ORIGINAL: bronko22000
I don't doubt your story on the 3 deer but it does sound strange. I'm just wondering if you did hit shoulder or just leg. Did you shoot that load on paper at those cold temps? How far were the shots? Did the animals show any sign of bedding down? Did you go right after them?A lot of questions to sove your delima. I would think that if a deer was hit in the shoulder and bullet did not penetrate into the vitals, if not pushed will want to bed down and take care of its wound - allowing a hunter to sneak in later and finish it. Or at least give it time to stop bleeding and escape.
Stories like this is the reason I do not aim for the shoulder. I always shoot just behind it. There is a lot less bone to go through (a rib on each side at worst) and the vitals will be hit giving a quick kill. There will also be less meat damage.
But anyway - congrats on your deer.
bronko the first deer i hit ,waited 20 min tracked her, she only laid down
once,bleeding out both sides,after laying down no more blood,secound one
laid down twice after about 2 miles and two roads over had enough, third
was hit, hair all over snow and about 5 disturbed scratches on the ground
dug in could not find anything she ran tracked her for 2 miles at least through the refuge she stopped bleeding.this was all on snow,here is a target i shot at 100 yards two hours before the first one.wind was left to right 5-10mph gust,top three was held at bullseye4 others were held 2 inches low all the deer was 75 to 90 yards
