RE: How many seconds?
 

I vote for #2

The best shot IMO is to take both lungs. If this is accomplished It could go between #1 and #2. I'd say average is 15 to 20 seconds until I hear the deer pile up. In a couple of instances I can think of it was actually quicker than that.

RE: How many seconds?
 

I don't think there are any hard and fast rules, however on the other hand it doesn't hurt to speak in generalities either. Normally after the shot I will take a peek at my watch to see the time and note the seconds. If the deer is within eyesight and he is still standing after 30-45 seconds I get nervous.

I recall one buck that went down dead from a lung and heart hit at 10 yards. He went perhaps another 10 yards after the shot, leaned against a tree and slid to the ground and expired in what I would consider less than 10 seconds although admittedly I didn't time it because it happened so fast. Another was shot through both lungs at about 25 yards, took a couple of bounds and ended up on the ground seven steps from the base of my tree. Although unlike the previous buck mentioned, it probably took him 45 seconds or so to actually expire.

On the flip side on more than one occasion, with a double lung hit, where the deer may have gone down within view, I could still see and/or hear, labored breathing after four minutes or more. Autopsy showed these hits to also be double lung hits.

RE: How many seconds?
 

I guess my estimation of time would be until I hear the deer pile up. I can't cay the deer expired within that time frame but they sure weren't moveing.