RE: What would you do?
I would definitely watch and wait. When the opportunity was there, I would retrieve my bow and check it for any damage. If I was convinced that it was OK, I would trail that deer, for a short time anyway, if I was sure that he was not spooked and was only on his daily routine. By doing that, I could determine why he was in the area in the first place and where he was headed. Like most bow hunters, I usually hunt from my treestand, but tracking a nice buck that I have just seen can be a very exciting experience. I would continue my tracking until I was sure there was no chance in ever getting a good shot at that deer. It may take just a few minutes or much longer. I know most bow hunters are usually high above the forest floor, but some are very suucessful while hunting from the ground.