after shooting a deer about how long do you guys wait before starting to track? I know it really depends on shot placement but generally how long.
Most of the time 15 or 20 minutes for me. I hunt so far away from my house that it is kind of hard to let one layover night. I would have to drive three hours the next day just to find it.
If my hit is good, I wait 30 minutes minimum. Once on a heart shot deer I waited 30 minutes and wound up bumping her several times. I finally had to put a finishing shot in her about a quarter mile from where I shot her. That was a very unusual outcome.
2 hours usually. More if I can't find an arrow or heavy blood in the first 10 yards. If I see it go down... I take my stuff to the house and come back with the one wheeler.
I hear them crash a lot of the time so wait like 20-30 mins get loaded up then go grab the deer.....or bear.
if i know its a good shot and i hear em crash, 30 min. if I'm unsure about shot or where they went, i wait about 2 hours. better to wait 2 hours and find him 40 yds away stiff as a board then 30 min and push him into the next county.
There are a couple of "Stickies" on the top of the forum that should be required reading IMO. Very good. No need to rush the tracking. Dead is dead. Only bad things can happen if you start tracking to soon. Here's the link http://forums.bowhunting.com/bowhunting-talk/52643-official-what-do-after-shot-please-read.html
Like others have said, generally 20-30 minutes on shots when I hear them crash. On marginal shots I usually get down within a few minutes and find some blood so i have somewhere to start from after waiting several hours.
Always 2 hours unless snow or rain is coming quick. Where one thinks their arrow hits isn't always spot on.
Im usually cautious unless I know it was a nasty shot and I see blood pouring. Im a one hour guy on average, even if it is a good hit....unless of course I see them go down.
From my experience... at least with other hunters... it is seldom the case. I used to have a tracking dog... you wouldn't believe the places a deer's heart can be. LOL I am still waiting even with rain... unless a monsoon is on the way.
If its a good shot I wait about about 45 minutes to an hour. Bad shots 3-5 hours sometimes its better to come back the next day than to push your deer. It's hard to do but you will be glad you did
If I hear it go down than maybe 45 minutes but if not at least 1.5 hours. But as you said it mostly depends on placement.
My family loves it when I score... we usually go out to eat before I start trailing... that's forced patience. In the morning's I will cook breakfast first.
