ORIGINAL: raceman30
I use a CVA Eclipse 1 in 23 twist. Of couse it has taken me all summer to find this load combo, lots of spare bullets left..
Why I asked my first question is, last night I shot a buck at 70 yards and the buck was knocked off its feet onto its back and laid there for about 30 seconds, got up and ran off before I could reload, when I got to where the buck was I started tracking, there was no blood, hair, nothing. I started to follow his tracks until he stopped running, 100 yrds or so, then I started a grid search thru the brush for another 300 to 400 yrds, nothing. Went back this morning and searched for 3 more hours nothing.
Any ideas on what could of happened? This is my first year to use a muzzleloader, I know what to expect from my bow and 270.
please help...
Sounds like you hit too high...above the heart/lungs but below the spine...that's just muscle tissue there...the shock effect that close to the sping temporarily paralyzes them, then it wears off and they're up and running...no blood trail to follow, deer will be fine...did the same thing with a .30-30 at 50yds years ago...shot too fast at the whole deer, didn't really pick a pinpoint for a target...remember the old saying: "aim small-miss small"