The End of the Hunt
Deer hunting will bring about some interesting senses that any hunter may have lost, which is tracking. Of course the native Indians have their own way when it comes to tracking animals, but in short it shouldn't be too complicated. A keen sense of observation is needed in order to track down that deer that has fought to escape until its very last breath.
Blood trails are common, as well as knowing the shape of the hooves and the patters as the deer is already staggering or limping at some point. In this case, it' best to head out in teams, usually pairs or with three people. A leader, usually the most experienced, must be designated and followed with no questions asked. It can't be helped that at the end of the hunt, any hunter would revert back to the usual city slicker selves with small talk. But if they do, just be quiet. A dying animal's wish is to die in piece.
Persistence often reaps rewards when it comes to following blood trails. Even at times when the trail seems to be sporadic is just see if there are things that seem out of place. There's no such thing as an undisturbed rock. Deer are always predictable animals and will do some bizarre things just to get away from the hunter. If you think that some leaves have been trampled on and after following a few more yards the blood trail is back, then the chase continues.
Never giving up is the key term for most successful blood tracking. Since deer have a degree of fat that may cover up the wound to decrease the flow, it doesn't mean it's healed. Any well placed shot will eventually kill the animal given the right time.
Some of the basic ways to know if a deer has crossed the path is to find certain occurrences. On dry ground, it may be hard to know if the wounded deer has treaded on the path, and it will likely head to the closest area where there is vegetation. Think of it as a way for a deer to find its final resting-place to confuse the hunter since the blood trail isn't as long as it would seem.
Keep in mind that the tracker must take note of any disturbances on the ground whether it may deem significant. It may take a few minutes to a couple of hours to perform a tracking, but it will be worth it once the hunter has rationalized himself and though of scenarios on where the wounded buck may be.
