Ever had to leave a critter overnight/

[sawmill]

I got a good shot on a good 4x4 on Nov. 11 evening at (paced off) 140 yards but when I got to where (I thought) I hit him there was no sign except a lot of mixed up tracks at the crossing.Light was fading fast and it was snowing by then.I decided to do one thing I never have had to before.Leave him.Pretty shitty and sleepless night replaying the shot over a thousand times.Almost always they fall down in their tracks but he was getting ready to bail and I did rush it a bit.Rifle is tuned in and I remember thinking to aim behind the shoulder,don`t rush but hurry!I went back next morning and hung out till it was light enough to see.4 inches of snow overnight which made it real shitty ,any sign wiped ot..
So I started a grid search and after nearly an hour I looked over my shoulder and spotted his rack sticking out of the snow under a blowdown bullpine..He had run 80 yards right back to me after hitting the bush.I was so happy to see that and nothing had ate him overnight.Lying in 5 inches of snow with -5 overnight saved him.Him going right back to me after the shot was the thing that made him so hard to find.At the end I thought I was searching way too close to where I shot him but I was out of ideas.Just goes to show,never give up.Not a giant but an old 18 inch 4x4 with 7 inch brows and a huge body for EK whities,never wieghed but one of the fattest I ever got here,over 200 lbs. live.The bullet was exactly where I wanted it,right behind the shoulder,halfway down the ribs,cleaned out the boiler room.Never had one run so far,so well hit.What a great feeling to find him!Took all the badness I was feeling right away!I felt real good about butchering him too,he is tender and well earned.Never give up.At least not within the first 2 days.

[406elcamino]

The last Deer I shot did the same thing I shot him right behind shoulder about 70yards I seen him duck down and run back from the direction he came I thought maybe I missed??? There wasn't any blood or fur so I ran to where he Was and headed right to the timber line i searched out this entire area and it was very dark. I had a feeling that somehow maybe i did miss? A buddy was helping to he didn't see anything so I climbed up a burn pile to see what I could and sure enough he was maybe 30ft from where I hit him piled up under some small fir trees didn't have a drop of blood at all

[newhunterette]

So very glad your perserverance paid off dear friend, I can only imagine the night of tossing and turning you had............just think everytime you eat a tender morsel of this critter you will savour each and every bite.


I love hearing great endings like this and they are even better when they are stories told by and about my friends.
:) Alison

[Ron.C]

I recently had a situation where I had to back out and come back in with my dog and a buddy to find my deer after dark. Got lucky and it turned out well. no, I never had to wait all night but I know you pain. Good to hear you got your buck

[hunter1993ap]

we have left a lot of animals over night, all of the ones we had were field dressed and we would put branches and a coat on it. never lost anything but there are no grizz where we are. would be taking different measures if there were grizz. glad you found him.

[yota]

I had to leave a doe over night in late october. I knew mt arrow struck true but same thing in the thick forest to light levels drop fast. I found my doe the following morning I must have been stand ing right beside her when i went down to check for blood and on my arrow cause she she wasnt more then 20yards from me but on the othrerside of a few cris crossed trees and i couldn't see her the the night before.

[J_T]

As a bowhunter we are forced to leave lots out overnight. Pick up the trail in the morning. We've lost one to cougar, one to bears, but most we find intact. Once again, as a bowhunter, it raises those questions of ethics, how late in the afternoon or in a rain, should you take the shot. You know you will have to track the animal. Knowing when "not" to shoot is the key for a bowhunter. Bowhunters are the best blood hounds in the business. Lots of practice.

