worried about yotes/bear getting to a deer over night

[regulat0r]

in my 4 years of hunting, i have had most of my success both harvesting and seeing deer during my evening sits. i am definitely becoming more obsessed with bowhunting and am trying to focus all of my energy to it. i worry though about shooting a deer before dark and having him run. i always think you should wait quite a while after the shot to start recovery. it hasnt happened yet but i would feel terrible if i wasnt able to find my deer and then find him the next morning after he was located by the scavengers. besides the obvious***make a good shot*** is there any way to prevent this. i wouldnt want to track a deer and jump him in the dark and totally loose him. any ideas?

[fishtaconc]

Other than passing on a deer, there isnt much you can do about it that I know of. Sorry I couldnt be more help.

[PREDATE]

set-up camp for some all night Yote' huntin'. LoL! but if you listen to where the deer went then check your arrow to confirm a lethal kill shot, you might be okay to pursue the deer. 98% of the deer that I've arrowed have not went more that 30 yards. A good hunter will consider ethics before a harvest as you have done, so I think YOUR best judgement will give you the final answer. Good Hunting!!!

[UPHunter08]

Really focus on shot placement, and they shouldn't run far. You shouldn't have to wait that long to go get them (the bears and yotes won't be on it that fast). I used to really worry about tracking them over great distances too, but have learned that if you hit them in the right spot (we all try for that anyway, right?) it's usually not much of an issue. In other words, if you're that worried about them running far, avoid high angle shots and stick with broadsides at a range you're confident of hitting them within an inch or two of your aiming point and you'll be fine.

[mitchmtm1]

If you leave deer on the ground one will eventually get chewed on. It's not just wolves, coyote, and bear but also foxes, opossum, and skunks all will eat a free meal if they get the chance. They just won't eat as much.


Last year I arrowed a doe about an hour before dark. Waited 30 minutes to get down and check the arrow. Good blood so I backed out and took the bow back to the car and got ready for the drag. I found the deer in a thicket 40 yards from the arrow 1 hour after the shot and something had already been chewing on the rear end. It happens.


Mitch

[YooperMike]

No way to prevent that from happening, other than making a good shot that ensures a speedy recovery of the deer. Last year, in Decemeber, I arrowed a doe at ~2:30 in the afternoon and when I went to recover her at dark, one hind quarter was alredy destroyed. Just luck of the draw that time that yotes were nearby. A good shot is about your only solution, and seeing the deer go down. After that, it's pretty much anyone's guess.

[PY Antlers]

It will happen, not a big deal thou. Or are you asking because your affraid of finding the deer and the scavengers are still there looking at you walking up? : )