rtread,
After you have lost a deer of two you'll 'learn' the art of patience.

As a ICU Cardiac Tech and RN Student I can tell you that death by hemorrhage takes time. Only when major arteries are severed would the animal bleed out quickly. If only veins are cut it will be slower. Now imagine if fat, muscle, organs, tissue, etc.occludes the artery or vein closed and you have a situation where death may be longer. Now a wound to a non-vital organ (liver, gut) will certainly take much longer than if it were the heart, lungs, brain, or spine.

Its a issue of anatomy and understanding how an arrow kills. Remember, in the deer's world time means nothing. It is in OUR world that we are so concerned with time - or lack of it. In their world they have nothing but time. They have no place they need to be at any particular time. their lives are not governed by a clock as ours is.

Gut shot can take up to 24 hrs to kill an animal until severe dehydration or sepsis sets in. Just thin of what you do when you have a bad stomach ache or feel ill - you go lay down and rest and you don't wanna move. Same for the animal. They are not sure just what is happening but they do know they don't feel well. To continue to keep pushing a deer in this state is foolish and the deer can travel - albeit pressured - for miles.

You need to read John Trout Jr.'s book...

Hope this helps...