How long can a lung shot deer last?
#1

Dad double lunged a deer this morning.
About five minutes after the shot he called me to see if I could come help track it. While on the phone he said he thought he could hear it snorting and blowing.
I figured it was another deer in the group. When I made I to the stand about an hour later he said he could hear it for almost 30 minutes and it sounded like it was blowing trying to clear it's chest out, or like it was blowing through a hole in it's chest. He said it didn't sound like a typical Deer snort.
We ended up tracking it maybe 60 yards and it was laying there dead.
Think that deer was alive that long? Or think another deer in the group hung around snorting and just had a stuffy nose that day?


-Jake
About five minutes after the shot he called me to see if I could come help track it. While on the phone he said he thought he could hear it snorting and blowing.
I figured it was another deer in the group. When I made I to the stand about an hour later he said he could hear it for almost 30 minutes and it sounded like it was blowing trying to clear it's chest out, or like it was blowing through a hole in it's chest. He said it didn't sound like a typical Deer snort.
We ended up tracking it maybe 60 yards and it was laying there dead.
Think that deer was alive that long? Or think another deer in the group hung around snorting and just had a stuffy nose that day?


-Jake
#4

I've had a lot of experinces with that shot, sometimes only one lung and they alll have been dead before 30 minutes. Most of mine were with a 30-30 inside of 80 yards. I just about expect them to run about 30-60 yards. But some have died right there. More with my .270 The last deer I shot with my muzzle loader rolled, got up and ran 25 yards and died with that shot.
My routine is to shoot and sit for 20 minutes. The only times I have walked upon a deer still alive were spine shots which I hate. The few I've had have taught me to concentrate more on that shot in the picture. I want them to be dead when I get there.
What was he shooting?
C. Davis
My routine is to shoot and sit for 20 minutes. The only times I have walked upon a deer still alive were spine shots which I hate. The few I've had have taught me to concentrate more on that shot in the picture. I want them to be dead when I get there.
What was he shooting?
C. Davis
#7

I suspect it was another deer blowing, they will bleed out long before 30 minutes on a double lung hit. The buck I double lunged with my crossbow went about 60 yards and piled up in a creek. I took my time, grabbed my back pack and got out of the stand found the blood trail and quietly and slowly followed it to the deer till I saw the deer in the creek dead. From the time I started tracking till I found him was about 15 minutes. He went that distance because he was hauling butt after he was hit.
#8

That's what I figured too. Dad was pretty sure it sounded gurgly(is that a word?) And sick. Not like a normal snort. Like it was blowing through a hole in it's chest.
I'm leaning towards it being another deer from the group though. I just can't see that shot lasting 30 minutes.
But. As mrbb said..... Anything can happen and deer have certainly done some impressive things after being shot well. They can go a long time on one lung. I've experienced that personally. But with a hole through both? I don't know
was hoping a medical expert would know lol
-Jake
I'm leaning towards it being another deer from the group though. I just can't see that shot lasting 30 minutes.
But. As mrbb said..... Anything can happen and deer have certainly done some impressive things after being shot well. They can go a long time on one lung. I've experienced that personally. But with a hole through both? I don't know
was hoping a medical expert would know lol
-Jake
#9
Fork Horn
Join Date: Apr 2019
Location: Southern NH
Posts: 475

A double lung shot with a rifle the deer will be stone dead in 7 to 10 seconds because you are doing major damage with the wound channel and trauma . With a bow regardless if its a crossbow or compound that relies all on bleeding out it could take 20 seconds . but most will be dead in 100 -150 yards .
That was a different deer making the noise . That deer did not live very long from that crossbow hit in that location.
That was a different deer making the noise . That deer did not live very long from that crossbow hit in that location.
#10

I tracked one for a buddy last week. He had told me where he hit it and I told him the deer should be down right close, I tracked very sparse blood for 2 hours and 300+ yards starting to think he was full of it but we found the deer and sure enough both lungs were center punched.
You really just never know. Id never seen one go 300 yards before.
Daughter shot a buck Friday and he stayed alive much longer than he should have even with 2 follow up shots.
You really just never know. Id never seen one go 300 yards before.
Daughter shot a buck Friday and he stayed alive much longer than he should have even with 2 follow up shots.