Scottdnramember

I don’t get it. Tonight got home late and only had about 45 minutes of shoot time left. Drizzly and cold, I slip into my closest stand overlooking a field and a creek bottom nice and quiet and before I even get all the way turned around in the tree stand I see deer about 250 yards across the field. 6 total, two good size does for our area and 4 little ones – no spots but small deer. I watch them in the scope a bit and although it’s a clear shot in my opinion it’s too far for the 100 grain load I use. Plus, sometimes they walk to the stand I’m in anyway so no big deal.

Called little bit and they don’t care or can’t hear it and walk off sideways out of site across the field. Well sure enough inside of 15 minutes the lead deer shows up to my left trotting in towards my area. Put the scope on it and watch it go by into the woods towards my stand closest distance about 75 – 100 yards away and figure the others are right behind it. Yep, here comes another one. One of the big does. Hammer back, got the gun on a tree hook for a rest and I’m ready but she does not slow down enough. Here come two more little ones and the other big one walking behind them. She stops in a perfect spot about 100 yards out crosshair about 2/3 of the way up the front shoulder slightly quartering towards me, everything solid, gentle squeeze POW!

Can’t see through the smoke well but it looked like she spun and went down and deer are going everywhere. 3 going back across the field and one looks larger and none of them look hurt. I figure it’s the other big doe.

Did a quick BBL clean and reload (took about 5 minutes) no hurry, I know I crushed that one. Pack up everything and climb down. Running out of light. Get over there and no deer! What? Looked all around. Ground’s wet and it’s raining, getting dark and nobody to help look. Did an hour all over that field looking for any sign…nothing.

Now here the deal, I’ve checked this gun and it’s dead on at 50 yards. I figure it should be pretty close at 100, at least within a couple inches, certainly close enough. I’ve killed a small turkey hen at 90 steps with the same load aiming dead on and killed several deer at this range before with this load no problem. The only two things that I can figure is 1. I possibly could have hit a limb close to me, I was aiming through a few branches but though about it and had a good look before the shot. It all looked plenty clear to me and I keep the scope on 4X to help me see stuff like that. The only other thing is I had put on one of those “Raingear” things that look like a cross between a small condom and a balloon. It of course was gone totally after the shot and I’m wondering if that could have nicked the sabot throwing off my shot?

I don’t know, I don’t get it. This gun and load CRUSHES deer at these ranges and some of you know how you just “know” when the shot is good and this one was good. Just…nothing to hang up on the skinning post.

What say ye breathern?