Originally Posted by
DJfan
Well, I guess we just disagree. She reeled back, paused and ran funny. Looked like many of my other hits in the past. So, puke away.
I have been hunting for many years, and have never lost one. Ever. This is the first. I have followed some blood trails for a long time, but this time had no trail to go after. Most of my deer are dead very quickly, and near by. Not sure what happened here, which is why I posted. I was looking for that one response that had some insight.
There is ablosutely no access to that neighboring ranch. It is just that way. I have hunted this land for three years, and the access that way is never available. Never had a deer, or pronghorn, run that way either.
Enjoy the puke. I did my best, and have a clear conscience that I did all I could. Just nothing to go on.
You haven't said how much land you have to hunt on and how far that doe could run before she got out of sight and onto property you say you can't access even if you ask for permission to have only taken an hour before you gave up. Please answer that because I'm sure I'm not the only one reading this thread and responding that is wondering about only about an hour followup. I also believe I just gave you a good response and that is that I don't believe you hit her where you said you did to not be able to find her even if the bullet may not have fully expanded at that short distance. If you can't access the adjacent property legally and it's not very far to it, my final suggestion is to start shooting your deer right on the shoulder to knock them down and then if they try to get back up shoot again so you don't have to do any tracking! You'll lose a little more meat than a vitals shot through the lungs, but not the entire deer like you did this doe!