i was out hunting today, posted by a treeline and along came this average sized doe. I waited till it was broadside to me and it was about 20 yards away. I shot and it started running, i thought forsurely that i had hit it but there was no blood, ect. I was using a 30-30 150 grain, i sited it in at 75 yards and was shooting in a 5 inch circle consistantly.

any ideas of what might have gone wrong? I am positive i did not hit the deer.

Could be one or a combination of many things...

"buck fever" couldamade you shake
coulda made you not aim (i know it sounds silly, but it happens. Some people point the gun a fire never thinking to aim. They can't remeber a perfect sight picture)
Gun could be off from a bump, fall, ect.
You coulda pulled the shot really bad when pulling the trigger
Rushed shot...
and many other things... if it was off hand it gets worse. I'd make sure the gun is still on and if it is it was Human Error (Sorry to be harsh but that's the way I see it)

I just hope you'll get a second chance better than the first .
Make sure you have your gyn sited 100% and may be a better group than 5" to ellemenate the error.
TOONS
SAFTY IS # 1

yah thats what i figured at first. that i might have pulled the trigger instead of squeezing it slowly. I'll try shooting a target again to make sure the gun in on. I know for sure that i aimed though. would siting it in at 75 yrds make it ineffective at 20?

Cant tell,But next time take a deep breath and only look and at the spot you want the bullet to hit.Squeeezzzzzze

Dane007 it happens. That's why we hunt. Next time think to yourself breath(ease your finger on the trigger on the exhale)site picture, site shot.Then enjoy those tenderloins.

I hope you made a thorough search of the area for a long ways in the direction the deer ran. Sometimes with a high hit it will take a good distance before the deer starts bleeding outwardly.

yes, i searched about half a kilometer in the difection it ran, we saw it 20 mins later standing with another herd before they bolted. also, my brother says he saw the bullet hit the ground.

The deer I took this year at 20 yards with a 30.06 left no blood trail whatsoever even though the exit wound was in the brisket, with the heart blown out. The deer went 60 yards and the entire body cavity was flooded with blood but no blood trail. Deer was seen drooping in its tracks but trailed it from point of impact anyway to gain practice in blood trailing. . Tracked it easily enough by hoof impressions but no blood to be found...anywhere except 10 feet from where it lay dead/.....1 drop on a leaf. Don't rely on blood to indicate mortality or a hit. Look at the big picture.

Dont feel to bad it happens, I seen a guy miss a 170 class deer 3 times all under 80 yards this past weekend. I would think that it is buck fever or your scope got severly knocked off.

Chris