RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

Agreed

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

I agree VA.....there is no "right" answer......but we're always (it seems, as a community) quick to tell someone to wait......even knowing the meat will be spoiled.

I don't think this is figured into the equation, every time.

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

If the buck is down, by god I'm gonna go get him.;) Now if I know its a marginal shot and I didn't see the buck go down..... then I would wait. :D

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

I wonder if GregH will chime in he let his deer sit for 24 hrs. He said he thought the deer expired around midnight on a day when day-time temps were mid 60's. Some of the hindquarter was takes by coyote's.

Greg was the rest of the meat salvage-able? If he did die at night probably so.

BUT as a caveat the deer was right where he expected him. Did it die sooner? Was a quiet track and follow-up possible?
I would never second guess himas his record speaks for itself. But with the advantage (now) of hindsight would you have done anything different?

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

If you fear of jumping him, the meat will be fine, because he is still alive. If you are not sure, then its a guessing game. 6 to one half a dozen to another. I would tend to wait as long as you can stand. Here in Texas, we have to make that decison all the time. 90 degrees temps is pretty much the norm in these parts at the first of the season.

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

I think it's been pounded into us (at least me) that it is always the right thing to let the deer lay if you don't know exactly how well of a hit it was. Also, its lOCATION. I'm from Minnesota and USUALLY during bowhunting season it is okay to let a deer lay for a longer amount of time becuase normally,HIGH temps aren't much of an issue. But now that global warmi...well never mind that[8D]

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

I believe there is a degree of hope involved in either scenerio.

Personally, I'd rather hope that the meat is not spoiled when I recover the deer.

High temperatures will not make the deer expire any faster so I will not get on the deer any quicker.

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

bob....you're assuming you might not recover it if you don't wait. Fair enough....but you also might. Waiting until you KNOW the meat is spoiled isn't acceptable to some.

You have to see that this is a double-edged sword, buddy.

I'm not advocating getting on the trail too quickly. I hope no one misconstrues this. I'm simply posing a question. It seems like we're always telling people to "wait" at all costs.....even KNOWING we'll lose the meat.

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

That is correct. As I said, temperatures orany whether condition (including rain, snow, etc)is not a determinant factor inthe time needed to wait. The only determinant factor to me is shot placement and identification (which is also usually a judgement call ;)).

RE: What's the "right" decision?
 

Throw in to the equation the coyote factor,or wolf or mountain lion depending upon where you are from.I am hesitant to say it,but I will,I have never not recovered an animal I have shot.My second bow kill many years ago,I shot the deer through the liver at just about last shooting light.I waited an hour (Self taught,didn't know any better,didn't know exactly where I hit it until I recovered it.Jumped it upon trailing it,and I backed right out so not to push it.Came back at first light the next morning and found it 150 or so yards away.Coyotes had decimated it.I was sick.Temperatures were not a concern,it was plenty cold.I know they are predators also,it just isn't the way I want to see an animal I kill be consumed.