I have been hunting for several year and I have finally ran across one of those "Bulletproof" deer that a 308 just was not enough. First, I hunt with a NEF single shot 308 Survivor (good rifle I like) that has a Nikon 4x32 fixed powered scope on it. Also use 180 grain Federal Fusion ammo.
Thursday morning (10-30-08), I went out to my favorite stand that has produced deer in the past. Got to the woods around 6:45 am and was in my stand by 7:00 am after I put out some Tink's 69 as cover scent. At around 8:00 am I used a doe bleat can a couple times. At around 8:15 I saw a average size spike come creeping in at around 45 yards. I don't hunt racks so this guy will fill my freezer nice. I take aim and fire. Good hit in the shoulder (right front leg dangling), he runs towards my stand and at about 15 yards he stops and looks back the way he came. I know in the past that the land owner (who also uses a 308 have lost deer hit in the shoulder, due to the woods thicking up). So here I am, in my stand 20 feet up looking down on the deer. Moving slow trying and reload. I have one bullet in a pocket of my insulated bibs the rest is on the belt underneath. I got reloaded and the deer has not moved just looking around and back the way he came. I get the rifle up, figure that at this range I could put one in the back of the head, I take aim and Bang, the deer runs back the way he came, I can see the ground beneath and see where the bullet had hit. I can't belived that I missed. Now the deer is standing about 35 yards away facing away with a quatering shot behind the left shoulder. Still he is looking away. Now I start digging around to get to the other bullets down in the suit. After what seemed forever, I finally get reloaded. Deer still standing there. Take aim for the quatering shot and put another bullet in him. Now down he goes. I reload. I watch him for 15 minutes or so and go down and check him. As I approach he is laying on his left side. The first thing I notice is that his right shoulder is destroyed. I walk up and lift the leg up and see a bloody mess under the shoulder where it meets the body. Okay the other shot had exited here. So I thought. Next, I see that under the chin, a three inch spot is blown out. And I find the entry hole at the base of the skull in the neck. SO I did hit him. I go and get the truck and then drag the deer to load it. After I loaded the deer, I further noticed that the bullet that entered the shoulder, went down the shoulder blade and exited inside where the leg meets the body. This shot would not have finished the deer any time soon, he needed the second shot. The second shot passed through the neck missing the spin and any of the blood veins, very little bleeding from the wound, he might have lived throuh that shoot also. However, the third shot, behind the shoulder anchored him. So one can make three good hits to put a deer down.
What I have learned, I know I usually put the bullet behind the shoulder, however, this time he was walking and I rushed the shot with out stopping him, a hit to the shoulder (which usually will drop a deer). Also I know better that shooting for the head, I should have just put another in the broiler room and been done with it. Having to take three shots on the deer, was needed, no lost deer.
P.S. I guess I need to go out and get the latest super magnum to shot deer with.
Thursday morning (10-30-08), I went out to my favorite stand that has produced deer in the past. Got to the woods around 6:45 am and was in my stand by 7:00 am after I put out some Tink's 69 as cover scent. At around 8:00 am I used a doe bleat can a couple times. At around 8:15 I saw a average size spike come creeping in at around 45 yards. I don't hunt racks so this guy will fill my freezer nice. I take aim and fire. Good hit in the shoulder (right front leg dangling), he runs towards my stand and at about 15 yards he stops and looks back the way he came. I know in the past that the land owner (who also uses a 308 have lost deer hit in the shoulder, due to the woods thicking up). So here I am, in my stand 20 feet up looking down on the deer. Moving slow trying and reload. I have one bullet in a pocket of my insulated bibs the rest is on the belt underneath. I got reloaded and the deer has not moved just looking around and back the way he came. I get the rifle up, figure that at this range I could put one in the back of the head, I take aim and Bang, the deer runs back the way he came, I can see the ground beneath and see where the bullet had hit. I can't belived that I missed. Now the deer is standing about 35 yards away facing away with a quatering shot behind the left shoulder. Still he is looking away. Now I start digging around to get to the other bullets down in the suit. After what seemed forever, I finally get reloaded. Deer still standing there. Take aim for the quatering shot and put another bullet in him. Now down he goes. I reload. I watch him for 15 minutes or so and go down and check him. As I approach he is laying on his left side. The first thing I notice is that his right shoulder is destroyed. I walk up and lift the leg up and see a bloody mess under the shoulder where it meets the body. Okay the other shot had exited here. So I thought. Next, I see that under the chin, a three inch spot is blown out. And I find the entry hole at the base of the skull in the neck. SO I did hit him. I go and get the truck and then drag the deer to load it. After I loaded the deer, I further noticed that the bullet that entered the shoulder, went down the shoulder blade and exited inside where the leg meets the body. This shot would not have finished the deer any time soon, he needed the second shot. The second shot passed through the neck missing the spin and any of the blood veins, very little bleeding from the wound, he might have lived throuh that shoot also. However, the third shot, behind the shoulder anchored him. So one can make three good hits to put a deer down.
What I have learned, I know I usually put the bullet behind the shoulder, however, this time he was walking and I rushed the shot with out stopping him, a hit to the shoulder (which usually will drop a deer). Also I know better that shooting for the head, I should have just put another in the broiler room and been done with it. Having to take three shots on the deer, was needed, no lost deer.
P.S. I guess I need to go out and get the latest super magnum to shot deer with.
