Tips for marking a shot location in heavy woodland cover that all looks the same…

[FISH BOY]

So, shot a young doe this morning at 80 yards in heavy cover - shot was clear. Took me about 15 minutes to find as it was deep in cover.

Marked a tree, but due to the high brambles, going in a straight line was not possible. Meandering down some deer paths and over some lower vegetation in the general direction I actually lost the marked tree - it was slightly further than I thought but I eventually stumbled onto her in tiny clearing pocket.

Thermal showed nothing until literally on top of her - had the dog in the truck, but don’t take him out in this wood as the brambles are evil.

Anyhoo - just wondered how others mark shot deer in cover when the surroundings all pretty much look the same and you can’t get a straight line to it.

Any tricks that I am missing?

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Hi viz pink forestry tape, the only colour that is completely 100% unnatural. You’ll see a mile off. Used to use it all the time and tracking with a dog

 

[Tim.243]

So, shot a young doe this morning at 80 yards in heavy cover - shot was clear. Took me about 15 minutes to find as it was deep in cover.

Marked a tree, but due to the high brambles, going in a straight line was not possible. Meandering down some deer paths and over some lower vegetation in the general direction I actually lost the marked tree - it was slightly further than I thought but I eventually stumbled onto her in tiny clearing pocket.

Thermal showed nothing until literally on top of her - had the dog in the truck, but don’t take him out in this wood as the brambles are evil.

Anyhoo - just wondered how others mark shot deer in cover when the surroundings all pretty much look the same and you can’t get a straight line to it.

Any tricks that I am missing?


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Pink reflective tape or a bit of red/white barrier tape in a plastic bag so it does not unroll like the Andrex loo roll advert

 

[Tim.243]

Hi viz pink forestry tape, the only colour that is completely 100% unnatural. You’ll see a mile off. Used to use it all the time and tracking with a dog

that's my bit lee

 

[FISH BOY]

Hi viz pink forestry tape, the only colour that is completely 100% unnatural. You’ll see a mile off. Used to use it all the time and tracking with a dog

Thanks and sorry if not clear, but my question is in regards to marking and finding it before being able to pink tape it.

Im a fair way from the truck, so carry/stalk with a compact roe sack to extract.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Thanks, but my question is in regards to marking and finding it before being able to pink tape it.

Im a fair way from the truck, so carry a compact roe sack to extract.

Mark the shot site with tape, I know your distance that you took the shot at, then pace your way too it, it’s a simple as that really.

 

[Tim.243]

Thanks, but my question is in regards to marking and finding it before being able to pink tape it.

Im a fair way from the truck, so carry a compact roe sack to extract.

take your sticks and poke the tape up high above the vegetation

 

[knight82]

Same as yourself I shoot in woodland with thick cover where a straight line to the animal just ain’t possible.
I mentally note any distinguishing features on trees, posts etc near to or on the shot site. Worst case take a photo from the position you shot to be able to refer back to it when you think you’re roughly in the right spot.
Would be worth marking the point at where you’ve shot from so if you need to deploy the dog then at least you’ve got your starting point.
Interested to hear other tips on this though as locating in thick cover can be hard work !

 

[FISH BOY]

Mark the shot site with tape, I know your distance that you took the shot at, then pace your way too it, it’s a simple as that really.

Got you now about marking the shot site rather than the shot deer. Generally I know where I am.

The pacing out is the issue as I’m not really prepared to go through 10meters of meter high brambles.

 

[WalkedUp]

Whenever I’m marking anything the key parts are: marking your initial vantage point/shot site. Marking “the line” through a mental picture to a distinguishing feature in the background or foreground, or making a mark. Then marking the approximate distance, this is harder to explain but is either a specific feature (change of colour, log or bump, etc) on the line, or distance is marked by drawing an intersection in your mind from two features at a line perpendicular to “the line”. I’ve never used tape but it is a good idea.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Got you now about marking the shot site rather than the shot deer. Generally I know where I am.

The pacing out is the issue as I’m not really prepared to go through 10meters of meter high brambles.

Man up and best foot forwards better that than loosing your way

 

[foxinmad]

Do you use a rangefinder, thermal or binos? You said 80 yard shot.
As said above, mark a tree with visible tape from where you have taken the shot, work your way out and range back to the marked tree.

 

[JT308win]

Having the dog with you is hard to beat in thick cover like that!

 

[NullMac]

Thats what the dog is for

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Do you use a rangefinder, thermal or binos? You said 80 yard shot.
As said above, mark a tree with visible tape from where you have taken the shot, work your way out and range back to the marked tree.

Thermal is shite in heavy cover

 

[FISH BOY]

Do you use a rangefinder, thermal or binos? You said 80 yard shot.
As said above, mark a tree with visible tape from where you have taken the shot, work your way out and range back to the marked tree.

Only use a rangefinder on open ground.

Having the dog with you is hard to beat in thick cover like that!

Totally, but taken him in there before - he spent the next two days licking his scrapes and chewing his legs getting the thorns out.

 

[mark2853118]

Saw Reflective Pins on a trip to Texas in Bass Pro and may be useful particularly as the light faded to pick up in torch light, but quite small. You could use them on trees to make trail out of the wood to get the recovery equipment. What Three Words is another option as quite accurate.

 

[Norfolk Deer Search]

Only use a rangefinder on open ground.



Totally, but taken him in there before - he spent the next two days licking his scrapes and chewing his legs getting the thorns out.

That’s working dog ownership for you, part and parcel

 

[JT308win]

Is he a young dog? If so he will likely learn to slow down and pick his way through brambles better with time

 

[Tim.243]

That’s working dog ownership for you, part and parcel

Yes....
Come Rain, Blow or Snow let the Spaniel off and he will go.........