In my areas, if I had to leave the trail of a severely wounded deer that would die thru the night, by the time I returned in the early AM there would not be enough meat left to be concerned about.

My primary area is smack in the middle of 2 different coyote pack territories.

I have helped track wounded deer late into the night for others. If night falls, I stay with the track until dawn, and relief comes. In fact, I have picked up the trail in the dark by hearing the hunting yelp of the ' yotes.

Last season, I had a pack on my heels as I was in between them and a deer I was tracking for a couple of idiots.