Congrats on the buck, I think this story is losing its point, it's a successful hunting story.

a .243 can drop a deer in its tracks. I won't use one but put it through the heart or bot shoulders and it can drops in its tracks. Not saying it always will.

People need to remember, Midwest deer and SE USA deer are A LOT different in size so it's going to have a different effect on different deer in different areas.

Also, I'm not sure about all states, but most states do have leg tags and I don't see any legs so how do we know it isn't tagged on the leg?

The only thing that I can see being illegal is that chain! LOL

Congrats again!