Lost Deer

[TN Whitetail Freak]

Really tired of seeing threads about lost deer....people should use better judgement when shooting and deciding when to track after the shot....in my 10 years of hunting i've lost 2 deer both shot with the bow and both pushed by me and my impatience....with rifle a deer has never taken a step when shot.....ive learned from those 2 i lost one i tracked a half mile literally on hands and knees in the last stretch.....i later seen that deer with a flesh wound on the elbow.....the purpose of thread: is to remind hunters to remember a part of the "Bowhunter's Creed..."to search long and diligently to track down and recover any wounded game.

 

[catman529]

yeah I almost lost my first bow buck on the 5th of november. after 7 hours in about 40 acres of dense grown-up field, I had to give up because I had work that evening and was starting to cramp in the legs, but thanks to a member here, the deer was found the following morning and I learned a valuable lesson about tracking, always check water sources.

sometimes a good shot could go wrong but I think it is (or should be) everyone's goal to take a careful shot and not a risky one, and the most important factor to me, is to be confident in the shot.

I have noticed that my own shots have tended to be farther back then I prefer. Back of lung, or straight liver shots. I only lost one gut shot fawn this year which was right after I shot her momma and didn't get the doe hauled out till 930 at night and had work the next day. So the fawn was a loss and also a lesson to me. I don't know why I tend to shoot farther behind, because I aim right behind the shoulder. could be the deer is not 100% still, or could be buck fever, or in the case of my 2nd buck this year it could have been my arrow wasn't flying straight.

Also I don't think more people are losing deer this year, someone else here mentioned that more people are likely just saying it online where they didn't used to. I guess if billy bob admits he lost one then I can too. But actually I would admit it anyway in most cases, I am honest, and hiding a lost gut shot deer from people isn't going to make me much of a better hunter.

 

[deerhunter10]

Always remember when in doubt back out such a true statement! Be patient and take ethical shots and most of the lost and wounded deer will not happen.

 

[Hunter 257W]

What kind of rifle and bullet are you using that no deer has ever taken a step? I've shot them with a 460 Weatherby Magnum and a 300 grain Barnes bullet that mushrooms to nearly an inch when fired at 2,800fps and had them run the usual 40 to 50 yards!? Yeah, a few drop instantly, but most run 40 to 50 yards.....

 

[TN Whitetail Freak]

What kind of rifle and bullet are you using that no deer has ever taken a step? I've shot them with a 460 Weatherby Magnum and a 300 grain Barnes bullet that mushrooms to nearly an inch when fired at 2,800fps and had them run the usual 40 to 50 yards!? Yeah, a few drop instantly, but most run 40 to 50 yards.....

150 grain ballistic tips 170 grain remingtons 30.06 7mm Mag.....160 grain winchester 30-30 Mossberg....its not what i shoot its where i shoot....right dead in the shoulder blade drops them everytime

 

[rem270]

What kind of rifle and bullet are you using that no deer has ever taken a step? I've shot them with a 460 Weatherby Magnum and a 300 grain Barnes bullet that mushrooms to nearly an inch when fired at 2,800fps and had them run the usual 40 to 50 yards!? Yeah, a few drop instantly, but most run 40 to 50 yards.....

150 grain ballistic tips 170 grain remingtons 30.06 7mm Mag.....160 grain winchester 30-30 Mossberg....its not what i shoot its where i shoot....right dead in the shoulder blade drops them everytime

I shoot an encore 270 with hornady sst 130gr. Only had one deer run and it wasnt more than 50 yds.

The buck i shot last week i put a shoulder shot and he hit the ground and never moved. Ive had them hit the ground and kick for a few seconds before expiring. But this one was killed instantly

 

[ttf909]

keep hunting with the ballistic tip and u will loose one.

