One our walk, I spotted a management buck that I had passed a few times while hunting deep in the woods. My brother took rest on the shooting pole and sent a 20guage slug flying 100yards. I couldnt see the impact, but the deer ran a few feet, stopped, looked our way then kept walking. I was puzzled, I couldnt tell if he was his or not. I took the gun from my brother and loaded another shell.
I watched him through the scope, now at around 160yards, I figured that if an ethical following shot needed to be taken, my brother wouldnt be able to do it. I studied the deer and thought that he may be limping. I steadied the crosshairs at the top of the neck to compensate for drop and took an off hand, 160yard shot. I hit him, he jumped. This was my last chance at a shot.
We waited, got out of our camo and into our tracking gear. It was dark. I marked the spot that the deer took into the thicket and we left.
Back the next morning, after a night rain storm. We found a few blood spots then I had to guess on the trail the deer took. I nailed it !! We cross a stream expecting to find the deer in the swamp grass. Found a little more blood, but, then it stopped.
We looked for a few hours and found nothing more. We walked about 200acres of this property looking for sign. We found nothing.
In conclusion, I believe that my brother actually missed and that I skimmed the deer. My friend said that he saw the deer this afternoon, feeding in the SAME cut corn field. He said that he was positive it was the same deer we had marked as a management buck.
Good news !! However, as a former Marine, whos job revolved around scoped, long range shooting, Im disapointed in myself, but, glad that the deer was ok. Needless to say, that buck is no longer on our management list and gets a free ride !!