This is a topic that needs everyone's expert opinion!! Given the different factors we have to deal with such as Coyoyes, Bears, Wolves, and Wolverines what is the right thing to do.
I live in Ohio and since around late 1990's Coyotes have been growing in population in our state TREMENDOUSLY!!! We do not have Wolves or Wolverines and don't really have many Bears at all. I. D. K. If a Wolverine is a huge problem when it comes to an expired deer, but I would assume a free meal is a free meal and Wolverines would probably tear an expired deer up pretty good. Maybe someone with experience with Wolverines can help with this one. I used to live in Michigan and I am still Maize and Blue at heart, but I. D. K. What they are capable of.
So the question is... If you hit a Deer, Elk, Moose, Goat, Sheep, or whatever your hunting TOO FAR BACK and it appears you have made a gut shot, what do you do?? There are obviously many factors that play into this equation. Did you shoot in the morning or night? What kind of broadhead did you use? How did the blood look on the arrow if you retrieve it?? If not... What does your blood trail look like?
With all of these different elements involved in a gut shot. What is your opinion on how long you let a deer lay before tracking it?? TOUGH TOUGH decision here!! I'll give you my opinion then let's here yours.
I personally don't like to let a deer lay over night. It has burned me!! Twice I gut shot deer when I first started hunting and jumped both deer and never found them again. That being said I only gave the animals about half an hour before tracking. The first one I didn't know I gut shot it. I was new to hunting and thought I made a good shot. I was wrong. The second deer was a MASSIVE 9 point and I knew it was a gut shot. I waited half an hour walked the main trail about 50 yards and went to put my arrow in the ground where the deer went off the main trail and headed into the hardwoods. As soon as I pushed the arrow in the ground the deer was laying near by and heard me. It got up and bailed. I was gonna walk back to my stand and wait in it for a couple hours and then start tracking in the night.
My opinion on this topic now is... Broadheads are so much more effective now and even marginal shots should end up in an expired animal in about 2-3 hours. I would just sit where I am and wait the 2-3 hours then go looking. I would definitely pay attention to the sounds of the woods. Listening for Coyotes yelping and howling!! I don't want to leave an animal over night where I hunt. I have gutted deer and went back the next day only to find NO EVIDENCE of a gut pile anymore. What is every one else's opinion?? I know long subject, but it's that important I think!!
I live in Ohio and since around late 1990's Coyotes have been growing in population in our state TREMENDOUSLY!!! We do not have Wolves or Wolverines and don't really have many Bears at all. I. D. K. If a Wolverine is a huge problem when it comes to an expired deer, but I would assume a free meal is a free meal and Wolverines would probably tear an expired deer up pretty good. Maybe someone with experience with Wolverines can help with this one. I used to live in Michigan and I am still Maize and Blue at heart, but I. D. K. What they are capable of.
So the question is... If you hit a Deer, Elk, Moose, Goat, Sheep, or whatever your hunting TOO FAR BACK and it appears you have made a gut shot, what do you do?? There are obviously many factors that play into this equation. Did you shoot in the morning or night? What kind of broadhead did you use? How did the blood look on the arrow if you retrieve it?? If not... What does your blood trail look like?
With all of these different elements involved in a gut shot. What is your opinion on how long you let a deer lay before tracking it?? TOUGH TOUGH decision here!! I'll give you my opinion then let's here yours.
I personally don't like to let a deer lay over night. It has burned me!! Twice I gut shot deer when I first started hunting and jumped both deer and never found them again. That being said I only gave the animals about half an hour before tracking. The first one I didn't know I gut shot it. I was new to hunting and thought I made a good shot. I was wrong. The second deer was a MASSIVE 9 point and I knew it was a gut shot. I waited half an hour walked the main trail about 50 yards and went to put my arrow in the ground where the deer went off the main trail and headed into the hardwoods. As soon as I pushed the arrow in the ground the deer was laying near by and heard me. It got up and bailed. I was gonna walk back to my stand and wait in it for a couple hours and then start tracking in the night.
My opinion on this topic now is... Broadheads are so much more effective now and even marginal shots should end up in an expired animal in about 2-3 hours. I would just sit where I am and wait the 2-3 hours then go looking. I would definitely pay attention to the sounds of the woods. Listening for Coyotes yelping and howling!! I don't want to leave an animal over night where I hunt. I have gutted deer and went back the next day only to find NO EVIDENCE of a gut pile anymore. What is every one else's opinion?? I know long subject, but it's that important I think!!
