WTF Happened

[Spencer]

I am not an expert by any means but I have been deer hunting for about 10 yrs now. I am not a trophy hunter and would rather shoot and have pretty much shot just does to eat but last night I saw a big one the largest that I have seen. Now here is what happened I got busted by a decent doe about 20 min earlier 25 yd shot and then a 100 yd out in a field a big 10 point comes out stops and a perfect side shot. I was shooting a 50 cal. 100gr trip 7 pellets and 295gr Barnes MZ Expander Sabot put the cross hairs right on top of his back over his lungs pull the trigger I hear the SMACK of the round hit the deer. About 10 sec later when the smoke clears I see the deer down on his side and cant believe it dropped right there. I came down out of the stand got on the ground turned around and he was rolling around pretty good so I started to reload and looked over and saw him draging him self by his front legs on his belly toward the woods. I went over saw were it went in the cut over and thought I would see the deer 20 yds in but I did not so when I did not I came back out because I did not want to push it in any farther. I returned about 30 min later with 2 more guys and started to follow the blood trail. We followed it for about 150 yds with very little blood after about 3 hours the trail just ended at a clearing and could not tell which way it went. This morning 4 of us went back out and did a grid search for about 3 to 4 hours and found nothing. I thought I spine shot that thing and would be posting pics of the biggest deer I have ever shot right now but instead I am asking WTF happened.

[tunakiller 4 hire]

Without knowing where you zeroed your gun it will be tough but I think you hit him below the spine and above the vitals. I hear this every year about putting it on the top of the back at 100 yards most muzzleloaders at 100 yards with 100 grains of powder drop about 2 inches not much more. Live and learn I know I still am.

[pitch bait]

Whats the blood look like, and how much of it is there?

[Spencer]

The blood was on the darker side but did not look like a kidney/liver shot and as for the amount of blood it was very little maybe 6 to 8oz. I have had several people say they thought it was hit between the spine and vitals. I have played this in my head several times and have come to the conclusion that I need more practice and to know exactly where I am hitting at those distances. I put it right on his back thinking if a little drop spine shot if it drops alot then it should go where it should. I really thougt it would have dropped more than that but like you said live and learn. Thats the first one I could not find and its just a little disapointing.

[DriveJohnson]

If he was dragging himself using his front legs, my guess is you hit him far back - perhaps in the hind quarters? Is there a chance you either jerked or he took a step when you shot?

I hit one in "no mans land" above the shoulder with an arrow a couple of years ago. It just took off like a rocket with a great blood trail for 100 yards. Lost him. Spent hours looking without any more blood. Muzzleloader is different than an arrow, but does not sound like that's where you hit him.

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you hit a major artery as you would have found blood all along. If I had to guess, you got him in the hind quarters and once he got his whits, he was able to move a bit. Surprised you weren't able to find some seriously ruffled leaves though as he wouldn't be able to walk right with a wound like that.

Hopefully you'll be able to go back out there and check again. But, if you pushed him at all, I have a feeling he would be able to go for a long ways.

Good luck!

JJ

[mike243]

sorry,sounds like the deer may live,we had a young man that shot a 9pt up high & it knocked it down for a few minutes then it got back up & ran off.that was during bow season,he shot this buck with a rifle 3 weeks later & the pass thu arrow shot had healed up,take out the lungs & they wont go far,mike243