You see these guys on TV shoot an animal in the evening and then let it lay in the field until the next day. Does this affect the quality of the meat? Are there any consequences to doing this? I have always been able to recover my animals right away, but you never know what might happen down the road. Thanks for the help.
I have a question!
- Thread starter elkdiesel
- Start date
Lawnboy
Well-known member
I watched a whitetail archery show the other day that did this same thing. I'm not saying that I have recovered every animal after every shot but the way they did this hunt was disgusting. First off it's a matter of ethics. Any archer knows that the they need to allow X amount of time after the shot to go and start tracking and recover them. I was always taught 30 minutes minimum. Obviously that is not a rule but one that was taught to me in bow ed. The problem I had with the above mentioned show was that they were shooting so late that all you could see was their "lumenock" heading toward the deer. The gal that makes the shot says it looks good but it's so late lets wait till morning. She seemed more impressed with the fact that she could see this lighted nock than actually making an ethical shot. I don't recall what state it was in but it wasn't 30 below outside and I can promise you that at least half the meat would of been spoiled. Heck in below zero weather the downside meat will insulate itself and spoil. To me if your consistently hunting right until dark you're not allowing enough recovery time for that animal. And if your consistently saying we'll come back in the morning you're wasting game and should be turned in.
Sorry about the rant and I realize the question wasn't posed for archery only. I have just seen it happen more with archery than rifle and it drives me nuts. I guess my answer is that sometimes there is nothing you can do about it and that's the best bet. But I think you're kidding yourself if you don't think the groundside meat won't be spoiled. That said you do have an obligation to try to recover the animal and salvage what you can.
Sorry about the rant and I realize the question wasn't posed for archery only. I have just seen it happen more with archery than rifle and it drives me nuts. I guess my answer is that sometimes there is nothing you can do about it and that's the best bet. But I think you're kidding yourself if you don't think the groundside meat won't be spoiled. That said you do have an obligation to try to recover the animal and salvage what you can.
Agree with Lawnboy. I will say that I have been on some 2nd day recovery of game due to being unable to track in thick brush in the dark. Temp was less than 45 degrees overnight, but not freezing. This was a rifle-shot doe.
In daylight, it still took a few hours to find, and the deer did have a pungent smell, but the meat was fine and did not spoil. We had to bone and remove the meat (upwind) to make sure, but it was fine.
I am pretty sure the ground side was saved by the brush the deer piled up in. Unfortunately, coyotes found the deer before we did, and one hind quarter and some backstrap was lost. It was gross, but we saved most of the remaining meat. I think most would have wlked away, but I refused to untill I had the meat off the carcass.
I get pretty riled by the "oh well, we'll just come back in the morning" attitude on these shows.
Matt
In daylight, it still took a few hours to find, and the deer did have a pungent smell, but the meat was fine and did not spoil. We had to bone and remove the meat (upwind) to make sure, but it was fine.
I am pretty sure the ground side was saved by the brush the deer piled up in. Unfortunately, coyotes found the deer before we did, and one hind quarter and some backstrap was lost. It was gross, but we saved most of the remaining meat. I think most would have wlked away, but I refused to untill I had the meat off the carcass.
I get pretty riled by the "oh well, we'll just come back in the morning" attitude on these shows.
Matt
gundog
New member
I see nothing wrong with consistently hunting until dark (30 minutes after sunset). You just have to be prepared to track with lanterns/lights til the animal is located.
Lawnboy
Well-known member
When I say dark I mean hunt till you can't see anymore dark.
Devil Diver Down
Well-known member
Bart, I have a slightly different take on this. You probably know as well as anyone on this board (with the exception of the 2 Fins, Big & Photo) that what looks like end of shooting light on camera still looks like hunting light to most hunters by anywhere between 15-30 minutes. So maybe when you could only see the lumenok on camera, the naked eye could/would see more. Hard to really judge without being there, I guess, as the camera lies sometimes.
That said, I too have a problem with the laid back attitude of "it's getting late; we'll find it tomorrow" hunters as they're not living up to their responsibilities IMO. You might not be able to find your game/blood trail in the dark, but you need to exhaust every available avenue/resource before calling it quits.
Just my 2¢ and probably worth half that on a good day.
That said, I too have a problem with the laid back attitude of "it's getting late; we'll find it tomorrow" hunters as they're not living up to their responsibilities IMO. You might not be able to find your game/blood trail in the dark, but you need to exhaust every available avenue/resource before calling it quits.
Just my 2¢ and probably worth half that on a good day.
Lawnboy
Well-known member
Devil I did think of that as well and you are absolutely right! Camera light is still a half hour sooner than shooting light. I guess the only thing that bugged me is they didn't show or even talk about attempting to find that deer that evening. Maybe they did and didn't show it but at least explain to the viewership that you tried and it just came up too dark to continue. TV is goofy and a lot gets missed and misunderstood. I was accused of shooting too late on that Montana bull as well. The camera just made it look way dark even though it was still legal shooting light. I better stop now while I'll behind.
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