How many seconds?
 

Okay i tried to get this as an poll but can't remember how do to it so i'll just to it this way. How many seconds does it take usually for an deer to finally die after an successful shot to its vital organs? (for example, heart and longs)

1. 5-10+
2. 15-30 +
3. 35-50+
4. 1 minute or more +

RE: How many seconds?
 

3.........i think.......maybe quicker........;)

RE: How many seconds?
 

This is what we teach in our bowhunting education class....

There are basically 5 types of shots and this guideline will cover them.

1) Main Arteries (including the heart)

Death occurs at less than 1 min. appoximately

2) Bilateralpneumothorax ( Double lung shot)

Death occurs between 1 to 4 minutes approximately

3) Semi-vital organ shot (such as the liver or kidneys)

Death occurs between 4 minutes to 4 hours approximately

4) Complex Internal Shots (gut shot)

Death occurs from 4 hours +

5) Unusual lethal wound (Brain or spine shot)

Requires a second shot

RE: How many seconds?
 

Sounds about right, thank bc and hick :)

RE: How many seconds?
 

I would definitely go the number four route. I have never had a deer die faster than that.

RE: How many seconds?
 

Don't you mean #1 or #2?

RE: How many seconds?
 

I have no idea what the average is, but I've had lots of arrowed deer die in the range of number 2, even more in the 3 range, and a few in the number 1 range. My quickest kill was on an elk that was shot with a recurve that had a 47 lb draw. I would estimate about 6-7 seconds.

RE: How many seconds?
 

My quickest kill was a cow elk about 30-45 seconds.

RE: How many seconds?
 

I've had the good fortune of seeing a majority of my bow kills hit the ground. When I have made a good double lung shot where the angle is not too sharply downward, death occurs within 6 to 8 seconds or so.

RE: How many seconds?
 

with rifle the shortest was before i could even walk up to it. the longest was 30 seconds. with a bow the best buck i shot ran about a 100 yard circle and ended up about 140 yards from my stand in crp grass that was a double lunger and heart hit so i think it may depend on the deer some too. how bad the deer wants to live may have a little to do with it.

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.