Dealing with a gut-shot deer is a challenging aspect of bowhunting that requires patience, skill, and ethical responsibility. As a bowhunter, understanding how to handle such situations is crucial for minimizing suffering and ensuring responsible hunting practices. Here are 25 golden rules to guide bowhunters when faced with a gut-shot deer:
Educate yourself on gut shots:
Understanding the various degrees of gut shots is essential. Knowing how to identify and assess different types of gut shots will help you make informed decisions.
Wait at least 30 minutes:
After the shot, exercise patience by waiting at least 30 minutes in the stand before moving. This gives the deer time to bed down, reducing the risk of spooking it.
Back out immediately:
If you suspect a gut shot, back out of the area quietly. Rushing in too soon may push the wounded deer farther, making recovery more challenging.
Inspect the arrow:
Examine your arrow for any signs of stomach content or a foul odor. If present, back out immediately, as it indicates a gut shot.
Avoid flashlights:
Resist using flashlights at the scene to avoid spooking the deer if it's still nearby. Maintain a low profile and move quietly.
Differentiate between hits:
Recognize that an arrow may pass through the thoracic cavity and still result in a gut shot. The angle of the arrow is crucial in determining the severity of internal wounds.
Broadhead size matters:
Larger expandable broadheads can cause more damage, potentially leading to quicker kills. Consider using broadheads that create larger wound channels.
Wait 8 hours for paunch-hit deer:
For paunch-hit deer, wait a minimum of 8 hours before starting the tracking process.
Wait 12 hours for intestinal-hit deer:
If the shot involves the intestines, extend the waiting period to a minimum of 12 hours.
Favorable trailing conditions:
Ideal conditions for trailing gut-shot deer include freezing temperatures and snow cover.
Unfavorable trailing conditions:
Avoid trailing in damp, rainy weather and temperatures above 50 degrees. These conditions can complicate tracking efforts.
Consider coyote presence:
In areas with abundant coyotes, losing a gut-shot deer to predators is a possibility. Be aware of local wildlife dynamics.
Warm weather myth:
Contrary to common belief, warm weather or rain does not speed up the death process for a gut-shot deer.
Deer's cause of death:
Gut-shot deer typically die from sepsis (blood poisoning) rather than blood loss. Understanding this helps in assessing the urgency of recovery.
Proximity of death:
A gut-shot deer often beds down close to the site of the shot, typically within 100 yards or even closer.
Multiple bedding locations:
Gut-shot deer may change bedding locations, often creating several beds within a small area.
Limited arteries in stomach cavity:
Deer have few arteries near the stomach cavity, and gut-shot deer often die from sepsis rather than excessive bleeding.
Preserve venison quality:
Handled properly, a gut-shot deer doesn't necessarily result in a major loss of venison. Careful field dressing and processing are key.
Field-dress with care:
During field dressing, take extra care to avoid stomach content and juices coming into contact with exposed venison.
Thoroughly wash the cavity:
After field dressing, wash the body cavity thoroughly with clean, cold water. Use a hose for an effective rinse.
Drain water properly:
While washing, allow the water to drain out through the side of the ribs or down through the throat cavity, preventing contamination of the back hams.
Pat-dry the carcass:
After washing, pat dry the inside of the carcass using clean towels, minimizing excess moisture that could compromise meat quality.
Allow cooling:
Hoist the deer, back legs first, on a meat pole or another elevated surface to allow proper cooling before further processing.
Use ice in warm weather:
In warm weather, place 10-pound bags of ice across the hams and inside the chest cavity if the deer is to be hung overnight.
Accept some loss:
Finally, acknowledge that some venison loss is inevitable despite meticulous care. Celebratory cuts like inside tenderloins may be affected.
Remember, responsible bowhunting involves not only making ethical shots but also handling the aftermath with care and respect for the animal. These golden rules aim to guide bowhunters in making informed decisions when dealing with gut-shot deer. If you’re looking for more hunting tips or looking for hunting land for sale in Oklahoma, check out Oklahoma Landsource today!
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About the Author
Carolyn Lynch Joined: January 25th, 2021 Articles Posted: 60
