6.5 creedmoor blood trail

[Blacklab1]

Best reply in the thread. If the op isn't willing to learn tracking and doesn't want to perform at least a cursory review post shot to ascertain likelihood of a lethal shot or non Lethal shot than op shouldn't be shooting game that close to dark. Learn a basic protocol like marking a flag where the shot was taken and where the hit occurred. Learn to make mental notes after a shot like which way did it run. Bring a headlamp with you. Bring some food and water with you. Get to work systematically locating tracks and marking them. Investigate if blood is left on the brush. With lung hits often there will be small globules of blood and lung on the brush. Also sounds like a different bullet should be used. Too many guys using price to select ammo. It may be that the bullet did what it was designed for though, but still up to OP to decide if that works or not for his needs. I grew up shooting deer in northern MN with .308 win and 180 grain soft points. Sometimes the damage was immense and those deer would run up to 70-80 yards and we had found them next to rock ledges and under fallen trees. Even when they couldn't run they could still crawl apparently. This was in wolf country. Hunting is an big adventure and I wish guys were more willing to embrace the entire spectrum. Were it me I would chose a different bullet

Thanks for your reply but I don't remember asking for advice on tracking game. I've shot hundreds of whitetail in my days and I honestly don't remember the last time I didn't recover one. When I shot this particular deer there was around a dozen or so standing on the edge of thick brush and when I shot they all scattered to hell and back disappearing into the cover. With all the existing tracks in the snow and the scattering of the deer, following one specific set of tracks with no blood would've nearly impossible if not completely impossible. I've blood trailed in the dark in thick cover before and through the course of my life I've learned a few things……what takes 4 hours of tracking in the dark takes 1 hour of tracking in the daylight. The temperature was in the low teens, coyotes in the area are minimal and she held just fine overnight. She's quartered out in my cooler and will be in my freezer soon.

I sit in my stand all day, I always have food, water, excellent Flashlight, ribbons for marking and buy whatever ammo the gun prefers regardless of price. This particular gun shot Winchester the best pushing a tad over 1/2 MOA which I think is pretty good for factory loads so that's what I used. Since it has the name whitetail on the box I assumed that it would work fine for whitetails, I guess that's on me though for assuming, I'll know better next time.

 

[Blacklab1]

I don't believe it was mentioned here, but having your scope on the right power (assuming you're using a scope with an adjustable power). Usually it's lower than you think you need. Having the scope at a lower power/higher field of view allows for a better "wobble zone," allows you to spot your shot when you miss, acquire the target initially and reacquire after shots…and lastly, but important for this thread, you can see where the animal goes post shot to start your tracking process (if needed).

Thanks for the advice, I shoot in matches and I'm constantly practicing so my wobble zone is pretty small and I know the importance of spotting hits and quick, accurate follow up shots. Unfortunately sometimes when you're hunting in thick cover with shooting lanes not even Lee Harvey Oswald could get off a follow up shot before they disappear.

 

[Mtn Dawg]

Thanks for your reply but I don't remember asking for advice on tracking game. I've shot hundreds of whitetail in my days and I honestly don't remember the last time I didn't recover one. When I shot this particular deer there was around a dozen or so standing on the edge of thick brush and when I shot they all scattered to hell and back disappearing into the cover. With all the existing tracks in the snow and the scattering of the deer, following one specific set of tracks with no blood would've nearly impossible if not completely impossible. I've blood trailed in the dark in thick cover before and through the course of my life I've learned a few things……what takes 4 hours of tracking in the dark takes 1 hour of tracking in the daylight. The temperature was in the low teens, coyotes in the area are minimal and she held just fine overnight. She's quartered out in my cooler and will be in my freezer soon.

I sit in my stand all day, I always have food, water, excellent Flashlight, ribbons for marking and buy whatever ammo the gun prefers regardless of price. This particular gun shot Winchester the best pushing a tad over 1/2 MOA which I think is pretty good for factory loads so that's what I used. Since it has the name whitetail on the box I assumed that it would work fine for whitetails, I guess that's on me though for assuming, I'll know better next time.

Re reading your post it sounds like the bullet performed fine but not the DRT hoped for in the situation. It didn't include any details you just shared with us in this post. That would have been helpful to know. Sounds like you handled the situation the way you needed to. Sorry for the presumption of your expertise or lack thereof. When a guy says things like it got dark and I started to get nervous, it belies inexperience and indecision. It's also true that writing short paragraphs about an experience doesn't always include all the details. Maybe next time go make your recovery and then report to us what YOU think of the bullet performance and see if it lines up with our experiences. Wouldn't invite pointless replies like my original.