 

[Gravey]

No sicker feeling than losing one. I lost the first deer I ever shot with a bow and as best I can recall I've not lost another one and that was about 20 years ago. My son (he's 9) shot a doe with my muzzleloader last Saturday and we walked to where she was and nothing. I walked to the edge of the woods and saw her laying there 15 yards away but my son said "dad here's blood I hit her" so I told him to follow it. He found 3 more spots before seeing her and I said I already did. He looked at me as if thinking why didn't I tell him and I told the reason I didn't was because he has to learn how to follow the blood trail if they don't fall right there. All that to say take your time and don't hurry. A lot of deer could probably be found if people would take their time and really look. IMO we owe the deer that much.

 

[deerhunter10]

I shoot the same combo as rem 270 except it's a Browning abolt and i haven't had any move either

 

[Paul Burns]

I hear a lot about the front sholder blade on a deer being a drop him dead shot. When you dress out a deer how big is the front sholder blade on an adult deer on average.
Also I quess I am not a real good shot because a lot of my deer run a little piece after being shot, some hit in the lung and heart (exploded) still run fifty yards or futher.
Do others have this problem.

 

[catman529]

I hear a lot about the front sholder blade on a deer being a drop him dead shot. When you dress out a deer how big is the front sholder blade on an adult deer on average.
Also I quess I am not a real good shot because a lot of my deer run a little piece after being shot, some hit in the lung and heart (exploded) still run fifty yards or futher.
Do others have this problem.

I think it is normal for a deer to run even with a lung heart shot, they are tough critters

I don't know if I'd want to shoot the shoulder blade, sounds like it would explode a lot of the meat. if my deer runs 50 or 100 yards and dies quickly, fine with me, I do like to follow the blood trail and walk up to my trophy

 

[arctic_cat]

keep hunting with the ballistic tip and u will loose one.

No way. Never had one run on me yet. My nephew uses them and his never run. My brother quit using them because they do TO MUCH DAMAGE. Best made if you ask me if you dont like to track them. 30-06 150 grain. brother use to shoot them out of his 7mag

 

[catman529]

keep hunting with the ballistic tip and u will loose one.

No way. Never had one run on me yet. My nephew uses them and his never run. My brother quit using them because they do TO MUCH DAMAGE. Best made if you ask me if you dont like to track them. 30-06 150 grain. brother use to shoot them out of his 7mag

yeah doesn't sound like my type of ammo. I like to have clean shots without wasting meat and like to track the deer assuming I don't lose due to a poor shot. something more exciting about following drops of blood than just watching it drop. Although I would never complain if I dropped one in its tracks, that would be cool.

 

[7wsm]

140gr hp does well in my 308had rather lose a little meat as the whole deer

 

[DropTine21]

No sicker feeling than losing one. I lost the first deer I ever shot with a bow and as best I can recall I've not lost another one and that was about 20 years ago. My son (he's 9) shot a doe with my muzzleloader last Saturday and we walked to where she was and nothing. I walked to the edge of the woods and saw her laying there 15 yards away but my son said "dad here's blood I hit her" so I told him to follow it. He found 3 more spots before seeing her and I said I already did. He looked at me as if thinking why didn't I tell him and I told the reason I didn't was because he has to learn how to follow the blood trail if they don't fall right there. All that to say take your time and don't hurry. A lot of deer could probably be found if people would take their time and really look. IMO we owe the deer that much.

I lost a 150" deer in Kansas two years ago with my bow. Think about it everyday.

 

[Gravey]

I hear a lot about the front sholder blade on a deer being a drop him dead shot. When you dress out a deer how big is the front sholder blade on an adult deer on average.
Also I quess I am not a real good shot because a lot of my deer run a little piece after being shot, some hit in the lung and heart (exploded) still run fifty yards or futher.
Do others have this problem.

They are tough suckers. My son shot a doe on the muzzleloader and she ran 40-50 yards. When i gutted her he had blown her heart in half.

