Last light/Iffy shots at deer

[andyf]

I painfully remember wounding a very fine fallow buck as the result of a poor shot taken in really bad light it was as dark as near could be, in fact looking back at it now it was a terrible shot to take which required a very protracted and arduous follow up to dispatch him, it taught me a valuable lesson the bitter hard school of experience is just that bitter hard, it is something I sincerely hope I do not repeat in my lifetime but every shot we take no matter how well thought out can lead to an unexpected result for me when you struggle to see clearly with your naked eye you are probably well past the time to leave.......

What's the legality of following up a wounded deer after the legal shooting time? So the original shot was legal (subject to sunset + 1 hour) but the follow up is later. Does the fact you're following up a wounded animal to relieve suffering give you any protection against a charge of night shooting or should you always wait until next morning?

 

[palmer_mike]

What's the legality of following up a wounded deer after the legal shooting time? So the original shot was legal (subject to sunset + 1 hour) but the follow up is later. Does the fact you're following up a wounded animal to relieve suffering give you any protection against a charge of night shooting or should you always wait until next morning?

I don't know, but would assume that the 'to prevent further suffering' argument would protect you......

 

[Chasey]

I found finding deer in the dark easier than in the light. Their eyes reflect great off my head torch but the buggers can tuck away under a bush and be well hidden in the day time.

As for the shot? it depends on the land, the available support and personal preferance as to how close to the legal limit we should go.

I have never taken a shot I regreted but I have not taken several shots that in hind sight I wished I had

ATB

Mark

 

[willowbank]

I found finding deer in the dark easier than in the light. Their eyes reflect great off my head torch but the buggers can tuck away under a bush and be well hidden in the day time.

As for the shot? it depends on the land, the available support and personal preferance as to how close to the legal limit we should go.

I have never taken a shot I regreted but I have not taken several shots that in hind sight I wished I had

ATB

Mark

talking of eye reflection I have watched the eyes of many a Fox gradually fade, they were dead and I assume they fade as the body cools but the lights go out after a while even in bright torchlight when picking up the carcasses.

regards WB

 

[mereside]

What's the legality of following up a wounded deer after the legal shooting time? So the original shot was legal (subject to sunset + 1 hour) but the follow up is later. Does the fact you're following up a wounded animal to relieve suffering give you any protection against a charge of night shooting or should you always wait until next morning?

nothing wrong with following up on an animal as regards to legality but going in in torchlight is not a good idea from either a safety point of view for yourself and also what if the deer is very mobile, how do you see it in dark, pushing the beast on whilst it has adrenalin high will make it go a huge distance, letting the animal couch up will ease suffering, This is proven over many years to work how many guys go in right away never to find that beast again. shooting at last light is going to be difficult to properly follow up so why make it worse for yourself or the deer, ps Andy it wasn't aimed at you but a general response to other posts as well as trying to answer your question.
atb wayne

If you know it has been a good strike from looking at shot site and the beast has or will expire then yes an easy follow up in the dark but if you have any doubts then wait to properly follow up this is the correct thing to do for the animal.

 

[hiddenmongoose]

I call it when I can no longer clearly see the animal,that will depend on wheter the animal is in the open field or against a forest edge, open field will let you stay longer but if the animal is moving along a forest edge in lowlight conditions its often hard make him out clearly and you owe the animal the respect to let him pass.I always carry a torch in case of having to do a search in the dark and thank god I havent had to do that yet.It takes a bit of experience and discipline to know when its reached ''that point'' that I need let it pass

 

[Bavarianbrit]

If you used 30-06 tracer maybe that would help to find them (joke)
Seriously though I use a US gaget called the gamefinder GF A that runs on a 9volt battery it cost me about 180 dollars from Cabelas 8 years ago and it is surprisingly efficient as it compares the body heat of downed beast to he surrounding temps.
Game Finder, Inc. Game Finder Infrared Heat Detectors and Electronic Headphones
Martin