Joey Waggonner, 59, knows a think or two about white-tailed deer. He has been deer hunting for most his life and says just about every successful deer recovery is going to demand some degree of tracking.
“The only time it doesn’t is if the animal drops right where it’s shot,” he said. “That doesn’t happen very often, especially with archery hunting.” Waggonner has had a hand in recovering a passel of deer over the years. He says every animal and hunting situation is different. “Some tracks are easy, but others aren’t so easy,” he said.
He offered a few tips to help hunters be more successful at recovering deer that don’t drop in their tracks: Be Patient: Waggonner says it is always best to stay put in the stand and wait at least 30-45 minutes before attempting to trail a deer that runs off after the shot. The idea is to give the animal sufficient time to hemorrhage and expire before approaching it.