 

[bowriter]

I tend to think Iam a pretty fair shot. I take my time andpick the right shot. I use a Steady Rest on my guns and on my crossbow. I drop very few in their tracks. I also have very few run out of sight.

What I know for a fact is, it doesn't matter if you are shooting a bazooka. Some will drop, some won't. I have dropped elk in their tracks with a heart shot from a bow and shot them in the heart with a rifle and had them go 100-yards.

 

[Roost 1]

I just as soon them drop in their tracks. High shoulder shot will do it every time.

 

[woodsman87]

Some of mine have run and some of them don't. Never knew what the difference was. The biggest/oldest toughest buck I killed dropped when I shot. I shot a doe with muzzleloader last Saturday and she ran 40 yards. With a shot heart and lungs. I have shot deer in the shoulder blade and exit through other shoulder blade and the still propel themselves with their back legs for a few yards anyways.
I use a 30-06 with 180 grain. Plenty of power.
Some deer run, some don't.

 

[RAFI]

Really tired of seeing threads about lost deer....people should use better judgement when shooting and deciding when to track after the shot....in my 10 years of hunting i've lost 2 deer both shot with the bow and both pushed by me and my impatience....with rifle a deer has never taken a step when shot.....ive learned from those 2 i lost one i tracked a half mile literally on hands and knees in the last stretch.....i later seen that deer with a flesh wound on the elbow.....the purpose of thread: is to remind hunters to remember a part of the "Bowhunter's Creed..."to search long and diligently to track down and recover any wounded game.

sh.. happens and people make bad shots at times.How many deer have you shot?

 

[REM7]

keep hunting with the ballistic tip and u will loose one.

I shoot the Winchester Silvertips 150gr. (7mm mag) I never have had any issue with "losing one". Any reason that I need to know bout?

 

[Born and Raised]

Since the OP lost two deer with a bow I guess this just adds to the list of "lost deer threads" that he's unhappy about?

 

[bowriter]

I too shoot the 150 gr silvertip. Great load, been shooting it for about 30-years and have never had a reason to change. Use it on everything from elk on down.

And ti doesn't matter how many deer he has shot rafi, I completely agree with his post. I posted just about the same thing in a different thread.

 

[ttf909]

if the deer runs after being shot with ballistic tip you most likely wont have a blood trail to follow. if the round shatters on bone at impact, the animal will probably die but it will run and very hard to blood trail with no blood.
went to texas in 99 and the guy told me to stop using them for this reason. took me till 2008 to learn the hard way.

 

[CULLBUCK 2]

keep hunting with the ballistic tip and u will loose one.

Agree

 

[ClubHead]

Buck fever equals bad shots.It makes you not take your time.

 

[deerhunter10]

Shoot the ballistic tip has been great to us but i have heard a few people have trouble with them but just very few.

 

[ruger7mag]

if the deer runs after being shot with ballistic tip you most likely wont have a blood trail to follow. if the round shatters on bone at impact, the animal will probably die but it will run and very hard to blood trail with no blood.
went to texas in 99 and the guy told me to stop using them for this reason. took me till 2008 to learn the hard way.

I have to disagree. The Winchester supreme ballistic silvertips are flat out nasty on deer. I shoot them out of my 7 mag, and if they don't drop, then there is a blood trail that Ray Charles could follow. If you eat the front shoulders on a deer, then these shells aren't for you. I know several others who shoot the same ammo and never have problems.

 

[Devin2009]

It happens.......Killed plenty of deer with my 115gr ballistic silvertips outa my 25-06....never had one run outa sight. come to think of it ive never had one run EVER. shot bout 15 deer with em.So ill take my chances.............
\

 

[gator-n-buck]

How in the heck do we go from bowhunting to a couple of pages of "what's the best bullet to use".... LOL

It's a different beast when comparing shooting a deer with a bow vs a rifle. Try shooting one in the shoulder with a bow and tell me how that works for you or how far the deer will go....

No matter what you shoot, it's about shot placement....