What would you do?
 

This is a hypothectical hunting situation that has similarities to what I, and some other hunters, have encountered through the years. I would just like to hear some of your opinions.

It's early October and you are deer hunting on private land with a compound bow. You know this area well and have hunted this stand before. You are hunting from a 16ft treestand on a hardwood creek bottom that has many crossings. It is getting late in the evening when you spot a solitary doe crossing the creek to the opposite side. You take a shot at about 35 yards and hear a solid "Thwack". The doe runs off and you do not see your arrow. You are only somewhat confident about your shot and think it may have been a little too far forward. Shoulder?

You get down at dark and find the spot at which you shot the doe. You find a decent blood trail and follow it for about 75 yards, at which the blood trail has all but disappeared. You look around and realize that the doe has entered a really thick bedding area which you know is their sanctuary. It's late and there is rain in the forecast for the night.

What do you do?

It's early in the season, do you to push on and bust up the bedding area?

Are all cards down when there could be a deer down?

Do you cut your losses and chalk it up to a lesson learned?

Do you just wait until the next day?

The situation is what is. Please base your opinion off JUST the information I have provided.

I say keep searching as long as there's a reasonable chance to find the deer.

Keep searching. Besides being the ethical thing to do, here in Missouri it's the law. Short of tresspassing, you must make every possible effort to retrieve wounded game.

you go in after her. whether its right then and there or in the morning. morning would be the best if you are not sure of the shot.

Neither has ANY bearing on tracking a deer you wounded.

Any one who does should quit hunting.

The best option based just on info provided.

I would wait about an hour or so,(let her bed down and bleed to death) pull out the flashlights and take it slow.

Early season in the south, you might as well go ahead and try to find her. Temperatures ar probably going to be too high to keep the meat good anyway. Coyotes will get her also.

sanctuary and flashlight and buddies after cupla hours. you said she was a bleedin purty good. dont kick her up if sheeze abeddin to die

I would also keep looking.

I'd give her a couple hours, go get flashlights and what not, then go find her.