For me there is no set time I should wait till I start tracking my deer. There are far too many variables to consider and each time is different. I put a good shot on a doe last year right at sundown, I thought she would dropbut she didn't go down within sight. I wasconfident in my shot andstarted out after her in only 30min.

I did this for two reasons....One, my arrow very foamy and bubbly with lots of blood, I knew it was a double lung hit. Two, I had seen lots of coyote activity in this spot while scouting.

Sure enough when I got to my deer (about 60yds from where I shot her) she already had her tail bit off! I had got there just in time. I could hear the coyotes howling andrunning around 35-40yds awayin the pitch black of night while I field dressed her, they were not happy.

It all ended up good because I got my deer and the coyotes gotto snack on the organs.

If it had been a different situation where there were no coyotes in the area I would have waited as least an hour even though I was confident I'd put a good hit on her.