The Biggest Blood Trailing Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)
Even the most experienced hunters can make mistakes in blood trailing! Trust me, when you’re in the field, the smallest slip-up can turn a successful hunt into a lost opportunity. Here are the top mistakes hunters make and the Indigenous wisdom that can guide us in the right direction! 1. Rushing the Process The Mistake: You’ve taken the shot, adrenaline’s pumping, and you can’t wait to find your game. So, you charge ahead, eager to see the result. Big mistake. When you move too quickly, you miss critical signs along the trail. Indigenous Wisdom: Patience is key! Indigenous hunters would sit and wait, sometimes for up to 30 minutes, to allow the animal to settle. By waiting, they gave the animal time to rest and reduce the risk of pushing it further away. They knew that moving too fast could spoil their only chance at recovery. Pro Tip: After taking a shot, wait at least 20–30 minutes before starting your trail. Use this time to center yourself, mentally prepare, and visualize the trail ahead. 2. Ignoring Subtle Signs The Mistake: Blood trailing is often associated only with blood. Hunters forget to look for other important clues like crushed leaves, disturbed dirt, broken twigs, or tracks that tell a larger story. Indigenous Wisdom: Indigenous hunters were masters of reading the land. They could interpret the smallest details: a crushed blade of grass, a subtle drag mark, or even the direction of an overturned leaf. Blood is one sign, but the entire environment can reveal an animal’s movement and condition. Pro Tip: Don’t just follow the blood, but pay attention to every mark, footprint, and broken branch. The more observant you are, the better your tracking will be. 3. Not Marking Your Trail The Mistake: Hunters often get so focused on finding the next drop of blood that they forget where they’ve already been. Losing your place can make it easy to go in circles or lose the trail altogether. Indigenous Wisdom: Many Indigenous trackers used natural markers like stones, leaves, sticks to remember their path. This technique helped them retrace their steps if needed and stay on course without disturbing the natural environment.