Good buck hit, its dark...track or back off?

Crossbow Hunting
Post Reply
kyteach
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:59 am
Location: Southwest Virginia

Good buck hit, its dark...track or back off?

Post by kyteach »

I shot a pretty good buck this evening with my muzzeloader at about 4:30 eastern time. I found bright red blood, but the blood was minimal. After about 150 yards of tracking, we found the last blood right at dark. What would you guys do??? Pursue the buck tonight or give him till the morning? Thanks
Exomax
Groundpounder mount
Boo Custom String
ch312
Posts: 710
Joined: Sat May 28, 2005 3:25 am
Location: Brantford, Ont

Post by ch312 »

if its cold enough, it wouldnt hurt to wait. :wink:
User avatar
korey99
Posts: 431
Joined: Sat Jan 24, 2004 10:07 am
Location: London, Ontario

Post by korey99 »

How warm is it going to be down there? I'd leave him if possible. If it's going to be too warm, you could be in for a long night in the woods. Give him a couple of hours at least.

Korey
ecoaster
Posts: 2889
Joined: Tue Jan 13, 2004 8:35 pm
Location: Nova Scotia

Post by ecoaster »

He probably isn't far from the last blood. Depends on if you have a lot of yotes down there or not. Give him 4 hrs anyway.
I hunt for memories, the meat's a bonus!
kyteach
Posts: 23
Joined: Tue Jun 03, 2008 10:59 am
Location: Southwest Virginia

Post by kyteach »

It's gonna be down in the 30's tonight so the meat wont ruin. I know it's probably best to wait till morning, but i'll have a sleepless night.
Exomax
Groundpounder mount
Boo Custom String
Woody Williams
Posts: 6440
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 5:07 pm

Post by Woody Williams »

Wait.

If he is dead now, he will still be dead in the morning.
Woody Williams

We have met the enemy and he is us - Pogo Possum

Hunting in Indiana at [size=84][color=Red][b][url=http://huntingindiana.proboards52.com]HUNT-INDIANA[/url][/b][/color][/size]
User avatar
wabi
Posts: 13443
Joined: Wed Oct 09, 2002 9:21 pm
Location: Ohio

Post by wabi »

Woody Williams wrote:Wait.

If he is dead now, he will still be dead in the morning.
Very good advice!!!!!!!!!!!
wabi
peter p
Posts: 746
Joined: Thu Sep 25, 2003 10:31 pm
Location: Bolton, Ontario

Post by peter p »

150 yards is a long way to go with a muzzle loader hit.
How was the buck standing when you shot?
Was it a broad side shot or quartering away?
What I do is if I can find blood I keep tracking even in the dark.
If I can't find anymore blood and it's dark, I will mark the last blood with something... usually toilet paper or trail marking tape and come back in the morning.
FredBear
Posts: 675
Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 8:56 pm
Location: NW,Ohio

Post by FredBear »

When in doubt back out! Good luck in finding him.
crazyfarmer
Posts: 5250
Joined: Wed May 24, 2006 10:21 pm
Location: Virginia
Contact:

Post by crazyfarmer »

he definitly woint spoil here tonight 8)

go back and track in the morning.. you can miss things with flashlights... now if you had good blood and hadnt tracked 150 yards I would have went back with some good lights and tracked him, but since you already ventured 150 yards I would definitly back out. Like said, thats a long ways for a ML hit. My guess is he's either hit far forward, low, or back and he knows you are after him. Hopefully he beds up and dies over night

keep us posted.. oh and welcome to the sleepless night club... I cant sleep no matter if I shoot a deer or not :P Hunting season is my issue 8)
mikej
Posts: 5689
Joined: Sat Sep 15, 2007 1:38 pm
Location: ontario

Post by mikej »

i would wait it out also as much as you don't want him to suffer you don't want to pressure him and loos him all together either good luck
Sandman
Posts: 4667
Joined: Thu Jan 01, 2004 5:50 pm
Location: Rice Lake, Ontario

Post by Sandman »

I'd hang 10 til the am~!
Wildlife Management & Reduction Specialist
GA.crossbowhunt
Posts: 507
Joined: Tue Jun 24, 2003 12:25 pm
Location: savannah,ga.
Contact:

Post by GA.crossbowhunt »

and when you go back in the am dont forget the toilet paper for tracking.
excalibur phoenix
lumi-zone
sts system
acu draw 50
custom string by boo
groundpounders mount
cas custom bolts
100gr slick tricks
excalibur shooter for life
Post Reply