk along while thinking, "If I were a wounded deer, which way would I go?" Just follow your instincts. You may have to return to the last sign and strike out in another direction a few times, but sooner or later the odds are you will find a new spot of blood or identifiable track and you'll be back in the game.

Can Intuition and Terrain Flow Lead You to Your Deer?

Tip 10. Turn Off Your Brain

Another approach is to turn off your brain and just walk. Let the terrain and vegetation guide your feet. Deer and other animals will take the path of least resistance and if you walk in a "Zen" state, going with the flow, you will find you do the same thing.

Once you get in tune with the woods, things like that just happen in the back of your mind. If you try to think about it too much, you screw it up, but if you just let the reptilian part of your brain operate then eons of evolution are suppressed and the caveman in you will come out of hiding and turn you into a creature of the woods, just like the deer. I know this may sound a bit too "new age," but I have found several animals we thought were hopeless using this technique.

How to Read the Land for Deer Hunting in Different Terrains

Tracking with Technology

I used a thermal imaging unit in Zimbabwe a few years ago to watch for lions while the PH and trackers cut up a buffalo I had shot just before dark. Back then they were very expensive. Today, there are several affordable units designed for tracking.

Photograph Courtesy of Leupold® & Stevens, Inc.

I have been using a Leupold LTO Quest. This is their entry-level unit and it has a camera and flashlight built in with the thermal sensor. Leupold claims the LTO Quest can detect heat signatures out to 300 yards. Deer season is closed as I am writing this, so I am finding alternatives to test it with. It easily can find my dogs even when they are out some distance.

I couldn't find a blood donor to help with the test, so I spit on my walkway on a cool night. The unit could easily see it, even after several minutes. This unit is sensitive enough that when I stood on my deck in my socks, the unit could detect my foot prints for several minutes after.

This technology may well be a game changer for tracking and finding wounded deer in the years ahead.

Conclusion

Recovering a deer after the shot isn't just about skill-it's about patience, persistence, and respect for the animal. By staying calm, reading sign carefully, and knowing when to push forward or back out, you dramatically increase your odds of success.

Remember: every track tells a story. Learn to read it, and you'll not only recover more deer but also deepen your connection with the hunt itself.

About the Author

Bryce M. Towsley has been writing about guns for 36 years and has published thousands of articles in most of the major firearms magazines. He has hunted all over the world and is a competition shooter in several disciplines. Towsley has several books available on guns, shooting and hunting as well as an adventure novel, The 14th Reinstated. Signed books are available on his website.

Bryce Towsley

Quick Takeaways: Tracking a Deer After the Shot

Stay calm Read the blood Be patient Follow all sign Stay calm

Mark the exact spot of impact before leaving your stand.

Read the blood

color and consistency reveal where the deer was hit.

Be patient

Rushing can push a wounded deer farther away.

Follow all sign

Tracks, broken brush and scuffed leaves all tell the story.

FAQ: Common Deer Tracking Questions

Even experienced hunters run into tracking challenges after the shot. These quick answers cover the most common questions about when to follow, how to read sign and what to do when the trail goes cold.

How soon should I start tracking after shooting a deer? Expand

This can vary depending on shot placement. If the downed deer is in sight and you are sure you made an accurate heart or lung shot, you can begin your cautious approach shortly after the shot, keeping your eyes on the deer.

If the deer is not in sight, you should wait 30 minutes to an hour before beginning to track.

 

What's the easiest way to find first blood? Expand

Start at the point of impact and look for hair, disturbed soil, or leaves with tiny blood droplets.

What should I do if I lose the blood trail? Expand

Return to the last sign and begin making slow, wide circles until you pick it up again. If needed, switch to a grid search in thick cover.

What's the most common mistake hunters make after the shot? Expand

Pushing too soon. A wounded deer can travel much farther if pressured. Waiting and reading the sign carefully increases recovery success.

Deer Hunting Strategies

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  National Hunting and Fishing Day is this Saturday, September 27, and NSSF, as founder and now a major sponsor, encourages all sportsmen and sportswomen to participate.  

Celebrating National Hunting and Fishing Day!

