I wanted to talk a little bit about some of the things to do and look for after the shot. After you have made the best ethical shot possible on a whitetail, the first thing I think about is shot placement. Was it a little back... maybe a little low? What was the whitetail's reaction post impact? If the buck goes down in sight then your hunt is all but over short of putting the tag on him. If the buck runs off where you couldn't see or hear him fall and your not sure of the shot, that's when things get a little tricky. If your not sure about the shot then it's best to wait rather than taking the chance of jumping him up. First thing I do is locate my arrow and look at the blood sign on the shaft, vanes, and the beginning of the blood trail. If you have a lot of bubbles it's a lung shot. If it's dark red it's a liver and or gut shot. You mainly want to go with your gut feeling on what to do. I always try and remember through all the adrenaline and excitement that the hard part is over. All I have to do now is wait and hope the following day, if the weather allows, I can put my hands on my prize.
