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How long to wait to recover a deer

C

Clay Showalter

Southern member northern landowner
6,834
155
Guilford County
I was taught when bow hunting to wait an hour after shooting a deer before tracking and recovering it.

Does the same apply to gun junting? I am curious, I know of guy who shot a deer this year, it went down, he went towards it right away, and the deer jumped up and ran off, never to be found.

Just wondering what your thoughts and opinions are.
 
Sgt Fury

Sgt Fury

Sgt. Spellchecker
24,434
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Southern NJ/Vinton county Ohio
When using archery gear, I let the visual point of impact along with the deers reaction give me clues to the hit. I’ll watch for as long as I can see the deer and will mentally mark the last spot seen. After five minutes I’ll get my gear together and exit the stand. Then I’ll inspect the arrow for more clues. The blood trail can tell you a lot also. Bright red, dark red, bubbles or watery, guts or stomach contents on the ground? Sometimes I’ll back out and other times I’ll take up the trail immediately.
Gun hunting I also look at the visual clues but almost always will take up the trail immediately. Most deer hit right with a gun will seldom go more than 100 yards…if they do, I’ll back out and go back with some friends in a couple of hours, but I’ve never had to do that. Almost every deer I’ve shot with a gun I was able to watch them drop after a short run…if they run at all.
 
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Tipmoose

Tipmoose

Well-Known Member
Supporting Member
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Grove City
The deer you describe that dropped only to jump up and run was likely hit high above the lungs but below the spine. The shock to his spine caused him to drop only to jump up and run once his legs started working again.

With a gun, I generally know where my bullet went and I will track accordingly. Any good lung shot, or even a lung and liver shot I will go after as soon as I can gather up my things and listen for any crashing. Gut shot...I'll go off to dinner or lunch and come back in 3-4 hrs.
 
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Shoot-straight

Shoot-straight

Member
293
37
Ohio
Definitely depends on shot placement. Growing up (mostly gun hunting) my dad always waited 30 minutes and then we got after it. My
personal preference with a bow is to wait an hour even if I know it was a great shot. Obviously if I hit back I try to wait longer. Up to 12 hours if I can. With a gun I don’t wait long. If it wasn’t a good shot I like to catch up with them and finish the the deed. Also speaking to the deer that drops and then takes off, my grandpa always told me to not quit shooting at a buck until it stops moving. Of course this was his rule after he had a good buck jump up and take off after a high hit.
 
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Big_Holla

Big_Holla

Senior Member
27,098
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S.E. MI to reside & S.E. OH to LIVE!
Just depends on the shot and what the deer did after. Growing up (bowhunting) I was told if I didn't see the deer go down to always wait a half hour before even looking for the arrow/initial signs of the hit. The theory was the last place I could still see the deer could be where it has stopped and was standing there or bedded and if you go out too early they could spot you and then the track could be much longer. Plus it gave me time to settle down and gain my composure. As I grew as a hunter and more people wrote about the subject you then added how the deer reacted til the last place you saw it to determine what kind of hit you may have gotten.

Gun hunting I was always told if you knock it down be prepared to make a second shot. Had to on a giant bodied 6 point I killed in the UP one year. Shot him with my 30/06 and he went down like a sack of flour. A few minutes later next thing I know he starts moving his head and sure enough he starts getting back up, second shot anchored him for good. When Jenna killed that buck last year he dropped straight down, ass first and didn't move. I was in a panic to get that muzzleloader re-loaded as I have heard the horror stories over the years and knew what might happen. Hell I'm lucky I didn't blow us up with the black powder spilling some and the heater going! But he never moved after and was dead as a doornail. She definitely learned though in my panic and us talking more about it after.

As far as quality of hits with a bow or gun I have been paying more attention to these dog tracking pages on FB and seeing their recommendations based on what the hunter says and what they find. Some trackers spend the time educating people and even post up pics or video of what they have before they track. Time is the best thing, if it is dead it will still be dead hours later. Only problem might be coyotes these days.
 
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whitetailjunky3

whitetailjunky3

Junior Member
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With bow I always wait an hour at minimum before I get out of stand heard to many horror stories. I then check arrow and blood trail from point of impact and make a decision from there. I’ve always watched them drop with gun but still approach ready to shoot.
 
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at1010

at1010

*Supporting Member*
5,262
159
Shooting a deer with a bow - after the shot is like an FBI detective examing every detail and clue before deciding on the next steps/wait time.
Shooting a deer with a gun - like a SWAT team member kicking in the door to make sure the job is finished.

If I shoot a deer with a gun and watch him/her drop - I am racking another one and putting the scope on it again, ready to shoot again. Likely approaching quickly with my gun on the animal. The only way I wouldn't do this, is if I intentionally shot a deer high in the shoulder to "break them down" and they dropped on the spot. I would still rack another and watch them through the scope. I like to shoot deer in the ribs with a gun or bow and I don't try to shoulder shoot them just because I could with a 450, just my opinion.
 
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Hedgelj

Hedgelj

Senior Member
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Mohicanish
I'm going to beat the dead horse some more. ESPECIALLY after what happened to my son and I during youth season. He shot and it dropped and I watched it drop and kick a couple of times and then stop in my binos. Mom called and I told her to come out and get ready to celebrate. Then as we were exiting the blind it got up and stumble/crashed partially down the hill. Then considering his inexperience (and my inexperience in guiding/teaching) it ended up moving further through the patch of woods we were in and I backed us out for almost an hour to give it time. We finally put it down almost 3 hours later.

I've yet to shoot at a deer with my crossbow so all my experience is with slugs/straightwalls/muzzleloaders. If it doesn't drop right away I watch to see its reaction and what it does. Generally I have always started after it unless I knew it was poor shot placement and then I would give it time to do its thing. Even if it doesn't die, the loss of adrenaline and blood loss will decrease its vitality to hopefully allow it to make another mistake to allow for me to finish it off.
 
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P8riot

P8riot

Active Member
951
39
Carbon, In
bowhunter1023 said:
I wait long enough be confident I've heard all I can hear, then I gather my gear and get after it. It's definitely not an apples to apples comparison. It's two different takes on "bleeding out" between broadheads and bullets.
Click to expand...
This! Listen! Best tool you have after shooting. Direction, speed, lack of noise, thrashing around, etc. Then walk to look for blood and the tracking begins.

Edit
Whoa. Brought this back from the dead. Nevermind!
 
"J"

"J"

Git Off My Lawn
Supporting Member
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North Carolina
P8riot said:
This! Listen! Best tool you have after shooting. Direction, speed, lack of noise, thrashing around, etc. Then walk to look for blood and the tracking begins.

Edit
Whoa. Brought this back from the dead. Nevermind!
Click to expand...
IMG_0389.jpeg
 
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