[Jagermeister]

I dumped a moose late in the afternoon one time. By the time my partner and I got it out of the water, the moon was shinning brightly. We gutted him by the light of the moon and the aid of the flashlight. There was no way that we could get him out so we left him in the bush. Hoisted him into a tree as high as we could with our little turfer, placed a jacket on his hide and whizzed in a circle around him. (For what that was worth) Returned early the next morning and carted him off, it appeared that we had no critter visitors during the 6 or so hours that he was alone.
I didn't leave this deer, but this story bears a similarity to Sawmill's about making the shot.
It was a bright and sunny morning with fresh snow from overnight as I climbed out of the canyon on McIntyre Creek.
I heading back to the truck. Hadn't cut a deer track all morining and what prompted me to circle back to the truck was a fresh set of cougar tracks. I always figure that if you see cat tracks, not likely to see deer.
Anyhow, I scrambled up the hill and was marching along the rim when I spotted a buck at what I estimated to be about 125 yards and slightly downhill. Up with the 300 Savage and off with the first shot. Deer just stood there so I chambered another round and let fly. The deer tumbled from my sight.
I could not make my way straight to him because it would force me to enter into a small ravine and I would lose sight of the area where I thought the deer to be. So I deviated off to the right about 100 or so yards allowing me to have visual contact with the area. I then altered my course back toward where I thought the deer to be.
Upon arrival, there was no deer nor any sign of deer. No track, no blood in the snow. Well, scratch my ass.
I could see the spot that I had shot from. For some reason, I decided to make a beeline toward it. That was the smart move because I found the buck in a small ground depression about 30 yards back toward the shooting spot and just a few yards back from the top edge of the ravine.
I had over estimated the distance which I attributed to the light conditions playing tricks on my eyes.

[Sitkaspruce]

I and partners have left quite a few animals over night. Have had two problems;

One, my partner shot a nice bull moose 20 min before dark, we dressed and semi skinned him and proped him up with air circulating under his back. Came back the next morning, grizz had dragged him down to the creek and buried him. We managed to salvage 90% of him. never did see the grizz, but my hair stood up on the back of my neck when the moose was not where he was supposed to be and couls see him partially buried down by the creek.

Other incident was with a moose again, client shot him way down in the burn. Quartered him and placed the quarters on willow brush about 100' away from the kill site. Did the usual markings to ensure we would not walk into a serious problem. The next morning, everything was fine from a distance, walked up to the meat and things looked good, until we noticed one front shoulder missing. We found it 30' away with a wolverine leaving the scene fast!!!

When I leave something over night, I try to pi$$ around the site, I leave my jacket and gloves there and I find a pole around 20-25' in length, tie a bunch of bright pink flagging tape on it and drive it through the ribs or into the ground to ensure it stays up and is visible. That way, when you go back the next day, if you cannot see the ribbon and/or pole, you know something has been on the kill site. Makes you approach things in a different way

Knock on wood, but I have never left animal overnight that I had not recovered first.

Good on you Sawmill for your preserverence and dedication to finding the animal.

Cheers

SS

[YAMMY-CA]

As a bowhunter we are forced to leave lots out overnight. Pick up the trail in the morning. We've lost one to cougar, one to bears, but most we find intact. Once again, as a bowhunter, it raises those questions of ethics, how late in the afternoon or in a rain, should you take the shot. You know you will have to track the animal. Knowing when "not" to shoot is the key for a bowhunter. Bowhunters are the best blood hounds in the business. Lots of practice.

So do you punch your tag on the one's you killed but didn't retrieve?? I would guess that would test your "ethics"

[field marshal]

Sawmill, I think what you are telling us is you knew bloody well your shot was good!! So like the true sportsman you weren't giving up! Snow or no snow!!! Many years ago this same scenario played itself out with me! I also recovered my animal. Congrats on finding your deer.:-D I think this is a good
lesson for young and old about never giving up!! Thanks for posting this great story! ---Cheers---Field Marshal.

[The Dude]

Dinner at Sawmill's house! :D

[325]

As a bowhunter we are forced to leave lots out overnight. Pick up the trail in the morning. We've lost one to cougar, one to bears, but most we find intact. Once again, as a bowhunter, it raises those questions of ethics, how late in the afternoon or in a rain, should you take the shot. You know you will have to track the animal. Knowing when "not" to shoot is the key for a bowhunter. Bowhunters are the best blood hounds in the business. Lots of practice.

Why leave something overnight? A double lung shot with an arrow will kill a deer fast. I suppose a questionable shot would warrant waiting the night, but a solid hit...maybe 30 minute wait?

