A buddy and I were talking about how long a deer would be good if it took a while to find. If it was a day or more in sun freezing temperatures do you think the deer is still any good ?
How long will a deer last
- Thread starter Clay Showalter
- Start date
Sgt Fury
Sgt. Spellchecker
I’d say shot through the lungs and below freezing temps, you’d have nothing to worry about for a day. Any longer than that or if gut shot, I’d be cautious. I think the hams and possibly the loins could last a couple days. Once gutted, it could hang for a week in the shade.
Years (like over 20) ago when i was hunting with the group of drive hunters my Dad hunted with we had this happen. Muzzleloader season and someone shot a deer and we tracked it but didn't find it. It snowed that night, below freezing, etc. The next day we pushed the property again and my brother spotted it on our way in to the standers spots. The location was correct based upon the previous day shooter location and tracking.
After the drive, one of the guys pondered if it was still good. Everyone who was downwind when he started to open it up for field dressing almost lost their lunch. The smell remained in his knife until he washed it that evening.
I don't recall that it was gut shot; but it may not have been ideal shot placement either.
After the drive, one of the guys pondered if it was still good. Everyone who was downwind when he started to open it up for field dressing almost lost their lunch. The smell remained in his knife until he washed it that evening.
I don't recall that it was gut shot; but it may not have been ideal shot placement either.
the ground temperature is just as important, perhaps more so, than the ambient air temperature. If the ground is not very cold or frozen but the air is below freezing you likely won't have 24 hours. This is a real concern in late October or early November when the air is getting cold but the ground is still pretty warm. This time of year the ground is usually frozen or very close to it.
In much of Ohio, the weather is the least of our worries when looking for a dead deer. The coyotes find them in a few hours sometimes.
In much of Ohio, the weather is the least of our worries when looking for a dead deer. The coyotes find them in a few hours sometimes.
bigten05
*Supporting Member*
should be fine as long as you get it washed out good when you get it home, there will be a little smell and might loose the loins, as long as it isnt turning green id say your good.
Bluefinn
Member
Years ago a buddy arrowed a buck at last light. No arrow & no blood. It was low 30's overnight so in the morning we found the arrow 50 yards back, covered in blood. Still no blood trail though. We luckily found it another 100 yards back. Arrow went in behind the shoulder & came out through the hind quarter. Never bled a drop. It smelled awful. When he gutted it , it was full of warm blood. He wanted it so we got it home & hosed it out & hung it. He wanted the rack & tagged it but the meat was ruined. I cut the backstraps out & they smelled fine . They didn't have contact with the body cavity & were fine. I've always heard as long as it's cold enough they will be fine, this one wasn't.
Because the animal didn't get cold. Probably lived alot longer than you think.
Correct.
There is no right answer for this question. Every situation is different and so many things play key rolls that it just can't be a blanket answer.
My deer in kansas this year sat overnight and the coyotes got to him, so I ended up with two shanks, front shoulder that was on the ground and the neck. Everything else was demolished or had touched a dogs mouth. Cold temps overnight, close to freezing I believe, just under or just over, no smell to the meat and he lived for a while after the shot as I hit one lung and seemingly some artery. Crazy blood trail and actually watched him barely jump a fence chasing the hot doe who happened to be the reason I got on him, that was 45 mins after the shot. So his blood was pumping but my shot, I believe, didn’t puncture stomach or intestine. Everything is still whole and bone in, so I will update the thread if I find it somehow is spoiled. Here is the condition be was in, hinds, backstraps, inner loins and guts were munched up. Front shoulder facing sky was 25% gone as they had their snouts up under the hide pulling at it when I got in eye shot. Took the shank only from that leg
this was blood for250 yards
this was blood for250 yards