How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

I have seen a lot of videos on this subject, and there are some different opinions. 3 different circumstances: 1. What if I shoot a deer and it drops right there immeadiately. How long should I wait to go see my kill? 2. What if the deer goes about 20 yds or so? and what if the deer takes off and I cannot see him no more, when should I start tracking him? I am interested in what everyone else does in their situations and how long they wait after a kill?

Starrman

Ron Starr

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

It all depends. I wait for about 5min usually. I had a deer that I shoot with a good lung shoot that fell right on the spot. I waited for about 10min.. I walked back to get my truck and drive up to clean him. When I pulled up the sucker got up and ran about 500 yards. I tracked him all day until I finally found him. The thing was practically bleed out so blood trails were hard to find. When I finally found him, I noticed I had knocked his left shoulder off and had a double lung shoot. It was the strangest thing I had ever seen. I now wait as long as I can stand it with my gun ready.

When bow hunting, Ill give them 10 to 15min. depending on where they fall, and if they fall in sight.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

Starman, welcome to this most hospitable board.<img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle>
To answer your question, I guess it depends on the situation. If he drops in his tracks, and doesn't move, I'll be by his side shortly. If he drops and is kicking around, I'll be keeping the scope on him until he quits kicking around. Same thing if he goes a short distance. If he runs off and I feel confident I made a good lung or heart shot, I'll give him 30 minutes or more depending on weather and time of day. If he runs off and I don't have confidence that I hit him in a vital area, I'll give him alot more time, how much more depends on the amount of daylight left and whether or not rain is in the area. If at anytime, this deer gets up and takes off out of sight, I'll back out and give him some time to lay down and die, a couple hours or more.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

im going to try and give the animal about 45 mins before i got looking. hopefully with a good double lunger it should have died by then

propmahn

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

if i can see it and its down and looking expired i will reload and gather my stuff and calm myself and slowly make my way to it...if i cant see it i wait about 5mins...when im alone after this year im waiting atleast 30 to let it lay down and die..my dad doesnt do that and i hunt with him and do as instructed....

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

Short answer: It depends on the situation and the suspected type of hit made on the animal.

If it drops in sight, and appears to no longer be moving, it's a safe bet that it can be approached. If it runs away out of sight, I would suggest that one wait at least 30 minutes before trying to track it. An hour is better. Believe me, I know how excrutiating waiting another full hour can be! I'd be lying if I said I've waited that long every time! <img src=icon_smile_blush.gif border=0 align=middle> However, it is very important to give the animal that time. I try to find something else to do like go back to my truck and make some phone calls, grab a game hauler, eat a sandwich, etc.

The suspected hit is a very important factor in how long to wait. If the hit appears to be a gut shot or maybe hit it too far back, wait alot longer. In fact, it's critical to give the animal plenty of time. I think the absolute minimum would be roughly 2 hours with some saying wait even longer!! This is because nine times out of ten, a deer will lay down not too far away. With enough time, it will expire. However, if an attempt is made to find it too soon, the deer will spook and run away even farther...making the tracking job that much harder. Take it from me, I've made this mistake!!

-Mike

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote<font size=1 face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Take it from me, I've made this mistake!!
<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face='Verdana, Arial, Helvetica' size=2 id=quote>
amen. Nothing worst than losing a deer. I had that happen once many years ago. I refuse to let it happen agian.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

I go to the sight of the shot immediately. What I find there determines how quickly I follow. If it's obviously a good shot, i.e. bright lung blood everywhere, etc, I follow immediately and usually find the deer piled up within a few yards. If it looks like it might not be a good shot I wait about 30 minutes, fortunately I haven't had to do that very often. 99% of the time I follow immediately, that's assuming the deer isn't piled up within sight, which it usually is.

[Deleted]
 

[Deleted by Admins]

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

I agree with boltman. I usually see or hear the animal fall from the stand....unless I'm bowhunting....but thats a whole different ballgame.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

I like to sit around and smoke a few cigarettes and eat a candy bar or something while I get my &quot;act&quot; together. Then head out.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

It all depends on the weapon used and how confident you feel about the shot. In a lot of areas of the country you can bag more than one deer. That being the case, I would remain in the stand for a while hoping you may get another one if you want it. A lot of deer are running dead on their feet after the shot. You don't have to follow one long usually in order to tell if he is going down soon. There are exceptions though to every rule. I have taken a lot of deer and seen almost every scenerio possible. Just use your own good judgement.

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

Like many have said it really depends on the shot, reaction of the animal to the shot and the weapon.
Gun
Drops, I head their right away
Good shot but runs, I wait and listen for 5-10 minutes then head to the shot site. If the blood is pink and frothy or deep red and heavy indicating H/L I will generally follow it right away. If it dwindles or I hear an animal moving I will sit down and wait. I usually have granola bars and water so I will eat and drink and listen. I then begin to track about 30 min. later.
Poor shoot - Gut or bad reaction I will wait 20 minutes, mark the trail with orange trail marker and then wait at least 1-2 hours to follow. If it is late in the day I will just head home and come back first light or later with a group and many flashlights. (often though best suited to wait till am)

Bow
On good a shot I wait min. an hour (unless I see it drop and am sure it ain't moving)
Poor shot or reaction 2-4 hours min.

I have been lucky personally, I have only left one animal overnight and found it untouched at first light not far from my trail mark. But I have experienced all shots with buddies, one 2 years ago we tracked all day, then decided to leave it come back the next morning, we found the deer 500 yards from where we last pushed him up and still alive but unable to get up. He was shot in the ham...so I would say the worst shot you can get, if you don't bust the pelvis. In this case the yotes were on him and the meat was basically ruined, had we left him for 2-4 hours I bet he would have been recovered much easier with a better result. A lesson hard learned!!!!

RE: How long should I wait after a Kill?
 

I wait 15 min minimum......to ensure he's bleeding out. Dont want to bump him and have him take off if the shot was a poor one (hope that never happens)

Hunt for the sport, share the outdoors and most of all be safe and enjoy it......know your
back stop when shooting!!
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