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Don’t Rush the Chase – How Long to Wait After Shooting a Deer

Hunting, as much as it is an exhilarating pursuit, often requires more patience after the shot than during the stalk. While a perfectly placed arrow or bullet may lead to a quick recovery, the real test begins after the adrenaline rush settles. The decision on when to begin tracking your deer can mean the difference between a successful harvest and a long, fruitless search through the woods. Here’s a comprehensive look at what you should know and how to handle different scenarios.

Heart Shot: The Ideal Outcome

Heart Shot The Ideal Outcome
Image Credit: Survival World

The heart shot is the most lethal placement for taking down a deer. When hit in the heart, a deer will typically react with a dramatic mule kick or Bronco-like bucking before sprinting off. Despite this initial burst of energy, most deer won’t make it far. Often, they collapse within sight of the hunter’s stand.

The blood trail from a heart shot is unmistakable – bright crimson red, heavy, and often bubbly due to its proximity to the lungs. With this type of shot, you can start tracking almost immediately. However, even in this seemingly straightforward case, it’s a good idea to take a few moments to gather your bearings and observe the deer’s direction of travel.

Lung Shots: Double or Single, They’re Not the Same

Lung Shots Double or Single, They’re Not the Same
Image Credit: Survival World

The lungs are another excellent target zone, but the recovery process can differ depending on whether one or both lungs are hit. A double-lung shot often results in a dead deer within 100 yards, with a blood trail characterized by frothy, pinkish blood. The wait time here is relatively short – 30 minutes or less is usually sufficient.

A single-lung shot, however, is a different story. Due to the redundancy of the lungs, the deer can continue to function on the remaining lung for hours. Recovery after a single-lung hit often requires a wait of 6-9 hours to ensure the animal has expired. It’s critical not to spook the deer from its first bed, as this could prolong the chase and reduce your chances of a successful recovery.

Liver Shot: A Gut Feeling

Liver Shot A Gut Feeling
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When a deer is struck in the liver, the situation becomes trickier. The liver, located further back in the body, is less forgiving when it comes to precision. Hits in this area produce dark blood, sometimes mixed with stomach contents if the shot also grazed the gut.

Liver-shot deer often bed down quickly and expire in their first resting place if left undisturbed. However, tracking too soon can cause the deer to flee, significantly complicating the recovery. Waiting 6-9 hours is typically advised, and marking the deer’s direction of travel is essential.

Gut Shot: The Patience Test

Gut Shot The Patience Test
Image Credit: Survival World

A gut shot is every hunter’s nightmare. This type of wound is not immediately lethal and is often accompanied by a sparse, foul-smelling blood trail. The deer’s reaction—arching its back and flicking its tail – can be a telltale sign of this unfortunate placement.

Recovering a gut-shot deer requires extreme patience. Hunters are advised to wait at least 12 hours, and possibly longer, before attempting to track. Spooking the deer from its initial bed can make recovery nearly impossible, as these deer tend to travel far distances with minimal blood loss.

Non-Vital Hits: Tough Lessons in Resilience

Non Vital Hits Tough Lessons in Resilience
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Not every shot is fatal, and non-vital hits can teach hunters a lot about the resilience of deer. Shots to bone, muscle, or non-lethal areas like the neck or lower legs often result in little blood loss and significant challenges in tracking. While these injuries may not kill the deer, they can cause undue suffering, underscoring the importance of proper shot placement and practice.

The Importance of Observation

The Importance of Observation
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What happens immediately after the shot is as important as the shot itself. Observing the deer’s behavior – whether it runs, beds down, or hunches – provides critical clues about the shot placement and how long you should wait before tracking. Resist the urge to immediately jump down from your stand; instead, focus on marking landmarks and noting the deer’s direction of travel.

Blood Trails and Their Stories

Blood Trails and Their Stories
Image Credit: Survival World

Blood trails vary depending on the shot placement, and understanding what you’re seeing can guide your tracking decisions. Bright red and frothy blood suggests a lung shot, while dark blood hints at a liver hit. Sparse blood trails with greenish stomach content indicate a gut shot. Taking the time to analyze these signs can save hours of fruitless searching.

When in Doubt, Back Out

When in Doubt, Back Out
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The golden rule of tracking is simple: when in doubt, back out. It’s better to wait longer than necessary than to risk bumping the deer from its first bed. A spooked deer can travel great distances, often leaving little to no trail behind. The most patient hunters are often the most successful.

The Role of Tracking Dogs

The Role of Tracking Dogs
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In challenging cases, especially with gut or single-lung shots, tracking dogs can be invaluable. Trained dogs have a remarkable ability to follow faint trails and recover deer that might otherwise be lost. If you have access to a tracking dog, don’t hesitate to use this resource.

Meat Spoilage Concerns

Meat Spoilage Concerns
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One of the common worries after a delayed recovery is meat spoilage, particularly in warmer climates or early-season hunts. Fortunately, the natural cooling process overnight often preserves the meat long enough for a morning recovery. The key is ensuring the deer expires in its first bed by giving it plenty of time and space.

Practice and Preparation Are Key

Practice and Preparation Are Key
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Ultimately, the best way to ensure a quick and ethical recovery is to practice your shots and understand deer anatomy thoroughly. Proper preparation minimizes the risk of poor shot placement and increases the likelihood of a clean kill.

Every hunting scenario is unique, and no single rule applies universally. However, the principles of observation, patience, and preparation will serve any hunter well. Remember, the goal is not just to take the shot but to recover the animal ethically and efficiently. By understanding what happens after the shot, hunters can ensure that their efforts are both successful and respectful of the game they pursue.