Whitetail hunting: Tips for after the shot
 

Thought people could add their tips for after taking the shot:
Whitetail hunting: Tips for after the shot

Goods tips, but tend to be hard to remember with adrenaline pounding in your ears.

I just have 3 simple tips.

1. Don't shoot unless you are convinced you are going to harvest the animal.

2. When it drops, go to the animal, tag it, say your prayer and gut it.

3. Get the meat cooling.

Step 4 is optional. Pop a cold one.

Another tip:when blood trailing use toilet paper to mark the blood.It's biodegradable and if it's dark it can show you the trail back.

NG,

Part of that link reads:
"Wait 30 mins

Particularly if you have lots of daylight left, it’s best to not get out of your stand right now. Wait thirty minutes. Why? Because at this point, you’ve shot the deer, it’s run off, and frankly, it doesn’t know what just happened. The deer doesn’t know you’re even there. If you get down immediately, in his current state of alarm, he will hear you, his adrenaline will kick in, and he’ll run off even further.

Wait 30 minutes. Stay very quiet. This gives the deer a chance to quickly find a spot to lay down, and not run off even further."

I think that's' 100% wrong!

The hunter should go after the deer right away and finish it off so it won't escape and most of all won't suffer any longer.

Gun hunting maybe, if you see the deer on the ground thrashing around - a shot to the head or neck. I have done this.

Bow hunting = NEVER. With a bow, 30 minutes is the minimum. Otherwise you can push a deer 1/2 mile away. And even after 30 minutes, if there is no trail and you think it might be a gut shot, back off and wait til morning.

Great tip! Never thought of this. I have used plastic marking tape, but the TP would be a lot easier and cheaper with no need to pick up (at least on my own land).

exactly...half a mile is nothing for a wounded deer they can go a lot further!! If you are in a climbing tree stand its also best to wait the 30 minutes to calm down so you don't hurt yourself on the way down!

I've always tried to wait 30 minutes:rolleye0011:,I make it for about 15.LOL

30 min if you feel good about the shot. If you are not positive on hit? 1 hour min.

Listen close as he runs off. Mark where you last heard him.

As he runs off watch where his feet hit the ground, will help mark actual path traveled better than watching deer itself.

Right after the shot replsay the shot in your mind- what did you see when you shot (sight picture), where did you see the bullet or arrow strike (good hit or not), what was the animals reponse, and then where did it go etc.

Good advice! And to do this, you have to follow through on your bow shot, watching the arrow hit, and then watching and listening in those few seconds afterwards. This can make short work of tracking.

Disagree with this statement gun or bow it is always best to give the animal plenty of time. Your statements come from inexperience. Give yourself a few more years and deer and you will realize why most seasoned hunters follow this guideline

Waiting is right
 

Thanks for agreeing with me. In fact, by waiting the 30 mins, you are doing a better job not letting the animal suffer. If you pursue immediately, a spike of adrenaline can occur and they run off further, instead of just sitting down quietly.

So true,it's amazing how tough deer are.

I also agree with waiting 30 minutes. If you ever trail a deer too soon and jump it you will see why. I learned this the hard way on the 3rd deer I ever shot. I jumped it and a 150 yard blood trail became a 400 yard hard to follow trail. I got the deer but it was difficult. This was a single lung hit.