Push an animal or let it bed?

[sidebuster]

Depends where you are hunting.  If you are hunting where there are lots of coyotes (like south texas) you better find it sooner than later.  In south Texas if you wait to find it the next day, yep you'll find it but only the carcass with the head.

[trapperzeke]

Originally posted by Buckeye Trad Hunter:
 

Originally posted by Tree Rat:
I have read both sides of that coin and tried both sides of that coin.

Guess what? I got mixed results.....

Same here.  I've had some animals actually just lay down and allow you to end things and I've had others run clear out of the country (or so it seems.)  In all honesty though, I think that you're better off in most cases to back off and let them be for a while.  Adrenaline does amazing things. [/b]

+3
I've managed to run down a few wounded deer, some hit harder than others.  A couple were ones I put bad hits on, others were just blood spots I happened across.  I've learned that in my youthful exuberance days, I probably could've run down a perfectly healthy deer and got a shot on it with a gun.  All those deer covered miles of ground, though all but one made big circles.  One of those deer had laid long enough with a gunshot to the gut/back ham that it had started to fester.  A couple others had entirely superficial wounds that would have healed.  Those ones would not have been found dead after laying overnight.
That being said, I'll always leave a questionable hit to lay these days.  Mostly because I am not as young or fit as I once was to dog a deer like that.  But also because I don't hunt the large properties/Nat'l forest I used to, and the fact that a couple of those deer I chased for miles would have laid down and died if I had let them.  Even if they don't die, they will likely bed close and be reluctant to get up right away, offering a possible shot if you're careful about stalking the trail the next day.

[Bowwild]

I don't push.  I want as few twist and turns and large gaps in the blood trail as I can get. I don't wait an hour after a shot though. If I think the shot is great, after the deer disappears (more than 50% of the time they go down in sight), I begin memorizing important landmarks: where deer was at the shot, where it ran after the shot, last spot I saw or heard the deer.  Then I slowly begin to pack up and lower my gear.  Within 20 minutes I'm at the spot (quietly as possible) of the shot. I look for sign. Then I start moving along the path the deer ran, evaluating the hit as I go. If the trail is sparse or gutty, I back off for at least an hour.

[ChuckC]

If a gut or chest shot, let em bed down.  They will typically run fast then stop to look back to see what it was and to see if it is following.  If they are satisfied that you are not following, they will likely bed down right there.

If a ham or leg hit and you KNOW it,  follow it slowly and right now.  Muscle shots bleed and you should have enough blood trail to follow, but it will clot up and close if you let it rest.

Very different strategy
ChuckC

[FerretWYO]

Interesting question with a lot of variable. Many have been mentioned.

I have always been taught never ever push a wounded animal. I have seen many that were lost because the were jumped from there bed and many that were found in there bed when left.

I have also seen the flip side. I pushed an elk that I hit one time and it turned out that pushing him made him bleed faster and more. It was fresh snow and thankfully that made for easy tracking.

My thought is this. There are a lot of things that can go wrong if you push an animal. My thought will most always be to let lay. There may be a case when I push an animal but I will decide that then and there.

[bolong]

Based on what I have seen through the years, I think it's better to let them lay down than push them.

[Real Buckmaster]

If you it a big mature whitetail worse thing you can do is bump him, most of the time he will then walk until he drops.  Back out immediately away from where he went. Alot of times when getting down and looking for the first blood that is enough to spook him if hes close. Give him some time then look for the blood. If no blood trail look in depressions and by water, it is cooler there

[gobblegrunter]

Here in PA, you definitely let 'em bed! NEVER push 'em!

[onewhohasfun]

A lot of things can happen if you push a wounded deer. Most all of them are bad.

[hayslope]

Pretty much sage advice you are getting from the folks!

Especially the advice concerning situations when hunting small parcels or private land!  Push a deer in those situations......and best case scenario is a dead deer laying next to someone's rose bushes (that you MIGHT be able to recover).....worst case scenario, you never find the deer and the lucky homeowner who does find it in their backyard calls the game warden to have it removed.

[TxAg]

Originally posted by tim roberts:
Don't push unless weather is factor.  Once bumped and moving faster than they need to the blood trail is almost always lost. Experience talking.....

This has been my experience as well.  It's easier to trail when they're walking and bedding. Running is another story.