On the fourth Saturday of every September, NHF Day recognizes generations of sportsmen and women for their contributions to the conservation of our nation’s rich sporting heritage and natural resources. One of the main goals of National Hunting and Fishing Day is to recruit new hunters and anglers by encouraging participation and increasing public awareness of the connection between hunting, angling, and conservation. Through self-imposed fees and excise taxes, sportsmen and women have raised more than $57 billion--that’s more than $100,000 every 30 minutes being raised for conservation. Now in its 52nd year, NHF Day is the largest, most effective grassroots movement ever undertaken to promote outdoor sports and conservation. Launched by Congress in 1971 and heavily promoted by NSSF for decades, NHF Day is now administered by Wonders of Wildlife Museum and has consistently recognized hunters and anglers for their leadership in wildlife and conservation. Find national, state, regional and local organizations hosting related events.  

Get Started

Hunting, Fishing, and Shooting Sports are not just great American pastimes – they are the very foundation that supports the model of wildlife conservation created more than a century ago in this country. By introducing new audiences to these activities, we ensure that wildlife and wild places will be protected for generations to come. Hunting is a useful and beneficial wildlife management tool that ensures and maintains the health and abundance of game species and the balance of our natural resources. There are a number of species, from upland birds to big game animals to hunt. Learn more about these species from game bird and game animal organizations.  

Take the Pledge

Take the pledge and submit a photo of you engaging in outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, or shooting to be entered to win one of 20 Bass Pro Shops gift cards ranging from $50 up to $500!  

Share Your Images

Upload an image of you hunting, fishing or target shooting and tag @NHFday on social media using the hashtag #GuideToOutside or Upload an image to be featured here!

Choosing your first deer rifle can feel overwhelming. With so many calibers, actions, and features available, it's hard to know where to start. The good news? By focusing on a few key decisions, you can find a rifle that fits your needs and builds your confidence in the field.

 

By Phil Massaro

So, you've decided to join the millions who head afield each fall for whitetail deer season-welcome to a time-honored tradition!

If you plan on hunting deer with a rifle, you'll find a wide and varied selection of styles, sizes and applications. You'll want to choose wisely, for this rifle is going to accompany you on some wonderful adventures and will help you make some fantastic memories.

Deer Hunting Regulations: What You Need to Know

Before you head to your local firearms retail store to do some shopping, you'll need to become acquainted with your local game laws, to ensure that the area in which you will be hunting allows the use of a rifle. There are states and counties that prohibit rifles for deer hunting, while others restrict the type of rifle cartridge permitted for hunting deer.

Check Hunting Regulations by State There are plenty of choices among the deer rifles, and the correct choice is a personal one.

How Do You Choose the Right Action for a Deer Rifle?

The first thing to consider in your selection of a deer rifle is the action you prefer. There are four to choose from.

Bolt-Action Rifle
The bolt-action rifle is undoubtedly the most popular choice among today's deer hunters. Using a bolt with locking lugs to secure the breech when the action is closed and ready to fire, a bolt-action rifle is strong enough to handle the most powerful cartridges. Follow-up shots are fast in practiced hands.

A popular example is the Savage Model 110 bolt-action rifle.

Semi-Automatic Rifle
The autoloading, or semi-automatic, rifle is another popular choice, whether in one of the traditional configurations or in a modern sporting rifle (MSR). They offer the advantage of a faster follow-up shot and are usually reserved for shorter cartridges of medium velocity, which are among the most popular for deer hunting.

Learn more about the functionality customizable nature of MSRs.

Lever-Action Rifle
The lever-action rifles that were so popular in the first half of the 20th century still make a great choice for deer season, as they are light, handy and are chambered in cartridges that offer enough energy to effectively kill deer. There are modern variations that are chambered for some of the more powerful cartridges like the .30-'06 Springfield and .270 Winchester, while you'll find traditional models chambered for lower pressure cartridges like the .30-30 Winchester and .35 Remington. In the more traditional chamberings like the latter, effective range is generally less than that of the more powerful cartridges chambered in bolt-action rifles, so these lever-actions remain a favorite with hunters hunting in thick cover and where shots are not long.

A good example is the Winchester Model '94 lever-action rifle.

Single-Shot Action
The last action you have for consideration is the single-shot. While they are often the choice for adults mentoring youth hunters because they break open to easily show an unloaded gun and can, as the name implies, hold only one shot, there are a number of highly accurate, sophisticated single-shot firearms on the market that any adult deer hunter would enjoy. They tend to be lighter in weight than their bolt-action and semi-auto counterparts, making them a great option for still hunters, stalkers and those hiking miles of wilderness. Many offer a switch-barrel option, which means you can fire different cartridges simply by swapping out the barrel, and that provides, essentially, for many guns in one.

