All this doe talk about which one to take, and like some I try to shoot the biggest in the bunch, but if I'm strictly after a doe I'll bust the first one that gives a shot. I went several years without shooting a doe. This morning I killed 2. This ain't about the deer, but more about the setup. Early January I made a move to go to small calibers. I spend way too much time on another forum and all the rage is hunting with a 223. I've not been fond of it, but there's too much evidence to dismiss it. I killed one several years back and didn't have a great time. Fast forward and I now have a fast twist 223 and a suppressor. Spent a big part of the off season burning the barrel down. Trying to also teach my youngest, but I think she'll be ready next season. Shooting a 75gr eldm around 2700 fps. First doe came in and kinda caught me by surprise. I slid the window open on the hunting house and slid the rifle out. Got settled in and sent one just behind the shoulder. Watched as she ran off out of sight thru some tall weeds. I rechambered, and contemplated the choice I just made. Hoping she didn't go far and it wouldn't be an issue to find in the grown up weeds. I haven't killed with a suppressor and really didn't know what to expect. About a minute goes by and I look back out the window and there's another. Out goes the rifle. Bust her too. She runs the edge of the food plot and I can see a little as she goes around but it finally stops. I figure she's down right there. Wait a few minutes and head out. I eased to the plot and don't see one laying there so I head that direction. Get to where I thought she'd be laying and look thru the weeds and see a big white belly. That's easy enough. Now let's find the first one I shot. I look across the weeds and don't see a white belly. Not expecting a blood trail I eased down the hill a bit finally see her laying there about 15 yards below the first. Both deer were shot within about 20 yards of each other and fell within 15, but both took way different paths to get there. I would guess the first was around 100 yards and the other was around 110 yards.
Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this post. Got home and decided to start an autopsy. Split the second deer in shot open and the smell hit me. Basically hit her a hair back, but the angle made it much worse. Caught lungs, back of heart, and stomach. Complete pass thru. She was a mess. I do believe she ran the edge of the food plot and when she gave up, she rolled and flopped to where I found her. No blood except where she laid. Probably 75 pound doe
Entrance side
Exit
First deer was text book. Missed the heart but got both lungs. She made a beeline to where I found her, just below the second deer shot. She ran maybe 40 yards, but onx says it's closer to 20. She did bleed some, but it would have been very tough to have found the trail the way she went thru.
Entrance side with both the shoulder and shoulder removed
exit side with shoulder and shoulder removed.
Inside the cavity, bullet traveled right to left
What truly stood out was the amount of blood in between the body and hide on its back. As I peeled the hide down when I got to the spot in really just peeled itself. Despite the lack of a blood trail on the second deer, and the minimal trail of the second, I'm truly pleased with the performance.
And the suppressor! I almost forgot. When I seen the first deer she was the only one I seen. I was expecting to hear the bullet hit and I really didn't. Wouldn't say it was a disappointment but I was hoping for it. But quiet! Wow. A minute later and the next one came in, following the first. She stopped and looked back, like she didn't have a care in the world. Doubt I shoot another with a rifle without a suppressor.
Let's get to the meat and potatoes of this post. Got home and decided to start an autopsy. Split the second deer in shot open and the smell hit me. Basically hit her a hair back, but the angle made it much worse. Caught lungs, back of heart, and stomach. Complete pass thru. She was a mess. I do believe she ran the edge of the food plot and when she gave up, she rolled and flopped to where I found her. No blood except where she laid. Probably 75 pound doe
Exit
First deer was text book. Missed the heart but got both lungs. She made a beeline to where I found her, just below the second deer shot. She ran maybe 40 yards, but onx says it's closer to 20. She did bleed some, but it would have been very tough to have found the trail the way she went thru.
Entrance side with both the shoulder and shoulder removed
exit side with shoulder and shoulder removed.
Inside the cavity, bullet traveled right to left
What truly stood out was the amount of blood in between the body and hide on its back. As I peeled the hide down when I got to the spot in really just peeled itself. Despite the lack of a blood trail on the second deer, and the minimal trail of the second, I'm truly pleased with the performance.
And the suppressor! I almost forgot. When I seen the first deer she was the only one I seen. I was expecting to hear the bullet hit and I really didn't. Wouldn't say it was a disappointment but I was hoping for it. But quiet! Wow. A minute later and the next one came in, following the first. She stopped and looked back, like she didn't have a care in the world. Doubt I shoot another with a rifle without a suppressor.
