How far do you think the deer ran? Was there much blood? You said the shot was good. Just curious, I've used 250grn XTP'S with pretty good results.

The .452 240gr XTP bullet is a MAG and FAR tougher than the 250gr XTP. It would expand much slower at 2 WhiteHot pellet speeds.

IMO IF you want to use 2 WhiteHots and XTPs for deer hunting, you would be better off with the .452 250gr NON MAG XTP.

Congrats on the deer. Too bad that the predators got to it.

Deer went probably 150-200 yards total but crossed over to a neighboring property. Decent blood trail, started with just drops and increased to a good trail after she stared up the hill on neighbors land, just had to get permission before going across the creek. Took a couple hours to track down property owner. Should have gone after her that night but hind sight is 20/20. Turns out she was only about 50-60 yards on the neighbors land. Really sucks to lose meat that way. I could kick myself for not going that night but i didnt know how well she was hit at the time.

Never knew of coyotes covering partially eaten prey. Cougars always attempt to cover their partially eaten prey.

Cat was my first thought too but to my knowledge none in this area

The cougar kills i have stumbled on were covered completely. One was very very very fresh, and the cat hadn't a chance to eat on it before i got there, but it was covered completely while i stumbled down the hill trailing the very deer in fresh snow. When the tracks just stopped, i was quite confused, but saw a piece of ground without snow on it. My deer was dead right there under the pile of dead needles, and stuff. It had 2 fang holes punched right through it's skull like it was bit by a huge rattlesnake. That deer was very warm. The other kill i found was done hours before i spotted the drag trail, and it was buried very skillfully. It took me a long long time to find the buried deer, even though there was a drag trail right to it. The deer' neck wasl wet with saliva, so i assumed the lion choked it until it died. That deer was just slightly warm. The cat had eaten the lungs, and heart, before she buried it, and went to retrieve her cubs.

To me, it seems strange a lion would eat the hind quarter first.

next time ask for permission in advance and don't leave your deer out there all night congrats as well !!

Bobcat, coyotes don't cover a kill
RR

I agree. Bobcats will try and cover, yotes won't.

How'd ya like that snow last week RR? We got 17" at our cabin.