A good example is the Ruger No. 1 single-shot rifle.

What Stock Options Work Best for Beginners?

While shopping, you'll find deer rifles outfitted with a variety of stock types. There will be the classic wood stock (usually of walnut), but there are also laminate wood stocks that are both snazzy looking and durable, and many rifles intended to stand up to the rigors of hunting in all the elements wear a synthetic or polymer stock. All make a good choice, so it will come down to your personal preference. Just know that the synthetics will better resist the effects of the elements, but there is something warm and comforting about the feel of a walnut stock, and wood stocks are easier for a gunsmith to alter when it comes to adjusting length for a proper fit. If you like a blend of both ideas, a laminate wood stock makes a great compromise, offering a weather-resistant package yet retaining the feel of natural wood.

I mentioned the fit of a rifle. That's an important consideration in choosing a deer rifle (or any firearm). An ill-fitting rifle will invariably be uncomfortable to shoot-and it can also make shooting unsafe if you can't handle the rifle properly. If the rifle's stock is too long or too short, it will not come up to your shoulder properly, and that can pose a problem if a quick shot presents itself-sometimes one quick opportunity may be all you have at a deer.

Stocks that don't fit can cause poor shooting habits, as the felt recoil can intensify, especially when practicing with the rifle. Any firearms retail store with knowledgeable salespeople will encourage you to shoulder any rifle you're considering to ensure the fit and balance work with your frame. When evaluating fit that way, also keep in mind the weather in your area during deer season, as a heavy hunting coat and layers underneath will absolutely affect the way your rifle fits. Even if you're shopping in summer, bringing along the coat and other upper body layers you might be wearing in November could make the difference in choosing a gun that's a joy to shoot and one that's awkward.

A short-action Savage Model 11, chambered in .308 Winchester and stocked in the LadyHunter configuration with a shorter buttstock, is a perfect choice for women heading to the deer woods.

Do You Need a Scope for Deer Hunting?

Unless your hunting area is thickly wooded and shots will be very close, odds are you'll want to take full advantage of a telescopic sight mounted on top of your rifle. They allow for precise shot placement, and there are models available for all sorts of hunting scenarios and in prices from budget-saver to budget-buster. For your first deer rifle, I'd make sure that your choice can easily accommodate having a scope mounted on it.

Rifle Scope Resources

Mounting a Rifle Scope The Parts of a Rifle Scope The Numbers on Your Scope Rifle Scope Reticle Options A pair of bolt-action rifles, the Winchester Model 70 and Ruger Model 77 MkII, each a great choice for general deer hunting.

Which Caliber Is Best for a First Deer Rifle?

You'll see many different cartridges available among the deer rifles, so many that it can be almost overwhelming. My recommendation for a first deer rifle would be to choose one of the more popular calibers, so that ammunition will be readily available at all times. The classic .30-'06 Springfield, the .308 Winchester, the 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 Winchester and .270 Winchester all make excellent choices for all-around deer hunting, as they are just as effective at longer ranges as they are up-close and personal. For the lever-action, the .30-30, .444 Marlin and even the .45-70 are great choices and should also be readily available at retailers. All are easy enough on the shoulder for a shooter to become proficient, and all are readily available in almost all sporting goods stores that sell ammunition.

There are dozens and dozens and dozens of cartridges out there old, new and in between, and every year a new crop is introduced. Get your first hunts in with a rifle that's easy for you to shoot and chambered in a cartridge that you can find at just about any retail store. Then, once you have that first venison burger or tenderloin wrapped in bacon, I can almost guarantee you'll be hooked on deer hunting and exploring new places to hunt and ways to be more successful. Cartridge choice is one way to improve your success when tailored to the habitat your hunting and how your hunting, so while the get-'em-done cartridges I listed above will indeed get the job done, trying a new cartridge and rifle combination ups the entertainment quotient considerably.

The Winchester Model 94, chambered in .30-30 Winchester, still makes a solid deer rifle, especially in the East where shots tend to be closer in thick forest habitat.

How Much Should You Spend on Your First Deer Rifle?

