Having been primarily a smoke pole hunter for around forty years, I can say without a doubt that there is no place above the lungs and below the spine that a .50cal ball or .45cal ball will not be absolutely fatal. As rockport stated, that area is a myth that has been spread by the ignorant and those without first hand knowledge of a whitetail deer anatomy. As to the original poster, more than likely you hit where oldtimr and a couple of others stated and just stunned the deer for a bit. I've seen deer hit that looked like they were t-boned by a semi and still get back up and trot off like nothing happened. Now, to Cub Slayers statement about superior weapons, shall I laugh hard or softly snicker? It isn't the weapon there bud. It's the individual using it. I have taken many animals with, according to you, my inadequate smoke poles. Knocking on wood, I have yet to lose an animal but I will not shoot past 100 yards with any of my sidelocks and I always use the patience the old man instilled in me to wait for the perfect shot presentation. I haven't a clue why you are so hung up on muzzleloaders being inadequate, maybe you are the inadequate one but I can tell you with no doubts whatsoever that they are far from inadequate. The whitetail population was nearly wiped out when there was nothing but front stuffers that were not nearly as accurate as the ones made today. The bullets weren't nearly as efficient back then either. Whitetail are not that hard to take down. One just has to have patience and knowledge of where to put the bullet.