looking?

[Sundance]

Your thoughts...

[hoyt2002]

I usually sit down and reflect on the moment for about a half hour to an hour then move up to the spot the animal was standing. I inspect the area for signs that the shot was good or bad the start trailing the animal. 

[MAVsled]

archery hunting; I like to wait at least 45 minutes after a good feeling shot.
hit a bit farther back, perhaps the liver, I'd wait an hour or more. But never stuck one far back yet (knock on wood).

One December archery season, I made the good 30 yard shot on a 3pt blackie with 10 minutes of daylight left. Well, waited those 10 minutes (hmm maybe 5 in my excitement and impending darkness) and entered the reprod from the clearcut edge. Buck jumped up 20 yards away and took off. I backed out, it was dark and went back to camp. Returned the next morning to find the buck 80 yards farther in than where I jumped him the night before. A good double lung shot too. But then the temps were in the mid to low 30's.

on the other hand, the last 3 muley bucks I've shot with my 300 win mag never went more than 10 feet from where they were standing.
Exception: one went 200 feet....rolling head over ass downhill   

[Antlerking]

Depends on were you are hunting, if you are hunting the clockum then you run it down so no one else tags it. I have personly had elk takin away and tagged by someone else, I have now left that area and have never returned

[hoyt2002]

that sucks king. what the hell are they going to tell there hunting buddies that they stole and elk or come up with a lie about how they killed it. they will always know it was a lie every time they see those horns.
I don't know how they live with themselves. I found a legal buck this year I ran into the hunters alittle later and walked them to there buck. that's how it should go IMO.   

[hoyt2002]

down south  I wouldn't want to leave one over night. up here it even depends on the year. Ive seen some very poor field care that i wouldnt want to have dinner at the peaples house if they were serving those animals. some peaples just don't care or don't know what there doing. I'm betting the peaple on tv are not eating them anyways its going to shelters or something.

[alecvg]

All depends on how good the shot is.  My bear this year I watched drop and roll over 100 yds, and I knew exactly where it was, in a bush behind a stump.  So as soon as we knew my brothers bear was down as well, we headed over to mine, probally within 15 minutes of shooting it, we were rolling it down the hill to where my brothers bear was.  If I am not 100% sure of where it is, or if it is down, I will wait at least 30 min before heading over to it.

[MIKEXRAY]

2009 I shot a cow @ 30 yards a little high in the chest. I waited an hour, went to where I hit her & found a great blood trail with bubbles. I followed the trail & jumped her out of a bed a 100 yards from the shot. I sat down for 15 minutes & with the blood in the bed & still on the trail I decided to follow again. 200 yards down the trail I found the next bed abandoned presumably from me coming along.  If I would of waited longer initially & at the first bed I wouldn't of chased her for a longer trail. It was my first blood trail ( all other animals died in sight ) and the amount of blood fooled me / got me excited. I learned a good lesson & any hit less than perfect I am sitting 2 hours for sure, also following slower. Mike

[ICEMAN]

To be honest, I usually take off immediataly for the game. I have never waited.

[Skyvalhunter]

Kevin doesn't mess around he gets it done. Actually it depends on the weapon and circumstances.

[ICEMAN]

Adrenaline pumping thru the veins....I don't see how you guys can wait... 

[Hunterman]

I just have to walk up to them..I haven't had to track an animal in over 25 years,,(I hate tracking)...When I get to them, their heads are missing some much needed things..

Hunterman(Tony)

[dirty24d]

I'm with iceman on this one .  I dont wait more than a few minutes if the animal leaves my sight. i just prep myself and move very slow.

[bow-n-head]

I don't like to wait either. If it is a good hit the animal usually expires in a matter of minuets. Why wait. I made a bad shot on a cow elk, waited 5 hours to go in to where I saw her bed. She ran out of there leaving no blood trail to follow. That was the last I saw of her. I have got right after poorly hit animals and that kept the blood pumping. It made for a long day but we ended up with the game. Once on a 6 pt bull and once with an antelope.

[sakoshooter]

Since you put this thread in a gun column, I'll answer it - Right away. Cuz he's usually layin dead about 2 seconds after the bang.