Nebraskaland

November 2022 • Nebraskaland 53 animal will usually, but not always, take the path of least resistance until it reaches an area where it feels safe, such as thick cover or a bedding area. That means they will usually travel downhill, avoiding steep creek crossings or jumping fences if they can. Often, the easiest way for an animal to travel is on an existing game trail. There is an art to tracking and like anything else, you get better at it with practice. If all else fails, and you think there is a danger of spoilage, gather as many people as you can and do a grid search of the area. Ask the neighbors if you can search their property. See if there is someone in your area with a blood tracking dog. The most important thing is to do everything you can to recover the animal. Don't give up. The last thing to consider is when you do fi nd the downed animal, always approach carefully, ideally with the wind in your face and from a position where the animal cannot see you. If an animal is on a steep hill, approach from below because if it is still alive and tries to fl ee, going uphill is much harder and will give you a better chance at a follow- up shot. Get close enough to make sure the animal has expired before you let your guard down. Exceptions to the Rule Everything in hunting is situational, and tracking is no diff erent. There are several situations where you might have to disregard the wait times mentioned previously. If I make a shot in the evening, that will require tracking in the dark. I might check the forecast to make sure there is no chance of snow or rain and wait until the next morning for better light. Of course, if it's hot or I'm hunting in an area with lots of coyotes, I stick to my regular wait times and proceed as usual in the dark. There are also times when it's more ethical to start tracking right away because you are losing the opportunity to fi nd the animal, like when it's raining or snowing. While it's usually best to wait, there are no clear-cut rules to every situation. If you have to push a tracking job, it's best to have two people: one person looking for sign and the hunter looking ahead for the animal and at the ready to make a follow- up shot. Treat tracking as if you are hunting — be quiet and move slowly. Of course, the best thing you can do to guarantee the recovery of an animal is to practice your shooting, know your limitations and only take high- percentage shots. Do everything in your power to make a clean, ethical kill. Still, there are times when things go wrong. Bad shots happen. Sometimes, animals jump the string or turn suddenly just as you are pulling the trigger. Both arrows and bullets can defl ect off branches. When that happens, remember these tips to increase your chances of fi nding game. It all comes down to the time you wait, how much eff ort you put into fi nding sign, and how you interpret what you fi nd. N Ryan Sparks is a writer and photographer originally from Cass County. To see more of his work visit sparksryan.com. Sometimes, blood trails — even after a well-placed shot — are hard to come by. The next step is to locate trails for clues. JENNY NGUYEN-WHEATLEY, NEBRASKALAND

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