What would you have done?
 

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?

RE: What would you have done?
 

welcome mohuntin, you made the best choice, way to go on the doe and the recovery

RE: What would you have done?
 

Doubt you would have gotten her if you hadn't waited til morning, you would have just kept pushing her til you lost the blood.

RE: What would you have done?
 

Glad you found her

RE: What would you have done?
 

If I made a questionable shot in the morning , I would wait until late afternoon to track.

RE: What would you have done?
 

Good job on the recovery!

RE: What would you have done?
 

As soon as I'd have seen the arrow you described I'd have waited 8 hours before tracking or till morning. Glad you found her.

RE: What would you have done?
 

ditto!!

RE: What would you have done?
 

IMO you got on her too early. Had you not gon back out after only 2 hours she'd have been right were you jumped her. At that point you made the right decision to back out. She probably could have gone a mile or more before she bleed out had she been pushed.

Why are you questioing it? Did you leave her there or did you bring her home with you? Maybe I'm missing it but if you recovered her I don't know why you'd question you actions.

Good job on the recovery.

RE: What would you have done?
 

:)Welcome to the forum MOhuntin and great post. I believe you did the right thing and with the time constraints you were under ,, you had the patience to do a good job of recovery. CONGRATS>!:D

RE: What would you have done?
 

I am also happy you found her! Way to go;) But if you would have waited a little longer you would have most likely found her where you sead you jump her. This a good story all of us can learn something from. When you gut shoot a deer the best thing to do is wait at least 6-8 hr. before you start tracking. It may save a lot of time and sweat (IMO)

RE: What would you have done?
 

Thanks everyone!
adams, I think your right if I had waited longer she probably would have been where I jumped her. Thats one thing, but then wondered about whether or not to keep trying to track her after jumping her the first time. After reading comments so far, I believe my question has been answered.

RE: What would you have done?
 

Definitely made the right decision.