I know this will come across as common knowledge that�s been discussed before by most folks�..but after being out on a good number of tracks now this year, I don�t think I�ve been on a single one that�s had toilet paper marking the blood trail they�ve found. I know how easy it is to assume that you�re going to find your deer after the shot. The track I went on yesterday had a big puddle of blood at the initial hit site and it would have been really easy to assume that you would blood trail that deer with no problem and quickly find it. However, very often that�s not the case. Even in situations where the deer is eventually found through blood trailing, sometimes it requires a pretty up close search on hands and knees.

My advice for everyone, new hunter and old, is to take some toilet paper with you each time you go out. Even if it�s just a wad you put in your pocket. When you get down from your stand and start to blood trail your deer, make it a habit to pull out that wad of toilet paper and hold it in your hand as you track. Mark the first blood well�..the last blood well�..and leave a bread crumb trail ever few yards as you track. This will really help you out when the blood runs out and the sure find becomes a lost deer. Its really hard for someone to track a deer in the dark and then be able to locate the same specific spots in the woods the next morning during the daytime. If you have to call a dog in�or even if you have to go back later on and search again yourself�..marking these important locations with toilet paper will really help make the tracking job easier.

Carry on��..

And once it rains it'll wash the toilet paper away

Used it alot tracking deer.

Good advice. I have almost always used TP to mark where I find blood. Sometimes it makes it easier to see a path the deer is taking.

Never thought about using toilet paper. I always carry orange flagging & drop a piece on the the ground or flag a tree/bush by blood to follow trail. Orange flagging is more visible which is why I use it. It will disappear after several months.

I thought thats what everybody did

I always take TP with me too. Only difference is, if you see where I have marked, you might not want to send you dog over there. It ain't a pile of blood.

I always have TP with me, but for other reasons! Good tip.

Good point. Last time I tracked a deer I used small pieces of red border tape and when I was done, I had to go along the route and pick it all up ... that was a pain

I have always carried a roll of survey tape in blaze orange with me. I use to use toilet paper til rain washed it away one night before we could resume tracking the next morning.

I guess I've been lucky. I've always been able to go back to the same spot without any artificial markers.

I have used toilet paper as long as I can remember unless I had a MOMENT before I had to start tracking.

But at night time, I have started to use the small climp on reflectors and they work great. Especially when you are looking back from the trail and try to establish a path that he may have gone. Then you just pick them up on your way out. I keep about 30 of them in my fannie pack.

I try to keep 3 folded Bounty paper towels, you can use them for anything and they are more durable than skid paper. On marking blood I tear them in thin strips and just tear off a little bit.

I just use my GPS or the apps on my phone to mark waypoints or leave breadcrumb trails where I have been

TP is a must. I also carry a few glow sticks in my pack, I hang one high at first blood and the every so often between the TP, helps a lot.

I've done this before, but I like using a fitness app on my phone that is meant to track people's morning jogs...just press start and it starts drawing a line on the map of where you go.

I use my phone to mark the trail now but I used to use pieces of clothing like my hat then a glove then another glove, etc.

Shot a big deer in Wyoming one time and was down to my long johns! Never did find that deer.

I've never wiped my rear with surveyors tape so TP gets my vote. Dual purpose.

I like that.

Few months? Hell I've seen flagging that's every bit of 8 years old..