AZ RANGER Report post Posted August 26, 2008 I hit a buck today at 12:20. He was quartering towards me and my shot hit him pretty far back. He spun around and ran off. I was not sure about the shot so I waited a little over an hour be tracking him. I found my arrow about 15 yards from the spot I hit him. I had blood all the way to the fletchings but it also had some guts on it. I looked around for a blood trail and could not find any. I circled around and ended up jumping him up about 40yards from where I found the arrow. I did not have time for another shot and he dissapeared into the brush. I did not want to push him furthur so I backed out hopeing he would lay down again. There was a football sized pool of blood where he layed. I am thinking of heading back this evening to look again but am afraid that he may still not be expired. I can go in the morning but I have to be at work at 0900. Also figure a coyote or lion might get him tonight. what do you guys think. How long can should it take. I fell terrible BTW that he his sitting out suffering. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huntn coues Report post Posted August 26, 2008 I am thinking about 4 hours. With it being so hot get back out there with your bow and nock an arrow and glass out in front of you every few feet from where you last saw him. The longer the wait the better chance at finding him expired but IMO with the heat I would get back after him. Good luck. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DesertBull Report post Posted August 26, 2008 You must of hit something important if he laid down within 40 yards of the shot. Was it dark blood, like kidney or liver? That's a certain death, albeit not instant. I'll bet he does not last long in this heat. He might try to go to water. When you lose a lot of blood, you get really thirsty and dehydrated. I would try again this evening. Even if you jump him again, it might get the blood flowing again. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
mattobertin Report post Posted August 26, 2008 Get after him now and if you don't find him call in to work, it's worth it you will find him if you look hard enough. Good luck! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AZ RANGER Report post Posted August 26, 2008 I should mention that it has rained most all day and it is still over cast and cool. I a waiting for my son to get off the bus and I will go back this evening. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SilentButDeadly Report post Posted August 26, 2008 I think he's dead already; take your dog, or something that can track scent. also, take a gun to shoot the coyotes that are eating him right now! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
IHunt2live Report post Posted August 27, 2008 I think he's dead already; take your dog, or something that can track scent. also, take a gun to shoot the coyotes that are eating him right now! Also could listen for those cyotes that are screaming about a free meal. Hope you find him! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
firstcoueswas80 Report post Posted August 27, 2008 There are a few things good, and a couple things bad: Good: You had full penetration. Good: He bedded down within 40 yards Good: You are going out to find him. Bad: He did not die in the hour you waited to go find him. Bad: Not a ton of blood where he was bedded. Bad: Rain!! Good luck to you my friend! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 27, 2008 I have heard 4 hours is good amount of time for gut shot elk/deer. I don't know how good that advice is though.... Did you have any luck finding him this evening? If you need help searching for him, I bet there is someone on here that would be willing and able to go. Just make a post if you can't find him again. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huntn coues Report post Posted August 27, 2008 I have heard 4 hours is good amount of time for gut shot elk/deer. I don't know how good that advice is though.... Did you have any luck finding him this evening? If you need help searching for him, I bet there is someone on here that would be willing and able to go. Just make a post if you can't find him again. Amanda What's your advice Amanda? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 27, 2008 I have heard 4 hours is good amount of time for gut shot elk/deer. I don't know how good that advice is though.... Did you have any luck finding him this evening? If you need help searching for him, I bet there is someone on here that would be willing and able to go. Just make a post if you can't find him again. Amanda What's your advice Amanda? I didn't mean to imply I had some other advice. I just meant I haven't personally experienced how well the 4 hr wait works on gut shot animals. I have just heard that is a good amount of time. So that is what I would do. Wait at least 4 hrs then search. If you can't find the blood trail, do ever widening circles in the area to look for sign. Taking a dog can help. Get friends to help and don't get too discouraged. It seems to me you hurt that buck badly since he bedded after 40 yards. My guess is he is already dead and it's just a matter of finding him. Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Hunter X Report post Posted August 27, 2008 If you shot him close to Sierra Vista area and you want some help looking for him I might be able to help. Just let me know. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Huntn coues Report post Posted August 27, 2008 Amanda - I knew what you meant I was just curious because with your credentials/expierience I thought I would ask what you thought. I did not mean my question to come out the way it seems to have. It's a tough position to be in especially with so many variables. He is armed with a bow but with a rifle you might be able to get a follow shot off quicker than with a bow if you did happen to bump him from where he layed down. If you wait to long then the meat is spoiled by the heat and if the buck is bleeding mostly inside the cavity(hit in guts) that will ruin the taste of the meat as well. As far as being hit in the liver like mentioned above I have hit a deer it the liver(with a bow) and he expired with in 20 yards and know of a couple others that died in less than a hundread yards after 30 min to an hour wait. So my question is if the buck was shot at 12:30 and expired at lets say 2:00 how long would it be before the meat would spoil in these temps? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
CouesWhitetail Report post Posted August 27, 2008 So my question is if the buck was shot at 12:30 and expired at lets say 2:00 how long would it be before the meat would spoil in these temps? Good question....I don't know the answer to that one. I think I would err on the side of waiting too long and letting him die so you can find him vs pushing him farther if he is still alive. Hopefully someone around here has some info on that meat spoilage time. I know I have seen summertime road kill deer that seemed to have been hit the afternoon before and the carcass/meat smelled fine the following morning (not that I ate it though!). I think at the ADA hunter clinic Mike Miller said something about being able to hang meat in 70 degree temps and it being fine in the shade. But that of course is with the hide off.... Anybody out here ever recovered a deer the next day and found the meat was fine? Amanda Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
GRONG Report post Posted August 27, 2008 If an animal is gut shot you should wait at least 12 hours! I read this in Bowhunter about certain kind of shots. Also heard some other bowhunter's experience and they all said WAIT at least 12-16 hours. If you don't you're more than likely to jump them and lose them all together. I know they're suffering but at least you have a MUCH better chance of finding them than not if you WAIT cause it takes them so long to die. Just telling you what I've heard and read. GOOD LUCK MAN!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