[J_T]

So do you punch your tag on the one's you killed but didn't retrieve?? I would guess that would test your "ethics"Huh? What sort of question is that? We went through the, "when you cut your tag" in a previous thread. Short answer. I punch my tag when I'm standing over a dead animal. I didn't say we failed to retrieve. If you bowhunt, you will be tracking. If you bowhunt close to dark you will leave animals overnight. Nothing unethical about that. Ethics might come in to how late you choose to let go of the arrow. Don't even start with me about wound loss. Rifle loss far exceeds bow wound loss.

[J_T]

Why leave something overnight? A double lung shot with an arrow will kill a deer fast. I suppose a questionable shot would warrant waiting the night, but a solid hit...maybe 30 minute wait? You're blood trailing. Depending on the vegetation and ground cover, things happen, and it gets dark. Sometimes its a needle in a haystack.

[Panic]

You're blood trailing. Depending on the vegetation and ground cover, things happen, and it gets dark. Sometimes its a needle in a haystack.

No need to justify yourself J-T, every single hunt is different. As long as we all practice our hunts to the best of standards and our heart is at peace with the choices we make that's all that matters. Every hunter makes choices that might be questioned when written and read, but actually being there and making that choice is all down to the moment at hand.

I've never had to leave an animal overnight to date, nothing says I might not have to one day.... Congrats on finding ur prey Sawmill and not giving up!

[300]

The animal wasn't rotten? He would have been pretty bloated?

[IHUNTBC]

Never had to leave an animal ....been close a few times.....yes that would play on my mind all night........hope it never comes to that....glad you got him

[Glenny]

On a trip we lost a moose after the shot. We stumbled on it the next day about a km from where it was shot at, in a river. it was bloated and stunk to high heaven when we opened it up. Loins went sour but the rest was fine. Best moose meat I ever had actually. Pretty spooky getting it out cause we was in prime griz countree.

[dmace]

http://www.huntingbc.ca/photos/data/500/medium/Resize_of_dinner_2_.jpg (javascript:;)
Had to leave a couple over night . Unfortunately this was one . Only one I have lost . It still bothers me !

[The Dude]

Wolves or Yotes, D?

[dmace]

Wolves ,
could here them barking as we closed in on the deer , never did see one .

[Caribou_lou]

We have left many animals over night. Moose, deer, goat, grizzly. We always leave an article of clothing by the kill. And make a good attempt at moving the gut a ways away.

[hunter1947]

I have left many elk and deer in the bush after shooting them late evening ,,as long as it is cool enough at night and the animal is up on some logs under its back off the ground rib cage opened up facing 12oc if the body was left on the ground could cause the meat on the ground side to spoil..

We then come back first day light to get the animal out ,,so far have not had any predators come in and claim the animal ,,if it is hot or warm out its a different story got to work that eary evening night and if so late into the morning to get the animal out...

[sawmill]

The animal wasn't rotten? He would have been pretty bloated?

Nope,like I said he was laying on 5 inches of snow with 3 inches on top from the overnighter and it was - 5 all night .He was in fine condition.I didn`t find him the night before and leave him,I COULD NOT find him that evening.Otherwise he would have been hanging,don`t care how long it took.The worst part was I was up at 4 A.M.looking out my door Yippie!,it hadn`t snowed during the night!Now to wait till I can see,around 7`ish.About 5 A.M. it started to snow like it was the goddamn cure for winter.I was pretty sick about it,there goes anything from the evening before.

Point is,a well thought out ,methodical grid really does work (if you hit him good).If I had not found him by noon I was coming back in with my 5 month old Walker hound pup,don`t know how she would have done but.....what the hell!
By the way,he is really tasty!And I don`t have that sick feeling in my gut either from what might have been a shitty hunt.
To the Dude,I saved a tenderlion come and get it!

[The Dude]

To the Dude,I saved a tenderlion come and get it!

Save it for me, I'll bring the beer :D

[sawmill]

Save it for me, I'll bring the beer :D

You are on but I don`t drink beer anymore,make it a good bold red chiras or merlot.Goes great with deer.About 5 bottles should do it ,then we`ll hit the Indian Casino at Mission Creek!I`m feeling lucky.Hope you are a good fighter,I`m a really fast runner.

