The next thing to do is to mark the place where the deerwas standing when it was hit. This can be done in a numberof ways; there may be a very tall tree, a dead chestnut, or aclump of pines—any of which can be spotted as a marker. Or,one can hang up his red cap or tie a handkerchief to a limb.
If the animal has been hard hit, there will be blood; moreblood than if the victim had been hit by a bullet. There will,also, be tracks and disturbances on the forest floor. One greatwoodsman has said that no animal, the size of a deer, can travelthrough the forest without leaving evidence of its passing. Thewell trained eye can detect a disturbance of the leaves where afoot has tread, though there are no tracks. There will bebroken spider webs; there will be misplaced leaves on thebrush where the animal has ruffled them; then, there will beblood. Blood signs can tell a story. If smears appear on leavesabout two feet from the ground, it is evident that the deer isbleeding from a wound in the chest or abdomen; if the bloodseems to be frothy and sprayed on the leaves, it is evident thatthe deer has a lung shot, that arteries have been severed, andthat the animal is spraying the blood through the nose; ifthere are blotches of dark blood on the bushes and on theground, the deer has probably been hit near the liver; if thereare smears of bright colored blood, it indicates a hit in theheart region.
