How long to wait?

[Arrow Slinger]

Well after a long wait and lots of practice my daughter and I finally headed out this mourning for her first ever bow hunt. She had a green light on taking whatever presented it self. We saw a really nice buck right at first light but he moved on staying just out of range. Then finally at about 830 we had a group of does come in. She decided to take a shot at one of the bigger does. She did good in getting drawn on them with out alarming any of them. I was watching the doe very closely so that I could tell if and where she hit it. Well when she shot I knew right away that it was a less than desirable hit on the doe. The deer quickly ran off and I was able to see her doe disappear in some heavy brush about 60 yards away. The hit appeared to be back about midway or so and a little low as well. We stayed put for about 30 minutes and snuck out of the area as quietly as possible. We did happen to see some descent blood from where the deer had ran off. As hard as it as to walk away I felt like that was our best chance to recover her deer. Now the question is how long do we wait so that if we do recover her deer the meat will not be spoiled. I had always heard that you should give a gut shot deer about 6 hours to expire before tracking. What does the green screen say. By the way it's already about 82 outside and is expected to heat up to about 87 today.

[Nova]

It may just be me, but I wouldn't wait too long in this heat. A spoiled deer is no better than a deer never found.

[AntlerCollector]

In cold weather 5-6 hours. In mid 80's or more. I wouldn't wait any more than 2 hours

[Bisch]

If it is gut shot, it will likely be a while before she dies. Leave her lay for as long as you can, then go slow after her. If you know someone with a dog that will bay, that might just be your best option. If you jump her while she is still alive (without a dog), chances are you will lose her.

Good luck!

Bisch

[AntlerCollector]

Best bet if you can afford it is to get a tracking dog out there than can catch/ bay her up for another kill shot





Bisch beat me to it! This is what I would strongly recommend if you wanna recover her first deer and not have the meat spoil.

[justincorbell]

^ what they said

[bear tx]

I would have already started tracking. Good time to teach her to track. Go slow and easy. With a little luck you will recover usable meat. 75 degrees and up I get deer on ice asap - within 2 hours tops.

[LostHawg]

I've heard 4 hours.

Is it possible she got liver? Those bleed good. Gut usually doesn't.

[Arrow Slinger]

Update. Well my daughter did good. We were able to find it but it was six hours after the kill shot. She hit the doe just where I thought but the doe was quartering away. I think she was dead in 5 minutes. Not being sure of the hit I decided to wait and wouldn't you know it we had a rain shower wash every bit of the blood trail away. It took a while but we finally found her about 75 yards from where she was arrowed. I quartered her up and got her on ice but I'm worried the meat may have spoiled . The carcuse stunk of course but I thinking it was the guts that were foul. If the meat smells good would you keep it? I'm just not sure if I should chance it. Any way I'm one proud dad!

[txtimetravler]

I would keep it.

Great job Dad!

[dfkoon]

If the meat smells good, I'd keep it.

[Kurdawg]

If you didn't wash the quarters then pull them out of ice chest dump ice wash off with water hose really well then re-ice down. Keep icing and draining then check smell in a few days.

[solocam_aggie]

I would think 6 hrs would be ok in this weather

[ryanwood08]

Keep it. Congrats on ur daughter first kill!!! How old is she?

[bwool]

Glad you found her!