[The Dude]

You are on but I don`t drink beer anymore,make it a good bold red chiras or merlot.Goes great with deer.About 5 bottles should do it ,then we`ll hit the Indian Casino at Mission Creek!I`m feeling lucky.Hope you are a good fighter,I`m a really fast runner.

You're gonna leave me at the desk?
PS: Merlot's for yuppies, I'll bring some Pinot Noir. :D

[hunter1947]

Nope,like I said he was laying on 5 inches of snow with 3 inches on top from the overnighter and it was - 5 all night .He was in fine condition.I didn`t find him the night before and leave him,I COULD NOT find him that evening.Otherwise he would have been hanging,don`t care how long it took.The worst part was I was up at 4 A.M.looking out my door Yippie!,it hadn`t snowed during the night!Now to wait till I can see,around 7`ish.About 5 A.M. it started to snow like it was the goddamn cure for winter.I was pretty sick about it,there goes anything from the evening before.

Point is,a well thought out ,methodical grid really does work (if you hit him good).If I had not found him by noon I was coming back in with my 5 month old Walker hound pup,don`t know how she would have done but.....what the hell!
By the way,he is really tasty!And I don`t have that sick feeling in my gut either from what might have been a shitty hunt.
To the Dude,I saved a tenderlion come and get it!


I have lost a few animals due to a bad shot late evening went back the next morning first light and found the animal the temperature was cold at this time of the year -6 at night I tagged and dressed out the animal eating this animal latter on through the year was as tasty as any others I had shot and cleaned on the spot..

[husky30-06]

we have had to leave one moose over night, long pack off the mountain and ran out of light so we dropped the quarters, left our jackets and pissed all around. We headed back in right at daylight, no animals had bothered it. i dont like to leave animals over night as i hate to sneak in the next day wondering if im being watched...LOL
on my last hunting trip i ran across a nice 4x4 (but unable to shoot him) a short time after that i heard three shots from the general area and moved in to give a hand. when i got there the two guys had shot him and were packing up to go retrieve. it was a heavy hit, lots of blood, but him ran off...............we tracked him in circles for a couple of hours and nothing, blood trail ran dry in the fresh snow, the guys left for town to get their dogs to track him. they showed back up about two hours or so later, i heard the dogs off in the distance and they did come across him again but to no avail. Hats off to them, they were back three times to look for him, not sure if they managed to get him or not. these guys are part time HBC'ers and they gave one hell of an effort to recover the guy.

[sawmill]

Yeah,that`s the way.Couple years ago me and Wifey were out till midnight dragging an elk back to the truck in the pouring pissin rain,I wasn`t going to leave it overnight for the bears and Yotes.Had to chainsaw a drag path through the blowdown pine in the dark,Christ what an ordeal..Good brave woman she is,Phil from Duck Dynasty would love her.Sure was nice to wake up next morning and have it on the rack instead of in the bush.I have never left anything overnight if I found it.Camped beside a moose once though,good big fire and the rifle.

[valleycowboy]

wow......i can't believe someone posted this topic,lol......wed. afternoon i was out bow hunting and had a 3x3 at 30 yards,as i was about to release the arrow,the buck took a step and my shot was back abit.right away i thought liver and i left the area and came back an hour later(just as it was getting dark),i followed the blood trail and jumped the buck and he ran into the thick crap.......i didn't want to do it but i decided to leave it till the morning.that was the first animal i have left.....made for a long night and $hitty thoughts running through my head.the next morning i read this thread and chuckled,lol.
when i got to the last spot i seen the deer,i picked up the track(no blood),then the tracks were gone.....start the grid search......long story short.......found the deer around the last place i heard him in the timber.
moral of the story.......if you aren't sure about the shot.........DON'T PUSH IT!!!!! give the animal time to expire and come back later!!!!!
as an experienced hunter but newer to bow hunting,it is a good lesson to learn.

[panhead]

Left quite a few moose out in the bush overnight. One left a few days until we got around to getting it out. It was well cared for and hanging on a meat pole. It was the only one we had a loss with - to a bear. Never did see it. I will say it did know what are the best cuts ...