Clean miss or NO?
Was hunting with my in-line today and missed a monster of a buck. I think I had a clean miss, looking to see what you think.
My first shot I saw that I clearly did not hit the buck. I also found the bullet in a tree either left or right of the first shot.
He trotted off 20 yard and gave me time to reload and fire again. He was in some vegetation but, I was able to see his head, neck and front shoulder. This shot I fired and did not see him run off. Smoke cleared and he was gone. I went to where I thought he was standing and found no blood or hair. Found nothing but hoof prints to where he took off from. Looked on trees around the area and could not find a bullet. Had a buddy help me look and follow what we believed to be his tracks for 20 yard before loosing them. Also, did a walk about 50 yards or more out from the second shot and found no signs or the deer.
IMO it was a clean miss although I can't prove it other then the above. Am I out of line?