Be patient

If you have made a successful shot, the animal should die within 30 seconds. An animal hit with a less than perfect shot can travel a great distance before collapsing.

Bowhunters should be patient and allow the broadhead to do its work before approaching or trailing the animal. Approaching a downed animal or starting the tracking process too soon may cause it to run even farther away, making the recovery more difficult. Usually you will find a well-hit animal within a few hundred metres. A poorly hit animal may travel considerably farther, but never give up while there is sign to follow.

If it appears that the arrow penetrated deep into the chest, wait 20 to 30 minutes to give the animal a chance to bed down and die. Then follow the trail carefully.

If you find the arrow with signs of a gut hit and lacking a decent blood trail, back off and wait six to eight hours before trailing, or you could risk pushing the animal into areas where recovery is impossible.

When in doubt about where you hit the animal, it is better to wait 30 to 60 minutes and then carefully start trailing the animal. If you are new to trailing and recovery, it is best to have a more experienced hunter with you.