if you shoot a deer in the last minutes of daylight

[DOUBLELUNG]

Guts out ASAP or quartered/boned out ASAP.

I don't know where you will be hunting, but if you (or any other new hunter hunting solo) need help with your first animal, a post on here with your phone number and request for help will probably get results in any part of the state.  Good luck!

[gaddy]

It is a good question for a new hunter. I have seen countless times where experienced hunters will say it was shot at last light. We are going to back out and wait until morning to track it, only to find out it went down in twenty or thirty yards of the shot. If it goes down, and is found after dark, yes, deal with it now. But, I can see where this could get confusing. If it's OK to leave it lay until morning to find it, why isn't it OK to leave it until morning to dress it ?
I am in the process it now camp and remember a time where it was 2:30 in the morning when we got done and hung. A good question and some good answers here. And awesome offers of help.

[Lincoln4]

My buddies and I have always brought plenty of light to find, recover, and gut it.  I can think of one time that we left one out overnight.  That had to do with a weak blood trail...

[Stein]

Probably 85% of the time I shoot within an hour of legal shooting. 

Fortunately my truck has yet to turn into a pumpkin.  I don’t quit until the animal is on ice.  Sometimes that is 10 pm, sometimes midnight, sometimes later. 

If I was backpacking in, it might change, but I care too much about the meat to trade it for sleep.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[NumaJohn]

Great responses to this reasonable question!

I agree that as hunters we should do all we can to care for the animals we harvest and thus avoid the chances of meat spoilage.

One factor that the OP alluded to (and that Old Man Yager addressed) is the different conditions presented in the woods at night vs. the day. Predators are more active after daylight, and it's easier to get lost, to trip over deadfall, etc. Those are not reasons or excuses to avoid doing what is ethical, but they do raise the stakes for hunters trudging through darkness with heavy loads that are giving off fresh-meat odors into the wind.

I remember solo packing out part of an elk in the dark. At first, I was alert and worried. After I became exhausted, things were much better. My mind became focused on just getting to the rig, and at that point I was not at all worried about the boogie man, or the bear with a zeal for fresh elk meat.

John

[CAMPMEAT]

If you leave it overnight, the coyotes will eat 99% of it.....

[KFhunter]

I left a deer out once for 5-6 hours over night, found it the next morning 3/4 eaten.  One of my first topics on HW was about that. 

Haven't done that since.

https://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,85984.msg1076961.html#msg1076961

[Okanagan]

At least gut it and prop the chest open.  Always.  I am old enough to have done it before headlamps were common, holding a flashlight in my teeth till my jaws ached.  We have better tools now.  A newbie may be slow but someone with experience can gut a deer in 5 or 10 minutes.

Re coyotes and other critters eating the meat left overnight:  I gather a small pile of branches, put the butt ends together and urinate on the tops.  Then pick up by the butt end and place them around the meat or gutted animal to be left, without touching meat of course.  That is a forceful statement in predator language, and I have never had any meat eaten and left many animals overnight in WA, ID and British Columbia.  I suspect  a grizzly or a wolverine would ignore it but other meat eaters are likely to leave it alone for at least one night.   

[ghosthunter]

Well if you come across our camp, we are happy to lend a hand with any problem.

Goes for anyone.

Watch for our avatar.

[jnordwell]

I carry 1 headlamp and lots of batteries 1 normal light same batteries.. you track it and then as many have said the real fun starts.. either bone it out or make a backpack out of it and head back to the barn.

[JeffRaines]

I guess I don't understand anyone would consider not immediately field dressing (boneless/gutless, quarters/gutless, just gutting, whatever) any big game animal upon shooting/dropping it (or finding it after tracking)? 

This is where I'm at. Sure there are variables to every scenario, but if your animal is on the ground, get it gutted and cleaned up at a minimum. It's not a big deal and really, it's your responsibility to not risk losing the meat by not doing it.

If you aren't prepared to find it, gut it, and get it out in the dark, then don't shoot it at last light. You owe it to the animal. Like it's already been stated, be prepared, headlights and anything else you need.e personally, I've been out enough after dark recovering animals that I'm comfortable with it. Some aren't, and that's ok, everybody's got thier limits, but don't potentially waste meat if you're not prepared. 

Came here to say this - I know the pressure is on to get an animal on the ground, but keep in mind the time and what you're willing to do/comfortable with and work accordingly. If you're honestly not comfortable trampling around in the bushes by headlamp looking for your deer after the shot, don't take the shot. Know that if you pull the trigger, you're 100% committed. You might have an all-nighter ahead of you.

[Romulus1297]

You are right people want to say they have something down just like a bear that was shot in the guts here last weekend and not recovered but the professional hunters who are members here won't mention it.  pretty sorry hunters.

[Henrydog]

Hook, line, sinker, rod set....I think, I hope you guys got caught by a fishing troll.

[baker5150]

If you leave it overnight, the coyotes will eat 99% of it.....

I've been told to lay my coat or shirt over the animal if leaving over night.  The yotes won't touch it due to human scent.

Never tested the theory.

[Okanagan]

If you leave it overnight, the coyotes will eat 99% of it.....

Gather a small pile of branches and urinate on the tops.  Pick up by the butt ends and place them around the meat or gutted animal.  I have left many animals overnight in WA, ID and BC and never had any meat eaten.  Condensed and repeated this tip, for clarity.