I was backpacking around East Chinook Pass a couple miles from Highway 410 up a trail on Union Creek around 4400ft when I saw a blood trail for about 40 yards. I was walking up hill and I noticed what I thought were small deer tracks. I thought to myself this deer jumped because the toe was deep and not showing in the rear of the print. I lost the track not paying much attention as there were a lot of tracks everywhere you walked in the 25 mile backpack. Then I notice fresh blood spatters on the ground on the lower Vanilla Leaf. It was not dry when I poked it with a stick and it was red. I followed it for 40 yards and some drops were waist high on Huckleberry all on the left of the trail. At one stump you could sit on if you pushed up on your tip toes were many puddles. The blood went off uphill towards the top of a forested ridge. Or down I’m not positive. I saw no sign of a struggle. Do you think a busted antler? I may have seen 9 ounces of blood. There was a lot. I even got some on my leg. I also thought maybe cougar putting a small deer up on the waist high stump for a better grip. How long does it take blood to dry at 70 degrees, 45 minutes in the shade? I’m not good at tracking yet. What do you make of this? :-?
Curious,
Frontiersman