Sportsmen's Nation - For The Die-hard Sportsman

Most hunters underestimate how critical shot placement and tissue damage are—and how they can make the difference between finding your deer or losing it forever. Ricky Loftis (litehounds on Instagram) a renowned deer tracking dog handler with over a decade of experience, pulls back the curtain on the gritty realities of tracking wounded game, revealing surprising insights you'll want to hear before your next hunt. In this episode, Ricky shares how personal hunting failures sparked his passion for tracking, including his eye-opening stories from the legendary King Ranch and firsthand lessons from gut-shot deer that challenged even his expertise. You'll discover the most reliable shot scenarios for recovery—like how shot location, broadhead choice, and angle dramatically impact your chances—and practical tips on managing blood trails, tracking in tough terrain, and recognizing signs that tell you everything about your deer’s condition. We break down specific tactics for hunting scenarios, including how weathe