We were out tonight and i hit a doe at about 30 yards, 99% positive i hit it. but it was getting pretty dark. The problem is we were in about 3 1/2 feet of tall grass, and didnt see the other 15 or so deer with it. as soon as i hit it i heard a thud. they all jump up and just scattered in all directions... i lost track at which one was hit . we looked for about an hour and a half but cant see anything blood etc... none of us had a blood light.. also cant find arrow which makes me believe more its in the deer. i will be up early tomorrow to search with my dog and a friend... So will it be to late to get the meat waiting about 10hours from the hit? thanks for any info you can give.. thanks ...
sorry if question sounds inexperianced, but i am new to this bow hunting thing. i have been reading alot on this site for quite some time. i have learned alot here from all of you.. thanks again..
2 Rules of thumb to live by... 1. If you can't see well enough to make a GOOD shot, then you shouldn't be shooting!!! That being said, I think you need to consider the situation, and head back in the morning at first light, and see what you can find. Not sure where you are, but as long as temps don't get much about 50-55 tonight, the deer should be fine in the morning. Follow up on a shot is VERY important, and knowing PRECISELY where you shot an animal makes a BIG difference in ability to track it. 2. If you're NOT sure where you hit the animal, Give it some time to die, back out, give it a few hours, 6 at least unless you have some extenuating circumstance, such as rain, snow, coyotes, and then go look for it. I gut shot one in Jan, left her for 5 1/2 hours, and she was still alive when we came back. I went back in because I shot her not 50yds from where I'd killed a coyote back 2 months earlier, and I wanted to get to her before the songdogs did. Fortunately, when I bumped her, she only ran 50yds, and re-bedded, and was in that same spot when I returned in the morning to get her. Being new to bowhunting, the THRILL of shooting one with a bow can get you flustered, and you can easily loose track of WHAT exactly did just happen. With more experience, you'll learn and develop the ability to be focused, and watch that arrow fly directly where you aimed it, and savor the thrill of killing and recovering one in short order.
