How long to wait before tracking a deer (crossbow)?

[FergusonTO35]

Hey guys. About 25 minutes ago I arrowed a big doe with my crossbow. Arrow went clean through and into the ground, lots of bright blood on it. She ran off and up the hill. Ive never taken one with an arrow before, how long should I wait to track her? If I don't find her tonight the coyotes will. Thanks!

 

[Da dog man]

Prolly an hr or so minimum from the looks of the arrow

 

[huskihl]

Deer don’t normally run uphill when they are mortally wounded. They always head downhill for water. I would take your chances and let her lay down to possibly bleed out.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Gonna have to come back tomorrow, my eyes are playing tricks on me and every clump of grass looks like a dead deer! I'm about certain that was a good shot, she's just old and tough.

 

[Da dog man]

Did u fine her?

 

[FergusonTO35]

Had church stuff this morning, am looking for her right now. Brought my .30-30 crossbow in case she doesn't realize she is dead.

 

[FergusonTO35]

Got her squared away. She was pretty big, about 175. Unfortunately gonna have some meat loss due to the heat but I'm glad I found her.

 

[FergusonTO35]

If anybody wants the hide, let me know. I told the processor to save it.

 

[geslayton]

Glad you found her. Some helpful tips for the future, the best light I’ve ever found for looking for blood is a Coleman lantern, something about the glow makes blood stand out. Another tip is put some hydrogen peroxide in a spray bottle, if you think it might be blood, spray some on it and see if it bubbles.

 

[Sloughfoot]

Got her squared away. She was pretty big, about 175. Unfortunately gonna have some meat loss due to the heat but I'm glad I found her.View attachment 471618

Where did the bolt enter and exit?

 

[FergusonTO35]

Right where I aimed, behind the shoulder through both lungs. Distance was about 25 yards.

 

[Mad Professor]

Happy hunting.

Glad you got the deer and not the coyotes.

 

[Sloughfoot]

How far did she go?

 

[FergusonTO35]

She laid down about 75 yards from where I shot her but she did wander around a bit.

 

[Mad Professor]

Not sure how cold your nights are now? We were hit and miss frosts last week, maybe hard frost this Thursday?

If the shot was in the chest most of meat should still be OK overnight.

 

[blades]

I wait about 1//2 hour or so

 

[FergusonTO35]

Not sure how cold your nights are now? We were hit and miss frosts last week, maybe hard frost this Thursday?

If the shot was in the chest most of meat should still be OK overnight.

We are still having alot of 80 degree days, nights getting down into the 50s. The butcher said that the hind quarters were questionable but the rest should be ok. In the past during rifle season when its cooler, I have not recovered deer for 24 hours and they were still just fine. I should have gotten up at dark thirty on Sunday morning and went looking for her instead of waiting til after church. Oh well, ya live and ya learn.

 

[Mad Professor]

We are still having alot of 80 degree days, nights getting down into the 50s. The butcher said that the hind quarters were questionable but the rest should be ok. In the past during rifle season when its cooler, I have not recovered deer for 24 hours and they were still just fine. I should have gotten up at dark thirty on Sunday morning and went looking for her instead of waiting til after church. Oh well, ya live and ya learn.

We just had a heat wave in the 70s, 40-50s nights. Looks like first real widespread frost coming up and highs 50-60s.

I cut up my own game. Chest cavity just a lot of blood. Lower cavity a lot of spoiled meat. Your nose knows.

Not sure why hindquarters be bad? I've taken off the quarters and the backstraps of deer that took a while to find. Did not bother with going into the cavities.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I could see that they were turning yellow on the surface. The flies did get to her, I don't know if that would cause any problems.