First would like to say hello. I have been reading posts for a while and finally had to join!
Last Friday I setup a stand in a creek bottom where I have seen deer
traveling through. It is a great funnel. Normally I wait to hunt a stand for about a week but next morning drove out,wind was right so I decided to hunt it anyway.
Got in stand about 545 and sunrise was about 7. Wind was whipping pretty good after daybreak but staying in my favor. About 9:00 I was just about to get down and saw movement. 3 does coming my way from about 125 yard away. They browsed right to me and came exactly where I thought they might when I hung the stand. At this point I am trying to decide if I am going to try and harvest one or not because my wife is expecting me home soon. I tell myself if I get a perfect look I will take the shot.
Well they come right under me. The lead doe either smells me or my trail into my stand as she is right on it. She stomps a couple of times and then trots back the way she came. Right in front of me 15 yds perfectly broadside. I draw and shoot. Watched them all bound into woods
across clearing about 100 yds away. The doe I shot does not act like she has been hit good. Start to second guess. I get down and sure enough the front 1/3 of arrow has green muck back 2/3 covered in blood. Sick feeling in my stomach I go back to my truck.
I waited for about 2 hours and went to look. Jumped her about 150 yds from where I shot her. She jumped a fence and bounded out of sight about 75 yds up over a hill. I decided I had better back off. Its now around 11:45 and have a work related BBQ to be at around 4:00 that afternoon and will not be able to return till morning if i wait.
By the way she bounded off, decided that I better wait. Temp around 70 that afternoon, upper 40's that night.
Went back at sunrise next morning. Topped hill where I had last seen her running, went about 120 yds and there she layed on her side. My shot was back but I caught the liver. Glad I found her but have been second guessing my decision to wait till morning ever since.
Would you have waited or tried to track more that day?