Originally Posted by super_hunt54

I aint going to jump ya, much , but I feel you kinda shorted the search a bit. If you hit it where you think you did and didn't jump right up after it then more than likely that deer didn't go more than 100 or so yards. Lung hit deer tend to lay down faster than heart hit deer. Shock from both the shock of the bullet strike and the not being able to breathe puts them down fairly quick. Anywho, sorry to hear you lost ya deer.

If you want a shot placement that is absolute dead right there have a look at this image and practice aiming for the red spot.




That right there will USUALLY take out the spine or at least cause serious trauma to it while taking out the lungs as well. Wastes very little meat and what little it does damage is well worth the not having to track the dang things. Getting to dang old to track after a deer for miles!