rookelkhunter it all depends upon the weather as to what the timeline is, if it is warm, like over 50 and I can get it home, hung and gutted in 20 minutes I will, now if it was in the 60' s or 70' s I would field dress it on the spot. If it is 40 or below I will let them go as long as 45 minutes.

I have been lucky and never gutshot a deer, but if I did, it would be field dressed ASAP no matter what the temp.