TexasDeerHunter Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 I have noticed on alot of hunting shows, Realtree included, they often let deer lay up overnight after shooting them. I know the old saying " when in doubt , back out" , but how often does the meat go to waste? It seems that in several instances the weather is not really that cold and I often wonder if they are able to salvage the meat. Anyone here have much experience in letting them set overnight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hillbilly Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. depends on the weather... ive let plenty of deer set overnight. On my parents land we dont have to much predator animals.. we have a family of foxes, no bobcats that im noticing and no yotes... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OUTSIDER Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. As the coyotes get worse and worse here in WV, that thought often passes my mind, let them lay, or pursue them after dark. Well last year i opted to let one lay over night, at first light i was on the trail, when i got there at 645, the yotes had already gotten to it and the hams were totally gone. I say if you got a good shot go after them, if its marginal, prolly wait. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. Depends on the weather too but here's our 2 most important concerns. 1st we don't really get much cool weather here in MS until November and still have to deal with some warm days and nights after that. We'll have outright hot days during the 1st 2 weeks of bow season. 2nd we have a pig problem. A deer or part of them can get devoured overnight by hogs around here. A few years back a friend shot a buck and after searching for several hours we opted to wait till morning. The next morning we found the remains and the biggest piece left was his head. The sign was obvious that the hogs had devoured it. We have coyotes too but they don't tear up a deer overnight like a group of pigs will. I have a lot less concerns about leaving a deer overnight in the cooler climate states north of here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. In Illinois...if I lay a jacket on the blood trail in a tree, the yotes will leave the deer alone if its within 70 yards of a jacket...not a hunting jacket, a work jacket, or work hat.....its usually cold enough in Illinois that the deer meat is fine, but we gut ASAP on recovery....I have also noticed that its easier to find blood with a LANTERN than a high beam light........you can cover more area....if I hear a crash, or double low lung em...Im pulling carcass that night...............al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWiggely Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. I have never left one over night. On the few occassions my buddy or myslelf felt the need to let the deer sit awhile, we left the woods before tracking, only marking the start of the trail. We head home, grab a bite to eat, a beer for my buddy, and coffee for me. Then we fill the thermos up and head out after approx. 4 hours. Has worked well for us. There have been times we were out tracking at 2-3 am. Like D-man said use the ole colman lantern, the blood seems to show up brighter with that than with a flash light. Wigs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunterfisherman Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. depends on how warm it is. The weather is usually only a problem the first couple of weeks and then it's cool enough to let them sit if you need to Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. I have been on a few tracks where the deer SHOULD have been left overnight, but was not. Never let one lay and came to regret it. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhunt Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. Letting one lay up here would not be well advised. Matter of fact, I will never again wait more than an hour on one that has been hit questionably. Will never forget my first bowkill. The yotes were on that doe before I got out of my stand. Fearing it was not a great hit I waited a little longer than what I normally would with a rifle and did not get down until right before it was the end of legal shooting light, think it was about an hour after the shot. I heard the yotes howling and carrying on up behind my neighbors barn, had no clue they were on my doe. Did not find her that night, when I did find her the next day, there was not much left, and she was right where I heard the yotes. Saw on a tv program last week where they put tips on the screen, said if you live in an area with a good population of yotes not to wait to go after a wounded animal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atthewall Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. If it's warm, all night with 4-6 hours of lay up on questionable shots. Typically the hunter will know as well as the sign read on the blood trail if it was a good hit or not. Colder weather, not a problem but varmits can make that deal a risk as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. I find there is no reason whatsoever to wait to establish where the blood trail starts. The Bloodtrail tells the tale!!! You find a good one and 15minutes after the shot you can go get your animal. If a liver or gutshot is evident, you need to wait and take your chances with predators. If you push a liver hit animal, even though it will surely die, the blood trail will stop before you find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kidd Posted September 25, 2006 Report Share Posted September 25, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. i have to many yote to risk it nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bghunter777 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. let them lay let them lay let them lay. if any doubt at all. let them lay. the meat will be fine the next day. and I guess yotes are a concern. but I am still a fan of letting them lay. I rarely find any good of busting threw the woods after dark. alhough some of my most memorable moments came trailing deer after dark. but thats another story for another day. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BaerBucks18 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. it all just depends on the situation, i've had experience where i've let a deer lay overnight and then it thunderstorms or rains and washes away the blood trail, i lost one of my nicer bucks that way we've also had a problem with coyotes eating the hind quarters off of the deer after just leaving them till morning, but i do still feel like its the right thing to do to let them lay if u have any doubts, exceptially if its your trophy buck that u've been after all fall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arrow32 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. Most the time we try to get them that day but if not will let them lay over night doesnt bother me a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. I let a deer lay over the opening weekend of bow season a couple years ago and the meat was fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kraabel2003 Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. Sounds like some of you need to kill some yotes. We killed over 70 last year off dogs, but you know there are just as many this year. I think it helps out the fawns in the spring though, because there are least yotes intil the have their pups. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted September 26, 2006 Report Share Posted September 26, 2006 Re: Letting them lay up............. Ive been lucky. Ive never had to leave one. Ive only lost one doe years back and it was still daylight. Every other deer ive shot (bow, ML, and rifle) havent gone far enough to leave them. Im pretty hard headed about taking a good shot though. If I have any doubts ill pass.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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