When to Start Tracking

Regardless of the animal’s reaction to the shot, a hunter should not immediately attempt to recover the animal.

If the shot appears to hit the vital organs, the hunter should wait 30 minutes to 1 hour before trailing the animal.

When there appears to be a hit in a non-vital area, it is best to wait at least 6 hours before beginning to track the animal.

An injured animal will often want to lie down to rest and recover. Taking time before pursuing the shot game will often lead to finding the animal where it decided to lie down.