Cayugad.

Sorry it took so long to respond - I don't always have time to check the forums often. Here's some answers to your questions:

1. The buck was 108 paces (basically 100 yards)

2. The bullet entered high in the back at a steep downward angle (I was shooting down into a ravine) passing just under the spine. In fact, I think the shock of the bullet hitting that close to the spine is what made it drop instantly. From there the bullet passed through at a front-to-rear angle through the back of both lungs and the liver before exiting. The exit hole was golf-ball sized. There was a golf-ball sized chunk taken out of the lungs as well. The liver had a slightly smaller hole through it. There was a huge amount of blood inside the chest cavity and on the ground around it as well.

3. The live weight of the deer was about 150 pounds (I didn't weigh it, so this is a guess).

4. There was almost no meat damage because the shot missed the shoulders. There was some damage done to the backstraps, but it was minimal.

I wouldn't worry about shooting something bigger. If you were elk hunting, then that would be different. Hope this helps!