Well, its been a hard hunting week. I have hunted sunrise to sunset for 6 day's during our gun season here in Ohio. I only seen a few small deer running full speed on opening day, and since I don't shoot at running deer, that would seem to be my only chance at seeing a deer. What a difference from youth gun day and adult hunting opener in 2010.

I would see an average of 20 deer at dawn before youth day (2010).

Last year (2009), this same time (adult gun week), I seen 70 deer on opening day alone.

So tonight, when I went out, it was the thought of putting meat in the freezer.

I had left BH 209 in my gun this whole week. And i was worried it would not go off sitting for 7 days unfired. Fortunately, my worry's came to an end as, what I thought was a doe at 120 yards, came out to feed broadside.

With my scope on 4 power I focused purely on the boiler room. Bang, and then as the smoke cleared I could see the deers head just above the snow as it crashed its way into the woods.

I knew I hit the deer, but why in the world would it go almost 50 yards to the woods if I hit the lungs? Because it is a deer for one thing.

Anyway, I figure I must have made a bad shot, and I get out of my stand to look for blood. And to my sadness there was almost none. Just a tiny bit of hairspray mist. I was starting to feel low as the blood never increased.

So I just followed the tracks in the snow, into the woods with my light on. After following the trail for another 40 yards I found my deer dead as a door nail.

The shot turned out to be a perfect double lung.

However, I was very concerned why the exit hole was so small. So small in fact my thumb did not even fit in it.

And the only blood found was coming from the deers mouth.

I have never shot a 240g XTP using BH 209 at a deer before. I know that the 100 grains of BH can make the xtp fly around 1,950fps. That would be the fastest I ever shot.

So even though I recovered my deer I am now concerned that the xtp might push to fast for deer using BH.

If it was not for the snow, I don't think I would have found this deer. No, as a matter of fact I would not have based on where I found him. 90 yards with so little blood (that never would have shown up on dirt or grass) would have been a lost deer. Because I would have thought I missed the deer.

After checking in my deer I bought some barnes all copper sabots and slugs.

XTP was always great before using 777, but now I wonder if the new powder pushes it to fast?

I bought the barnes bullets as a backup based on your opinions. Man they are expensive...lol

D