Tracking wounded deer—how long do you wait before pursuing?

The majority of my deer have either been 4-5 steps and then down or have been bang flops, the ones that bolted didn’t make it past 30-40m. After the shot I slowly walk to where they took the hit, it’s always been an evident blood trail so finding them is easy. I’ve been lucky I guess but most of my shots have been between 75-125m.
 
Ok might be onto something here. With enough gun and decent shot placement they don’t seem to go far. Not that you need much to drop a deer. I hunt in B.C. so other species are on the agenda as well. .270 is the smallest gun I’ve used on deer. 06, 7 mags and 300s for lots but mostly my lightweight .338. A couple have gone 40-50 yards but most laying in their tracks or very close. Small sample though, I’d say 30ish.
 
If you listen to a thousand stories the vast majority will have walked over and found the deer not far from where they last saw it. Then there will be a small percentage that bump the deer followed by a long tracking job or a lost animal. The found ones, after a long and or traumatic tracking job, are often poor table fare.

So most of the time it is okay to get right on it but sometimes it is not. Once you find the bloody bed empty or see your deer get up and run off the discission you made was the wrong one. For an ethical deer hunter, there is nothing worse.

In shooting whitetails for nearly 50 years I have never once experienced an instance where waiting longer was the wrong choice. I have never heard a story where waiting longer would have been the wrong choice. If he is dead right there or just over behind some bushes, he will still be there in 30-40 minutes. If he is hit fairly well and goes 50-100 yards before bedding, he will probably bleed out in that bed if you leave him for 30-40 minutes plus the time it takes to slowly track him. If he is poorly hit, it is unlikely you are going to recover the animal, however it is more likely on a careful stalk after enough time has passed for him to get beyond the initial shock of the incident.

I take the shot and listen. The vast majority of the time I hear crashing not far away and sometimes can even see the animal. I make careful mental note of exactly where the deer was when I shot, where I lost sight of him and where I think I heard the last noise. If not in a stand I mark where I am standing.

After 20 minutes or so I stalk slowly to the spot where the deer was standing when shot. Never do I head over to the last place I saw him or towards the last spot I heard him. I proceed as if I was still hunting watching the direction where the deer was last heard and seen. I find the spot and mark it. By this time approximately 30-40 minutes has passed and I can make my next choice based on the evidence found at the shot site and tracking conditions.

As far as predators are concerned, I don't think it is a factor in decision making. Coyotes live cautiously and I have never seen them on a kill in less than 30 minutes with a person within a 100 yards or so and a shot recently fired. Wolves, black bears and cats are even more cautious. If a Grizzly is on a kill it is best you gain that information approaching with caution after the fact.
 
danastles said:
Bow hunting, even with a good shot I wait an hour. An arrow shot wounded deer wont go far if its not spooked and it will lay down and die. I wait an hour, then find the arrow if possible, and take a peek at the amount and type of blood and decide from there. I have unfortunately made some not so good shots with the bow and have played this game many times. Get good lights and go slow. Rifle hunting is totally different.
Click to expand...

The few deer I've shot are almost all with arrows from a tree stand 20 yards. A couple of bears with rifle. After the hit listen to where it goes. About 15 minutes waiting is about all I can stand. Look for the arrow. And start following the trail. The sound direction they went after the hit helps
 
For mainland deer, we wait at least 15 minutes before approaching, even if we see the deer drop immediately, to ensure it’s safe and ethical.

On Haida Gwaii, we stick to headshots because the deer are small, and a body shot risks ruining too much meat. You have to move quickly after the shot—bears there associate gunfire with a meal and will claim your harvest if you wait even a few minutes, they have no human fear either. Haida Gwaii deer are exceptional in flavor, and with a generous annual limit of 15 and a possession limit of 5, they’re a prized harvest.
 
It really depends on the shot and time of year.
During the early part of the muzzleloader season I really like to hear that deer in the bush to figure out where he is. I heard them take their final "fall" on several occasions.

When there's snow on the ground, I'm no real hurry. If I know I hit it hard in the heart area, I'll climb down quite soon. A lung shot I'll wait a bit to be sure.
 
I usually give mine a few minutes before I head out to retrieve the animal. Light up a cigarette and take in the experience. Knock on wood, but I haven’t bumped any animals with this method.
 
Maybe 10min
Only shot a few, limited opportunities being from pei to shoot whitetails. Could buy a cow for what non res licenses, guides, ect. end up costing
 
Jahnj0584 said:
It all depends on how you think the hit went.

Last three animals I ran towards to get as soon as I cycled the bolt because I knew I blasted their hearts in half and were within 10y of where they were hit.
Click to expand...
If you were so sure then why would you run to them Knowing their hearts were blasted in half?? Id just walk cuz theyre obviously not going anywhere. Thats awesome however!!
 
30 minutes with a gun.

60 minutes for archery. I once saw a button buck laydown after being hit high in the lungs with an expandable broad head which deployed properly. It lived for another 45 minutes. I have also seen deer fall dead within eyesight after being arrowed. If the deer gets out of my sight I let them have 60 minutes.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom