I don't want to get into an argument about what shots you heard. But if you are hunting in the woods then shots in the woods can be very very very deceiving. Especially MZ shots. Many times it is very difficult to tell the exact direction of a shot. And the distance is virtually impossible to tell, unless they are right on top of you.

You could have a loud heavy load shot, or a light load shot. Distance is virtualy impossible to tell. It could have been 1/2 mile away. And if the woods was thick enough and the load light enough it could have been 200 yards away. I have seeen it way too many times over the years. Tom.