I agree. Its frustrating to go out to track an animal when the bow hunter tells me he went out looking for the game 5 or 10 minutes after he shot it. I know there's a lot of anxiety still there to get the game but this happens every year. The game needs time to die even on a good lung shot. Let them expire. Give them plenty of time to die or you will be chasing him farther. Most animals won't run to far after a hit unless you left too early and jumped them up again.

Get a bow and make a good shot..they won't go far. You could also secure permission from adjacent property owners to retrieve an animal if you shoot one and it goes onto their property.

I have shot four deer with a bow over the last two seasons and none of them made it past 50 yds. The last one I hit didn't make it far at all...I saw him drop and I am hunting in some thick timber. A rifle hit will make the animal go into shock but a double lung or heart shot with a bow the animal will never now what hit them. Either way...keep at them. I still like to rifle hunt and want to get one with my pistol someday. I mainly bow hunt because I have more places to bow hunt than rifle hunt. I do have one farmer that will only let me rifle hunt..I don't complain I just comply. Good luck this season!