Advice on locating game after the kill

[del2les]

They are absolutly illegal to have. The SD GFP specifically marks it in their hand book that you are not allowed to be in possession on this type of optic (handheld and firearm mounted alike) while hunting. It is not illegal for me to own in my state but it is illegal to have with me while hunting

After kill locators are legal in many states, but if yours is not, then use the other techniques. "Optic" would be the questionable word, as these are not optics, but I would place a call to GFP for clarification.

 

[SavageHunter11]

After kill locators are legal in many states, but if yours is not, then use the other techniques. "Optic" would be the questionable word, as these are not optics, but I would place a call to GFP for clarification.

I have (many times) and there is no budging. Essentially what I was told is individuals would "hunt" coyotes the night before (we can hunt coyote 24/7-365) opening deer season and just transition to deer that morning and they would miraculously be on top of a nice bedded buck. So the GFP blanket banned all of it because a few people had to be greedy.

 

[del2les]

I have (many times) and there is no budging. Essentially what I was told is individuals would "hunt" coyotes the night before (we can hunt coyote 24/7-365) opening deer season and just transition to deer that morning and they would miraculously be on top of a nice bedded buck. So the GFP blanket banned all of it because a few people had to be greedy.

There seems to be possible confusion at GFP, as these heat finders are not optics of any kind. They are simple hand held heat locators that detect changes in temp between ambient, usually to 1 degree. They are not thermal sights as used by many for coyote or hog hunting. But, maybe your state is not aware or simply does not want them used. There are other ways to locate game as stated prior. Thanks

https://wisementrading.com/hunting/game_finder.htm
https://www.huntingshootingcampingsupplies.com/aimshot-heatseeker.html

 

[SavageHunter11]

There seems to be possible confusion at GFP, as these heat finders are not optics of any kind. They are simple hand held heat locators that detect changes in temp between ambient, usually to 1 degree. They are not thermal sights as used by many for coyote or hog hunting. But, maybe your state is not aware or simply does not want them used. There are other ways to locate game as stated prior. Thanks

https://wisementrading.com/hunting/game_finder.htm
https://www.huntingshootingcampingsupplies.com/aimshot-heatseeker.html

I'm not brave enough to risk it. If you're caught with it GFp confiscates you gun, gear, and tags and most definitly will lose at least a year (if not 5) of hunting privileges. And as my license plates mark me as "from the big city" I get checked about twice a year...it's not worth the risk.

 

[del2les]

I'm not brave enough to risk it. If you're caught with it GFp confiscates you gun, gear, and tags and most definitly will lose at least a year (if not 5) of hunting privileges. And as my license plates mark me as "from the big city" I get checked about twice a year...it's not worth the risk.

I hear you, and I have an email out to GFP with a couple of these device webpages and descriptions of use. So, I am curious how they respond.
Until then, maybe use the compass, marker and reverse azimuth technique or some other idea, as I am sure someone has a good one.

 

[Orange Dust]

I just range the animal before I shoot it, go out there after the shot and range back to where I shot from. Pretty easy to start out really close to where he was standing. Makes it pretty easy to find blood if he runs off.

 

[kiwikid]

My approach is similar to what Orange Dust wrote. I range the animal and shoot but before I leave my shooting position I mark it with toilet paper. Normally there is something there that I can wrap paper around like a rock, tree or tall grass. White toilet paper stands out well and gives you something to range back to from where you think your deer is.

 

[hseII]

So hunting season is almost here (for me at least) and I'm hoping to get some advice on an issue that's plague me since I started hunting big game. When the time comes for the shot, I get so focused on the reticle and the animal in front of me that from the time I pull the trigger to when I pull the rifle down then animal has disappeared. Last year I searched two hours for the buck I dropped dead to rights in a patch I was certain I dropped him on only to find him 60 yards further away. I am so focused at the time of the shot on doing everything else right that my brain refuses to remember just exactly where the animal is (and I range and dial/holdover for all my shots too and this somehow keeps happening). Going into my 6th year of whitetail and this has happened on 3 of the 4 deer I've shot. Hoping to find a tip to have this not happen again. I always seem to misjudge about 50 yards to where the deer was standing. Any help would be appreciated.

I started shooting a Browning A-Bolt II in 270 Winchester. I fed it 140 grain Accubonds & stopped having to look for deer.

They just quit moving after they was shot? IDK

When you shoot can you get back on target & watch them a moment?

YMMV

 

[Greyfox]

For the long shots with no obvious reference points, I do a few things, many which have been mentioned in previous posts.
-Make every effort to enable spotting the hit, and observing the animals reaction and direction if it runs at the shot. This includes minimal necessary scope magnification, muzzle break, good stock fit and enough rifle weight to minimize flip..
-Note the range of the shot.
-After the shot, maintain sight acquisition on the last spot you saw the animal.
-I carry a small compass that I will place in top of the turret, and take an azimuth sighting down the rifle barrel.
-Mark my shooting location with red tape, or another visible marker.
-Follow the azimuth while pacing off the yardage, finally using the rangefinder to confirm the distance. Properly done, it works well.
I learned this the "hard way".

 

[Plinker147]

There are some GPS solutions where you can measure out from your point and drop a pin. Compass and a rangefinder work well if you leave something/someone at the shooting position.

I do this with Onyx. I drop a mark as close as I can get to where i think animal dropped. I'm usually crossing big canyons and it takes an hour or more to get a cross. This has work very good for me. But there is better reference in canyons than flat land.

On flat land I would get my line, then use a range finder back to where you shot to get the distance correct.

 

[hseII]

Take a compass azimuth from your location to the impact area. Before leaving your shooting location, mark the spot with bright surveyors tape. I use bright orange. If in grassland, you can carry a thin collapsible tent pole, old fishing pole, etc to extend your marker above the grass. If possible, take a range before leaving. Once enroute to the area, take a back azimuth as you go to stay on line.
We used this technique in the military for land nav, and we were able to locate small objects hundreds and thousands of yards away. If the animal has moved from the impact locale, begin a 50 meter back and forth zig-zag off the center line and only extend the distance as far as you can see the ground in the grass.

Also, there are varied thermal game locators you can buy from several sports stores and online.

This is probably more useable advice than what I posted.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Easier to show in pictures.

OnX maps.
Mark your shooting location.
You already know the yardage, since you lasered and dialed for your game.
Break out the compass and get an azimuth.
Measure your yardage and azimuth on OnX and drop a pin.

Zooming in, you can see terrain landmarks. In this case, small yuccas.

Go to your pin. Granted, in this terrain, finding the pronghorn was super easy! But it works for elk and deer in the mountains too.
See the yuccas?

 

[SavageHunter11]

Easier to show in pictures.

OnX maps.
Mark your shooting location.
You already know the yardage, since you lasered and dialed for your game.
Break out the compass and get an azimuth.
Measure your yardage and azimuth on OnX and drop a pin.
View attachment 152528
Zooming in, you can see terrain landmarks. In this case, small yuccas.
View attachment 152529
Go to your pin. Granted, in this terrain, finding the pronghorn was super easy! But it works for elk and deer in the mountains too.
See the yuccas?
View attachment 152530
View attachment 152531

Solid advice sir. I always carry a compass (just incase) and now I have a purpose for it. That landscape looks pretty similar to what I hunt so you know what I deal with when I say featureless landscape.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Put us within 20' of this elk.

As you can see, didn't look anything like the OnX overhead. Just used azimuth and yardage to place the pin.

Where the shot was taken