What the heck was he using a 44 mag carbine sighted in at 200 yds???

I sight in every rifle I own(except the brush beaters) at 200 yds.I have never had a problem with shooting deer or elk close.If you sight your rifle in to be dead hold out to 200 the bullet is never more than 2 inches above the line of sight from 0-200,and at 40 yds the bullet is more like .5 inch high.
It's more'n likely you buddy was staring at the horns and shot high(I've done this my self),or was the deer running?
I shot my elk last year at maybe 15 yds in the timber,and it hit him right where I aimed.this is with a .338 win mag sighted 2.5 inches high at 100 yds.This gives me about a 300 yd dead hold and still be in the vitals and top back out to 400(this is on elk,350 on deer).
So I will bet you dollars to doughnuts that is was not the gun or the sight-in range.
If you don't belive me take the gun in question set up a target at 25,40,75,100,150,200 and see just how it shoots.
I tell anyone who comes out west to hunt sight your rifle at 200,timber or plains.Shoot your gun and get familar with where it is hitting at various yards.
BBJ