Im with ya Mauser, if the diaphram is punctured, that deer will die. Theres just do way a deer can live with a hole that big in their chest cavity, whether they hit any vitals or not. No air=no life.


I hear what your saying though Mich. We all should pay very close attention to detail and be smarter about going after these deer. Theres a difference between a smart tracker and a dedicated tracker.

This deer was shot at 5 yds from a 20' perch. She went 120yds.

If there is ANYTHING I’ve learned from shooting deer with a bow and being in on other tracks that people shot, is that the only thing you can say for certain is, that nothing is for certain. Weird things happen all the time. Bad hits that drop em in 40 yds, and double lungs that run 150 with no blood trail.

thanks for the info we all need to brush up on the stuff from time to time.

Lets see, I heart/lung shot a deer this early sept. , she went 200 yards before she piled up, It was just about a perfect shot in terms of trying to kill a deer fast. My buddy shot a doe, a week later, just as gut shot as you ever wanted to see. She made it 30 yards before dying [&:]Go figure.

They all act differently, and there is only one spot that I never ever want to hit on a deer again, high in the shoulder joint/ ball. This is some of the toughest bone and it is almost certain you wont penetrate through it. I lost one like this, with only a couple of drops of blood found over 150 yards away from the stand. Just my experiences.

I guess I violated this tenant when I and my neighbors tracked my first deer. But the blood trail was strong most of the 250 yards, so we knew he was bleeding out. 1.5 hours after the shot, we came upon him down but not dead, and I was able to humanely kill him and successfully harvest him (temperature was warm, so he would not have kept well).

I know I know nothing, but a strong blood trail that can be followed will lead to a dead of incapacitated deer.

I have seen heart/ling shots go pretty far, probably 150 yards even. Hitem high above the vitals and spine and most will be lost.

I love this place