Glad you got your deer.
But, from your story, I think you need to reconsider how you are sighted in. You did say you aimed low (or somehow adjusted the sight) because the shot was 40 yds, right?
You are obvioulsy hunting in the woods. For woods hunting I'd have a 30/06 sighted in for about 3" high at 100 yds. You'd be in the kill zone out to 250, and you'd likley never shoot that far in the woods anyway.
Then, when you need to shoot at a deer anywhere between the muzzle and 250 yds, you simply aim and shoot. No adjustments or compensation for range needed.