Buck Down in Nebraska
 

So I shot a 4x4 at 200 yds, uphill, this evening around 5 pm. He ran about 75 yds (put another bullet in him on the run) and laid down in the field. I gave him 15-20 minutes with his head laying on the ground pointed away from me with no movement, when I decided to get out of my ground blind. Well, this was the wrong move! He gets up and does the run where he falls on his face, gets up, and repeats for about 100+ yds back up into his bedding pines.

It got dark on me, and without much moonlight, or a good spotlights, I couldn't do much in the thick pines. So, I left him for tomorrow morning.

I'm shooting a 25-06, 120 grain load, as it has done great for me in the past. The buck did the gimpy run where he could take some steps, then falls forward on his face, then struggles to get up. I know it is hard to tell, but did I just nick a vital or does that shot sound pretty fatal?!?!?! I know the first shot was solid and figure the second was decent as it knocked him down, but where the heck did I go wrong on this one?

First time I've had to leave a deer overnight and track the next morning, so I am anxious. I have bigger mounted on my wall, but I just feel crappy leaving the deer out there and the suffering bugs me a touch. Hey, I know it's part of the territory that comes with being a hunter, but dammit, I would rather have that buck just drop dead from one solid shot!

I do take some solace in the fact that he went back to the bedding area, which I am hoping will keep the coyotes away.

Any thoughts or advice? I feel pretty confident I will find him as I found a huge puddle of blood where he laid in the field. Just can't understand how he could go 200+ yds after taking a chest shot!

Thanks for the help, advice, stories, etc.

I'd say he's done. Never had a deer do that type of run that lived very long. Hopefully the yotes don't find him first. They are tough animals, amazing sometimes just how tough. Good luck and post your pics when you get him!

I will definitely make sure to post a pic. Any deer this strong deserves to be pictured and memorialized haha. That is one tough SOB after what I saw today!

You should find him dead in the morning. Go in prepared for him to jump up and take off again though. But he'll be in those pines in the morning.
-Jake

We'll be waiting to hear how you made out finding him. Good luck to you. From your description, I believe he's a dead deer.

any update?

I'd put money on it that he his dead. Sounds like he was hurt pretty bad and will die over night. Sounds like you may have taken his front shoulders out which is why he couldn't stay up. I'd say that is a pretty high percentage shot.

Update us on if you found him or not.

Well, definitely some ground shrinkage. Did find him, but unfortunately so did a pack of hungry coyotes! Literally ate the back half of my deer. Tagged him and he will end up being nothing more than a cape for a taxidermist and a set of horns to rattle with :(. Here's a picture, I don't do him any justice at 6'6'' and 320lbs, so keep that in mind that things are a little skewed on proportion haha!

Took out his shoulder through the chest and shattered the other leg. Second shot was on back end of lungs.

Sorry for the sideways pic! It didn't make my wall, all three of these attached pics are Nebraska deer, but shhhhh keep my state a secret from the other hunters. Nebraska is a hidden gem!

Nice buck, but now my neck hurts! LOL

Congrats, too bad the yotes got to him...but at least you found him. They are tough, thats for sure. Hard to believe he made it much of anywhere with the shots you stated.

Broke both front legs, right front was shattered, with the bullet slightly passing through the front of the chest. Second shot was a little further back, back end of the lungs and took out both. I was pretty surprised as well after seeing the shots, and blood trail, that he managed to go about 275 yds or so after initially being shot!

A little graphic on the pic, but hey we are all hunters. Here is how I found it and what was left. You can see the bullet entry on the left front leg.

Luckily, I gave the front cape to a taxidermist who makes winter gloves for homeless and less fortunate folks. So it wasn't all in vain!

wow I thought coyotes were back in Kentucky! I have never seen a pack do that much work in one night! that is impressive. Sounds like you need to do some predator hunting!!

nice buck congrats too bad bout the yotes

At least you still tagged him. Some people I know would have just cut the antlers off and left the carcass and went and shot another buck. Kudos to you.

Couldn't do that my man. I'd feel like a poacher! Even a Game and Parks worker told me that if it was that mangled I could just leave it, thought that was odd. But they did reiterate that if I took the antlers I would need to tag it. I still thought it to be odd they would even suggest leaving it.

nice buck and quite the story to tell

May head out this weekend and try for a coyote or two, but it is definitely my go to spot. There are also some bobcats near my ground blind, just hoping I don't run into the BIG cat that has been seen on a few occasions! Taking the old trusty 22 Hornet out and getting the cobwebs shaken off for some fun predator hunting. I am just hoping we get some dang snow this year!