I' m from NY also, and have never heard of such a law on pursuing your wounded anmal at night w/o a weapon capable of killing a deer. I' ve tracked deer at night, and the whole situation all depends on the elements. If its warm you' d better take your chances, and not wait until morning. A friend of mine did this last fall. Hit a doe, couldn' t find her. Went back next morning, found her easily, and it was spoiled. Was in 50' s over night! Wish he had called me too, the dope. Another time,evening hunt I hit a branch I didn' t see, and arrow went through the paunch. I left the deer, planning on coming back in the morning. I caught the weather forecast, and was calling for heavy rains in early morning hrs. I called my brother. He met me at midnight. We found the deer around 3am. Unfortunately so had the coyotes alreadly, and they' d gutted the deer plus partially eatten a hind quarter. Deer was still fairly warm. So coyotes become another concern, but thats a chance we all have to take. I did read an article once of a gut shot deer, a archer decided to leave until morning. But he later decided to just sit in the last blood marked spot later in the night. He listened for coyotes howling, and followed them to the area, and recovered his deer. Lucky, maybe. But might be worth a try!!!!!