I have often heard other hunters say that deer will enter water to drown themselves if the shot placement isn't well good. I ha

[[email protected]]

I have often heard other hunters say that deer will enter water to drown themselves if the shot placement isn't well good. I have lost two nice bucks near water. Is there any basis for this? John

[pineywoods]

Wounded deer will go to water, but I doubt if it is with the intention of drowning themselves. More likely, it is easier for them to run downhill in the first place and they may want to lie in the cold water to relieve the pain of the wound. I once had to go neck deep in a January creek to retrieve a nice eight point---at least I had enough sense to build a fire before going into the water.

[Kody]

I would think it more likely that the hunter who has missed the buck of his dreams would be more likely to drown himself. Usually, the hunter reminds himself that there is always next season.

[Booner Chaser]

No, they won't go drown themselves. My dad and his friends said that if they are shot in the gut (I think, might be the liver) they feel the need to get water. They go to the water and while they are drinking they will usually expire there or lay down and lay there for a while until they expire. So if you have a gut or liver shot deer, it might be a good idea to check the closest watering holes.

[BlueMNguy]

I hunt within 70 feet of a river and have taken many bucks that came down for a drink, especially during the middle of a warm day. They like to lie down in the edge of the water if they are wounded. A couple times they fell in the water and I headed downstream to catch them by a fallen log.