The cost of a deer rifle can easily range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on your budget and taste. The good news is that many rifles models referred to as "entry-level" are better now than they ever have been. While they may lack some frills, you will find that they are as dependable and accurate as their fancier upgraded versions, able to literally serve for a lifetime of deer hunting. In fact, many times, models in a manufacturer's series lineup will all be the same rifle mechanically, but the upgraded versions will be dressed up with a camo-clad or higher grade wood stock or wear a Cerakote finish on their metal parts. Cosmetics are nice, and some do help ward off wear and tear, but they don't make the gun shoot any better. Perusing the used gun racks of your favorite area retails should also be something to consider. Not only can a great find there net you a bargain, finding them with scopes already mounted is commonplace, and many retailers these days are carefully vetting their used guns before they offer them for sale and offering warranties.

While I have hunted with models up and down the price range, I've noticed that none of the deer I've killed were much concerned with the price tag or pedigree of the rifle I carried. Yes, I do enjoy the finer points of a classic rifle, the upgraded wood, high-polished blue metal, and finely tuned action and trigger, but I'll will readily head to the deer woods with any current production rifle right off the rack-and I won't wince when the stock gets a scratch on it.

Shopping for your deer rifle is one of the best parts of deer hunting. It is one that's a very personal choice, and once you find the one that's you-and you kind of know it when you shoulder it, it's just that kind of feeling-your rifle will invariably become an old friend quickly.

Conclusion: Confidence Over Complexity

Choosing your first deer rifle can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Focus on the fundamentals-action, stock, optics, caliber, and budget-and you'll end up with a rifle that fits you, not just your wallet.

More than the gear itself, what matters most is practice and confidence. The best rifle for you is the one you can shoot comfortably and accurately every time. Pair that rifle with safe handling, plenty of range time, and a respect for the hunt, and you'll be well on your way to building lasting deer hunting memories.

About the Author

Phil Massaro's expertise both with firearm and sentence has quickly given him a hard-earned reputation in the outdoor industry. Hunting in his native New York state since the age of 14, Massaro now travels the world, pursuing everything from the whitetails and black bears of New England to red stag in Scotland, Cape buffalo in Zambia and Mozambique, elephant in Zimbabwe and water buffalo in Australia. His work appears regularly in the NRA's American Hunter and Shooting Illustrated, Gun Digest, Guns & Ammo and Dallas Safari Club's Game Trails Magazine, often accompanied by the photography of his wife, Suzie, also an avid hunter. When not writing or hunting, he works as a professional land surveyor alongside his father, and he also manages to squeeze in time at the reloading bench of Massaro Ballistic Laboratories, the custom ammunition company he founded.

Phil Massaro

Quick Takeaways: Choosing Your First Deer Rifle

Action Stock Optics Caliber Budget Action

Bolt-action rifles are reliable, simple and beginner-friendly.

Stock

Synthetic stocks are durable; wood stocks offer classic feel but need more care.

Optics

A quality scope makes a big difference for accuracy and confidence.

Caliber

.243, .270 and .308 are proven beginner calibers for deer hunting.

Budget

A reliable entry-level rifle costs less than you might think-focus on fit, not flash.

FAQ: Beginner Deer Rifle Questions

Hunters often ask practical questions about adapting their tactics to different landscapes. These answers cover the most common terrain-specific challenges and strategies.

What is the best type of rifle for a beginner deer hunter? Expand

Most new hunters start with a bolt-action rifle. It's dependable, easy to maintain, and widely available in beginner-friendly calibers.

Which caliber should I choose for my first deer rifle? Expand

Popular beginner calibers include .243, .270, and .308. They balance manageable recoil with enough power for ethical deer harvests.

Do I really need a scope as a beginner? Expand

Yes. A good entry-level scope improves accuracy and builds confidence. Even a basic 3-9x scope can make a big difference for new hunters.

How much should I spend on my first deer rifle? Expand

You don't need the most expensive rifle to be successful. Many reliable models fall between $400-$700. Prioritize fit, comfort, and dependability.

Should I buy new or used for my first rifle? Expand

Both options can work. A new rifle ensures warranty and reliability, while a used rifle may save money if purchased from a trusted source.

Deer Hunting Strategies

Deer Hunting 101
Online Course

The Official NDA Deer Hunting Course will teach you where to hunt, deer hunting tips and strategies, the best rifle for hunting deer, and much more.

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Smoked Venison Meatloaf Recipe

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Read more

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