Originally Posted by
dogbone13
alley I am in kinda same boat as you. if a deer runs after the shot in my eyes it is a bad shot. I cant stand having to track a deer after a rifle shot. a lot of people seem to treat hunting like playing pool. always planning next step. what tracking job will have to be done. (bow on the other hand is little different but it does keep me from bow hunting in evenings because of it)
You must be new to hunting. I've taken every animal in the deer family and can tell you with no uncertainty whatsoever that EVERY animal reacts differently to rifle hits. The ONLY absolute DRT (dead right there) shot is brain/spinal interruption. Period. I've had them drop on the spot and run for 100+yards with obliterated heart and lungs. I had a little tiny Doe in Kentucky, live weight was around 125-135 pounds, hit with a 180gr CoreLoct from a .30-06 at 58 yards, run 160 yards. Got to her, opened her up, lungs were totaled, heart had a hole in it that I could get 3 of my huge sausage fingers in and the off side shoulder busted into several pieces.
To put it bluntly, you couldn't be more wrong. Those that you have observed "planning" a tracking job are doing exactly what they are supposed to do! My shot choice being high shoulder USUALLY eliminates tracking jobs since it USUALLY results in a DRT but the fact is, no one is perfect. I always observe the animals position at the time of the shot and try to figure which way it will go if I don't drop it in it's tracks. That's what any hunter worth his salt will do. You should take notes from those you observe planning a track job and you should also learn to get over your dislike for blood trailing. Guys that can't blood trail a hit deer don't belong in the woods shooting at them with ANYTHING.