ORIGINAL: wyomingtrapper
A rifle is fired, the powder is burned, tranforming the energy stored in the powder into the form of hot, rapidly expanding gasses. A good portion of that energy is transfered to a chunk of lead. Some of it is transfered (we call it lost) in transit, some remains with the bullet. When it impacts the animal, most (hopefully) of that energy is transfered to the the tissue of the animal--causing massive tissue damage in the process. The massive tissue damage killed the animal, but the transfer of energy caused the massive tissue damage.
This is where I disagree. Energy doesnt create the tissue damage, or wound channell. This is created by the diameter of the bullet as it passes through tissue, the bigger and faster, the more tissue damage. More velocity will create more tissue damage.
But then you get into penetration, and thats another subject. To me whitetail deer are thin skinned animals, not requiring mass penetrating guns. .22's will penetrate without a problem, mushroom adequate (.35 diam.) and coupled with their highvelocity, create substantial tissue damage.