Wait Times...

[ScottR]

What do you guys think of this one? Times correct? How about for rifle?

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

It's all about where you punch them! Every animal is different and each react differently. I saw a small forked horn buck run 400 yards after it was shot. My buddy used a 30-06 with a 150 gr bullet, the deer was hit behind the shoulder and never went down on bullet impact. It took off running until it went down. When we went to the spot where it was standing at the shot, we found a handful of lungs and rib bones. The deer had an exit hole that was 6 to 8 big. Every one is different, you just can't predict what will happen every time.

 

[JimP]

My philosophy has always been, if you can't see that the animal is down then you need to wait, especially when archery hunting.

I have seen both deer and elk drop on the spot when hit with a arrow, I have also seen them go hundreds of yards on killing shots.

I once shot a 3x3 buck mule deer at 20 yards with a 7mm mag and 150 grain bullet. That deer went 200 yards before he hit a tree and fell over. When I cleaned him I just shook my head, he had no lungs left.

 

[Winchester]

Yeah, back in PA my Dad taught me to aim for the heart. With a 30-06 and ballistic tips they would blow up the the heart and shred the lungs.
Bang flop ... normally.
I also watched one small buck he hit exactly like that run straight up hill nearly 200yards before it fell over. You just never know.

 

[mallardsx2]

Archery

100% gut shot- 18-24 hours
100% liver- 8 hours
100% Lungs- grab your gear and get to tracking.

Anything unsure track and see what things look like for 75 yards. Then back out if necessary.

This year I got 1 lung/liver. That bull was dead in 2 minutes. I insisted that we wait 2 hours because I knew it was 1/4'ing a little.

 

[Hilltop]

Heart or double lung with either - 30 minutes max.

Hard to hit just the liver but if an archery hit, wait a couple hours and evaluate blood trail. Guessing a lot of gut shot deer the hunter is hoping he hit the liver.

Gut, 8-12 hours and still hunt/sneak on the blood trail.

Shoulder? ASAP with a dog? Not sure what they are saying. If I hit a deer in the shoulder, I have hit lungs. If for some reason it didn't penetrate, I'll hopefully get a shot at him on a future day because it isn't a lethal hit.

 

[buckbull]

Well if I wait more than a couple hours then the coyotes have already started eating the ass out of the deer. Heart or Lung shot I track immediately. If its gut shot i'll wait a few hours and give it a shot but most likely its more of a salvage the antler situation because the coyotes will already be on it. I end up only taking very high percentage shots with either bow or gun because a marginal hit will almost always result in coyote feed.

 

[mallardsx2]

yikes

 

[dan maule]

The majority of my bow kills are within 30 minutes of last light. I will get out of the stand pretty quick pick up the trail for 20 or 30 yards and make a decision how long to wait at that point. When I am able to recover the arrow I generally know pretty quick if I am in trouble or not. Like others have said already I have had double lung hits go a 1/4 mile and I've had them pile up in 50 yards. I had one that was hit in one lung and the liver that was still alive (just barely) when I found it 18 hours later.

 

[BrandonM]

What do you guys think of this one? Times correct? How about for rifle?
View attachment 32318

Cool chart. It is definitely promoting longer wait times than generally needed, which is good overall. A double lung shot is so quick and lethal. However, like it says, "When in doubt back out". Nothing worse than losing an animal, especially after you've bumped them in their death bed.