Help w/wounded Deer!!!
Question:
>Could I have gotten a pass through >with no expansion that left no blood?
If you hit it in the chest, you would have some evidence, at least hair but likely also blood. You may want to consider trying 130 grain standard (not premium) bullets. 150 seems a little big for small deer. > Is forty yards enough? probably, but it wouldn’t hurt next time to track a little further. Who knows, you may be able to get another shot since the deer are still going to be in front of you. I have missed deer the same way. Please keep in mind that 150 yards is a pretty long way! Use a rest or shoot seated with both elbows supported. Also, don’t clean your rifle unless you have shot at least 20 rounds. If you must clean the rifle, swab the bore with a dry patch to get the oil out before hunting. Best of luck to you in the future. Mike Horst Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
>1) I cleaned the gun after the range and the oil left in a cold >barrell sent the bullett into never never land.
Probably not >2) driving stupidly rough roads knocked the scope off zero.
Probably not >3) Buck Fever: I jerked the trigger (though still here >it seems I would have wounded rather than missed a >broadside deer at 150).
Probably – you already said it was your first shot on a deer and that you were breathing heavily. Even the slightest movement/flinch will send the bullet off target enough to completely miss a deer. They’re really not that big… >I am curious as to any thoughts on this. Should I have trailed >further? Is forty yards enough?
You probably could have followed longer, although if you’d hit the deer, I think you’d have seen some sign that she was hit – blood, limping, hunched over (possible gut shot), etc. >Could I hit a small doe with a 150 grain soft point with no blood?
It’s possible. My wife shot a deer a couple of years ago at 20 yds with a .270 135gr. I knew she hit it because of the way it jerked, but we couldn’t find a blood trail. She didn’t get a second shot because of brush being in the way. We looked for several minutes then eventually started circling. The deer had circled back around us and bedded down about 70 yds away. That’s where we found the blood. When we finally retrieved the deer, we found that the bullet had hit the shoulder and deflected straight up through the back (just missing the spine). The bottom line is that you did the right thing by following up and checking for sign. One thing you have to accept about missing is that you never really know for sure if you missed. All you can do is make your best attempt at finding the animal, and move on. Rich Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – >Howdy! >I think that screwed up this weekend and would appreciate feedback >from the group. >Here’s the situation. I was hunting a heavily hunted public area >in Tx this weekend. It was obvious that the deer were back in the >thick stuff and I was still hunting into the wind off a perimeter >fence in pin oks about 7′ high with a thick covering of small oak leaves. >(eg bad for tracking). >I saw a doe about 150 yds out looking (I thought, at me,) as it turns out >she was looking at does behind her. I drew a bead with my Ruger >M77 in .270. the scope was wobbling from my breathing due to exertion and >excitement (my first shot at a deer). I crept a little closer and >sat down, resting the gun on my knee. I held 1/3 up the front leg and just >behind it. This is where the trouble started…… >At the shot, I lost the sight picture (not a good sign). The deer and >the does behind her trotted quickly away. I waited a minute and went to >the spot. There was nothing, no blood , no hair, nada. I tied some >surveyors tape to the spot and zig zagged for about thirty or forty yards >with no sign of blood. I decided that I had missed and left. Now, I’m not >so sure. >My concerns are that these are small does, 50-70 ilbs field dressed >and I’m using 150 grain .270s. Could I have gotten a pass through >with no expansion that left no blood? (I’m hoping for a no here). >I was shooting less than 1 inch groups with my gun 2 days before >and it seems odd that I would miss entirely. Shoot too far back or >too low yes, but entirely? >Thus far I am left with three theories.. >1) I cleaned the gun after the range and the oil left in a cold >barrell sent the bullett into never never land.
Always fire a fouling shot after cleaning any rifle, and actually hunting. >2) driving stupidly rough roads knocked the scope off zero.
Unlikely; you should be able to tell if something’s loose, that is if it were properly tightened to start with, and your range experience seems to point to this. >3) Buck Fever: I jerked the trigger (though still here >it seems I would have wounded rather than missed a >broadside deer at 150).
It happens. First deer, and no solid rest. Before your next hunt practice off hand and the type shot you took at the deer. No they won’t be pretty groups, but at least make sure you can hit with those methods. I have seen many shooters proficient from a bench not be able to shoot straight in hunting situations. >I am curious as to any thoughts on this. Should I have trailed >further? Is forty yards enough? Could I hit a small doe with >a 150 grain soft point with no blood? What could cause >that wierd a clean miss?
IMHO, you should have attempted to trail the deer farther. Before you actually pulled the trigger it became your responsibility to dispatch the deer in the most humane manner in your power, and utilize the deer in the most efficient manner. We hate to think about this, but the doe could still be alive, starving and dying a slow painfull death, with no benefit to anyone. Better luck next time. >Thanks >Jay
ED — >Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: > http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ >To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
— Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
Howdy! I think that screwed up this weekend and would appreciate feedback from the group. Here’s the situation. I was hunting a heavily hunted public area in Tx this weekend. It was obvious that the deer were back in the thick stuff and I was still hunting into the wind off a perimeter fence in pin oks about 7′ high with a thick covering of small oak leaves. (eg bad for tracking). I saw a doe about 150 yds out looking (I thought, at me,) as it turns out she was looking at does behind her. I drew a bead with my Ruger M77 in .270. the scope was wobbling from my breathing due to exertion and excitement (my first shot at a deer). I crept a little closer and sat down, resting the gun on my knee. I held 1/3 up the front leg and just behind it. This is where the trouble started…… At the shot, I lost the sight picture (not a good sign). The deer and the does behind her trotted quickly away. I waited a minute and went to the spot. There was nothing, no blood , no hair, nada. I tied some surveyors tape to the spot and zig zagged for about thirty or forty yards with no sign of blood. I decided that I had missed and left. Now, I’m not so sure. My concerns are that these are small does, 50-70 ilbs field dressed and I’m using 150 grain .270s. Could I have gotten a pass through with no expansion that left no blood? (I’m hoping for a no here). I was shooting less than 1 inch groups with my gun 2 days before and it seems odd that I would miss entirely. Shoot too far back or too low yes, but entirely? Thus far I am left with three theories.. 1) I cleaned the gun after the range and the oil left in a cold barrell sent the bullett into never never land. 2) driving stupidly rough roads knocked the scope off zero. 3) Buck Fever: I jerked the trigger (though still here it seems I would have wounded rather than missed a broadside deer at 150). I am curious as to any thoughts on this. Should I have trailed further? Is forty yards enough? Could I hit a small doe with a 150 grain soft point with no blood? What could cause that wierd a clean miss? Thanks Jay Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
Response:
My partner missed a 6 point whitetail at about 25 yards with a .30-06. The brush was very heavy, and the bullet simply deflected. You probably missed. However, next time trail the animal at least 100 yards if you can. Blood trails don’t show up right away on many shots. Also try the 140gr. Winchester Fail Safe or 140gr. Federal Trophy Bonded Premium load. It will shoot right through the deer and increas the chances of leaving a good blood trail, if the go anywhere at all. Aim just behind the shoulder, about one third down from the top of the back. Sight your gun in to zero at 200 yards, and you’ll be able to hold "dead on" out to 300. Unless you have a very firm rest and there’s no wind. Don’t shoot beyond 300 yards, and you’ll be okay. Visit the rec.hunting and rec.hunting.dogs FAQ Home Page at: http://sportsmansweb.com/hunting/ To leave the Hunting listserv list, send a message with SIGNOFF HUNTING
