Color blind hunters

[Smawgunner]

Man, I'm so damn color blind it's not funny. I just started bow hunting this year and had a nice shot on buck but I think I must have missed. No leg kick out....just ran about 150 feet, slowed down and disappeared over a hill. I tried like hell to find any blood but no luck. With my 45-70, they don't make it more than 50 feet so it's no problem. I'm thinking of carrying a white T shirt with me to drag on the ground to pick up a trail. Any other tips from color blind hunters? I got so frustrated, I'm thinking of giving up bow hunting. I don't want to leave an animal to waste.
Also, even for non color blind guys...when it's raining...or wet..are you still able to track?

 

[Sgt Fury]

Try putting hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle...it should make the blood bubble and you may be able to see that better. Tracking in rain can be done but it is tough....heavy rain and your blood trail will wash away...light rain will give you more time. Good luck.

 

[Jackalope]

There are a couple people here that deal with this. @Fluteman I know he won't take a shot unless he's absolutely sure of it. He also likes to spit on leaves and rub them between his fingers when blood trailing.

 

[giles]

Get a buddy! Get a blood trailing dog. Don’t give up!

 

[cspot]

I agree with what Giles posted. Did you find the arrow? That usually has evidence to at least know if you hit it or not.

 

[Blan37]

You ever hear of EnChroma glasses? They aren't cheap but it looks like they work and are not a gimmick. I like watching the reactions of people who can see color for the first time. Here's one - there are lots of videos like it:

 

[giles]

You could also just make a post on TOO and I’m sure someone close by would come lend a hand. Joe’s post reminded me of that happening before. I think you’d be surprised how willing this group is to help out.

 

[Blan37]

You could also just make a post on TOO and I’m sure someone close by would come lend a hand. Joe’s post reminded me of that happening before. I think you’d be surprised how willing this group is to help out.

Yes indeed!

 

[Bowkills]

I guy across the mile calls me every deer that doesn't drop in sight. It's amazing what he can't see. He was in awe when I pointed out a huge blow out of blood. He said it just looks like wet leaves. He wouldn't notice any if he was standing in it. He walks behind while I and other neighborhood hunters trail his deer. Don't be shy ask for help! if most colorblind folks are anything like my neighbor, it's near the difference of dog and no dog.....youll grid search before blood trailing sometimes even starts....good luck!

 

[Smawgunner]

I guy across the mile calls me every deer that doesn't drop in sight. It's amazing what he can't see. He was in awe when I pointed out a huge blow out of blood. He said it just looks like wet leaves. He wouldn't notice any if he was standing in it. He walks behind while I and other neighborhood hunters trail his deer. Don't be shy ask for help! if most colorblind folks are anything like my neighbor, it's near the difference of dog and no dog.....youll grid search before blood trailing sometimes even starts....good luck!

I know! I called a guy down the road to look for a doe I blew out last year with my Marlin....blood was on the side of a tree..everywhere,...I couldn't see a damn thing. He was dumbfounded. Two weeks ago was the hunt I was talking about and I took the shot about an hour before sunset. I don't get cell service where I'm at and the high that day was 88 degrees. Not sure if that meat would have kept over night...ugh. Didn't find the arrow either.

 

[Lundy]

I am partially color blind, reds greens and browns all look the same and I learned to deal with it while deer hunting. I've had to ask for help a few times to recover deer over the years but not often. You learn to adapt and track deer by every sign available not just blood, It slows you way down on a blood trail which is good thing in my mind. You only choose extremely high probability shots, you don't bow hunt ( or least you don't shoot)in the rain or take a shot when rain is imminent within a couple of hrs. You hate the leaf color change of the maples leaves in the fall. You sometimes wear brown camo when you should wear green, you love high grass and little saplings that the shot deer traveled through, you hate a deer that left on a deer trail littered with tracks. You hate that the sunrise just doesn't look as magnificent as you know it is and you love that no matter how colorblind you are that when you see that big white belly it is a reward well earned.

I talked with a researcher at a university 25 years ago at that was involved in a study of how your other senses are utilized when one is diminished. She stated that the ability to distinguish shapes and irregular features in pictures, painting and landscapes was enhanced by people with color vision impairment. I do know I have always been very fortunate with my eyesight to see deer when those standing beside me just can't see them.

I dealt with it my entire life and haven't known anything thing else, I really don't feel my hunting was handicapped by it.

 

[Smawgunner]

You learn to adapt and track deer by every sign available not just blood, It slows you way down on a blood trail which is good thing in my mind.

I'm all ears, any tips about other methods of tracking other than to watch and pay attention to the exact location it was shot and last seen?

 

[Lundy]

You just are looking for anything that allows you to follow the path the deer has taken. Blood above ground on grass, saplings, twigs is much easier to see that on the ground., Broken twigs on trees, tracks, leaves disturbed, Which way did the deer leave and why, where is it going? A deer shot when nearing its end will OFTEN make a hard turn shortly before the end. Countless times a deer after being shot running straight down a deer trail for 40-50 yds only to turn off into a clump of cover or ditch in the last few yards to living. That is where you would believe they just quit bleeding when in fact you missed the hard change of direction.

Also, if extremely disciplined about shot selection and execution the recovery is almost a given. The deer is dead normally withing 100 yds of you and you know what direction it initially took flight. It really shouldn't be all that tough to find the deer, color blind or not.

 

[motorbreaker]

I have the same problem but never hunt unless I have someone who can help me track. It is a very aggravating thing imo.

 

[5Cent]

Youre not alone. Quite a few of us on here actually. I'm screwed across the whole spectrum. I grew up under both of my uncle's guidance and both of them are colorblind too (grandma is the carrier).

I learned patience on shot selection and my main go-to for tracking is use wetness/luster vs dry leaves. Therefore I rarely hunt when rain is in the forecast unless I have a gun. Once it's dried, I'm using trail/grid search if I can't get some help from a no colorblind friend lol.

It does suck but the joy of bow hunting out-weighs not doing it at all. I know plenty of non-colorblind hunters that have lost deer too. Don't beat yourself up too bad if it happens and you did everything you could to find it.

 

[Fluteman]

SLOW DOWN. Look for signs other than blood. Get down low, look for turned over leaves, broken saplings, deer trails. You don't have to find a lot of blood to find a dead deer. If you understand the lay of the land, use that to your advantage as well. Most important, try not to disturb the leaves too much when your tracking. If you lose blood, you've gotta look for other sign, and if you've destoryed that sign, then your shit outta luck.

And have friends that are good trackers. That's your best bet! LOL

 

[Boarhead]

Having good friends always works for me.Lol
I have the red/ green color blindness..really hard for me to see the blood in daylight but at night with a good flashlight not as bad as long as they are spilling buckets. Lol
Yellow and blue stand out to me really well but red,greens and browns i'm screwed. Lol
So my best answer is have some friends on standby or dont be afraid to ask someone for help if you are far from home.

 

[Bowkills]

I was called Saturday am by my colorblind friend. We had tracked a forward shot buck (not knowing) two hrs after the shot. Great blood trail. As we were walking I had him try to point out blood. he could only find water on leaves. I'm guessing we bumped the deer fairly early in the track. A clotted up mess in its bed. Anyways he had to put another arrow in him at the end.

 

[5Cent]

Congrats on the recovery and thanks for helping out another vision impaired hunter lol.

To the OP, you r not alone. Get out and enjoy yourself!

 

["J"]

Way too help out a buddy... Kudos too you....