So, you’ve made what you believe is a good, ethical shot on a buck or doe and then you watched it take off through the woods like you have before.

Or maybe it’s your first deer with a bow and you’re so geeked you can’t stand it. Salute! But in either case, getting down from the stand or out of the ground blind and taking off after the deer might not be the best thing to do. Even if you believe you heard it fall, checking the site where the deer was standing when the arrow hit and then deciding what to do could be your best option.

But even blood is not the only sign that indicates where you have hit a deer. When bowhunting, what you find on your arrow often is the best clue to help you decide to begin or delay tracking.

On-the-spot analysis can tell you where your arrow struck and how long to wait.

A pass-through arrow is usually found 2 to 3 feet behind the location where the deer stood when you shot. Arrows that stick in the ground can provide proof that you passed through the heart and lungs, or abdomen. Rib bones typically break easily, but if the arrow hits bone or thick muscle, it could be carried a few yards, or much farther, before breaking off or falling to the ground. 

Arrows should be examined thoroughly before stuffing them back into the quiver. Dark-red blood — and sometimes specks of organ tissue — are found on arrows that passed through the abdomen. You also might detect an odor on the arrow.

If the arrow passed through the boiler room, it will usually be coated with bright-red blood. A damaged arrow or broadhead usually indicates it hit solid muscle or bone.

Tallow is a sticky, milky-white substance that may or may not be present on the arrow. Often, it is found mixed with blood on portions of the arrow shaft or fletching. Alternatively, sometimes only tallow might be present. It is usually spotty and difficult to notice, appearing as only a light glaze. Tallow is often found on arrows that pass through the brisket, located on the bottom of the deer’s chest cavity, or high on the back. An arrow with tallow and little or no blood could indicate a superficial wound. However, always follow up by searching for blood and tracking the deer as far as possible; it is possible for an arrow to wipe almost clean as it exits the deer.