What Do You Do After Making The Shot?

[Sky]

Hummmmm I either cuss or smile..the wait thing depends on range, type of animal, shot placement, and how the animal went down.

 

[snakeman]

I usually wait about ten minutes but i don't often hunt from a stand. If the animal is DRT then i just yip and yell a few times and congratulate myself. If the deer is running like a bat outta hell I wait for them to get a little ways and if it looks like they are going down in my county a put another round in them. If they run a little then lay down I wait, and wait, and wait, and wait until I just can't stand it anymore. I always keep my rifle loaded when trying to find a downed animal.

 

[mstirton]

"if you're rifle hunting, shoot them in the neck, and you don't have to worry about "what to do after the shot"

+1 - I took one last week right before dark and didn't want it to run. He went straight down, I went out after 10 seconds, cut his throat, and dressed him. It was dark before I could finish so I took him to the barn. It was an easy 50 yard shot and I probably would have just watched him if he were 100+ and closer to the tree line. It was also about 60+deg so I wouldn't have let it sit for 15 min.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Bring a book with you. I once read part of a Stephen King novel (yes, i'm serious).

I always take a book with me to the stand or blind. There's no way I could sit half a day without one. And that's before I take a shot. It's been King more than once too.

As for the question, I always wait a while. Not as much when they're DRT, but I give it some time just the same.

 

[redbullitt]

Stay on the scope and rack the bolt!

Good practice even if the deer drops. Some are great at crawling.