Need a little help guys (tracking)

My best friend just shot his first ever buck, bow or gun. After he shot him I instructed him to stay in the stand a good half hour. After that he climbed down, grabbed his arrow and backed out.

When I got to his house to inspect the arrow it was definate gut shot, but the fletchings had some dark blood on it, assuming liver.

He said up and down was perfect, shot was just back a little to far. The deer was slightly quartering away. He is using a three bladed rage broadhead.

Buck was shot at 7:45 am. How long would you guys wait to go in for the first time???

 

I would wait 8 hours, and then start a slow track job while scanning ahead.

 

At least 8 hours. Went on a similar tracking job yesterday after a 6 hour wait and jumped the buck out of his bed. Luckily he was recovered this morning about 150 yards away, but that's not always how it works out. Better safe than sorry.

 

Thanks for the advice Matt. I was thinking between 6 to 8 hours originally too.

 

Good job on backing out. Based on your description, its probably dead sooner....but I would wait until late afternoon 3-4pm just to be safe. Post up some pics later

 

Thanks Justin. Definately don't want him to loose his first arrowed buck.

 

Yeah I'd wait at minimum 6 hours too, and possibly add another set of trusted eyes to your search party. Key is going to be moving very slow. If you see the buck, no hooping or jumping in excitement...get the binocs on him to make sure he's dead before anyone moves in. Gut shots can take a long time to kill a deer. Clipping the liver though is a great way to speed up a primarily gut shot death.

 

Actually you're NW Indiana? Where at exactly (you can message me if you don't want public)...I'd even be willing to come help look if it's not too terribly far for me!

 

Quick question for curiosity and might help the OP if it changes thinking on when to move in

There is rain heading his general direction, would that change the time you would wait, or do you just count on a grid search with the shooters known direction after the shot?

Hate to see the initial blood trail get washed away before arriving.

 

Be prepared and call one of your local trackers for advice as well, might just be the difference. Good luck, will be watching for an update.

http://www.unitedbloodtrackers.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3&Itemid=6

 

Chance of rain is all over northern IN and to be honest I spaced it on that. I'd still give as much time as possible...I'd take a none pushed grid search over a blood trail too early....it is tough though.

 

There is one in Crown Point which may be close to this guy!

 

I am watching the weather. Praying the rain stays away a little while longer.

I would take a grid search too over a blood trail at this point. Based on the shot I'm not expecting much of a blood trail anyways.

 

I've heard of this guy and his success around the area here. He is a good guy.

 

If the deer isn't bumped chances are it didn't go far before bedding down where it will die..

 

The deer shouldn't be bumped. Its a thick nasty area with briars and swamp all around it. There are residential homes surrounding part of it, but the kids are all in school till 3 o'clock.

 

If he shot it with a rage it should be dead right? J/K

Hope you guys find him and congrats to your buddy on his first deer.

 

Yes definitely wait 6-8 hours. Tread lightly.

 

We got him guys!!! Pics coming later

 

Awesome news, seems to be a lot of these going for the hunter this year. Patience pays off. Congrats on the buck!