Tracking a doe
 

So I shot a doe tonight. Looked like a good hit. She ran off about 15 yards. Seemed to stumble a bit and then walked off out of sight. I was hunting in a blind on my property. I waited about a half hour and then retrieved my arrow and then went back inside my house. Arrow was covered in blood with a few white hairs on it. I assume that means somewhat of a low hit. I wait another hour and it's dark.

I go back out find blood (bright red). Blood is not sprays, but seemed to a good trail. Anyway, I started to trespass on my neighbor's property and didn't want to keep going that way, so I went around with the flashlight to a spot I know deer go to lay down. Sure enough I see bright eyes staring right at me about 20 yards away. A deer was lying down looking right at me.

I moved in a little closer to see if that was my deer. The deer let me get up to about 10 yards away and then jumped up and ran a bit. Didn't sound like it ran very far. I went up to the spot I saw the deer lying down and see some pools of blood. At that point I backed out and just slowly got out of the woods.

Question. is the best move to go back a couple hours later or wait overnight?

Thanks

if she is bleeding heavily a few more hours should allow time for her to expire. if the temps are going to be warm in your area I would go back out tonight, if they are going to be in the 30's or even low 40's you should be good till the morning.

good luck,

Thanks. Temps are in high 30's tonight, so I agree that waiting until morning is the best move. I would love to go back out tonight, but if I jumped her again I wouldn't sleep a wink.

I found her. I shot her back in a quartering to me shot. Hit one lung and came out the guts. What a relief.

Congrats on the persistence to keep looking and on the find!

Thanks! I appreciate it

Way to go!

You did everything right...and were rewarded for it. Congrats.