Lost deer

[ManofManyStangs]

Shot a 11 point at 9:10 this morning. 111 yards from me immediately dropped all 4 legs straight out and death kick. Watched a spike walk out of the field took it 4-5 minutes deer not moving went to pack all my stuff and recover. Looked up once everything was put up and the deer was gone. All kinds of hair but found 0 blood. Did a back and forth search over the hill where I would've though it went to and didn't find no sign of deer. Lesson learned for me, I just hate hunting this many days and first time I switch the safety off all season and couldn't find it. I killed a coyote a few days ago that was 125-130 yards. No clue what happened. I guess I'm hanging it up till next year.

 

[bowhunter269]

My guess.....and this is based on stories I've heard, never experienced myself. Hit high, spine was "shocked" but not severed. Deer was basically paralyzed for a couple of minutes, then regained its ability to stand up and move on.

 

[Strutter]

I’d say 269 had it right. Did the same thing with a big doe years ago with muzzle loader. She laid there for 10 minutes and when I got to her she hauled azz through the creek and up the mountain. No sign of anything. They are tough critters. Stay with it. You might run into him again. Good luck.

 

[Little FR]

269 nailed it.

If you hit that bone on top of the spine. The “spinous process” it will fall like a ton of bricks. Then recover after a couple minutes. They will usually survive that hit.

I’m sorry you lost it. I hate that for anybody.

 

[257Wmag]

Sounds like what 269 described. High shot near spine. Hate it for you. Especially with a MZ deer should be ok.

 

[3PointSlayer]

I've seen them get knocked out cold when hit in the antler. But more than likely your shot wasn't off that much. Hope you find him or get another chance.

 

[Drahts]

I hope you find it!

 

[WaterDog88]

My guess.....and this is based on stories I've heard, never experienced myself. Hit high, spine was "shocked" but not severed. Deer was basically paralyzed for a couple of minutes, then regained its ability to stand up and move on.

Saw this a few years ago. Buddy shot and the deer fell. By the time he got out of the stand the deer was gone. We looked for hours and never found blood. Deer showed up on trail cam a week later chasing a doe with a chunk of his back blown off. Either way I hope you find him or get another shot

 

[Cole505]

I’ve heard of that happening before.
As a rule of thumb I put 2 in them everytime now. Can’t hurt.

 

[muddhunter]

I’ve heard of that happening before.
As a rule of thumb I put 2 in them everytime now. Can’t hurt.

You shoot every deer you shoot two times?

 

[Cole505]

You shoot every deer you shoot two times?

After missing a couple and not finding a couple over the years, I started to a few years ago, haven’t lost one since.
I figure if there still there, running or not I’m putting another one for good measure.
He thought he dropped him, so completely understandable but like I said, I’ve heard of that happening many times.

 

[rockhousehunter]

Shot a 11 point at 9:10 this morning. 111 yards from me immediately dropped all 4 legs straight out and death kick. Watched a spike walk out of the field took it 4-5 minutes deer not moving went to pack all my stuff and recover. Looked up once everything was put up and the deer was gone. All kinds of hair but found 0 blood. Did a back and forth search over the hill where I would've though it went to and didn't find no sign of deer. Lesson learned for me, I just hate hunting this many days and first time I switch the safety off all season and couldn't find it. I killed a coyote a few days ago that was 125-130 yards. No clue what happened. I guess I'm hanging it up till next year.

Get back out there, no reason to be hanging it up till next year because of that.

 

[predator1]

My guess.....and this is based on stories I've heard, never experienced myself. Hit high, spine was "shocked" but not severed. Deer was basically paralyzed for a couple of minutes, then regained its ability to stand up and move on.

This! I’d never experienced it and technically still haven’t. But it happened to both of my sons in back to back years. Both fell like they’d been struck by Thor’s hammer. Few minutes later they jumped up and ran off with very little and short blood trail. Never found and showed back up on camera a few weeks later. I have since decided I’ll do the “double tap” method. If it drops at the shot I’m going to send a 2nd down the pipe if I can see it to do so. Bullets are cheap compared to heartbreak and disappointment.

 

[ManofManyStangs]

I really hope it makes it, good deer to see it waste away. Never had the first picture of this deer all year long. I have had 1000 regrets and what ifs but it makes sense for a high hit. I did take my time had a great rest, don’t think it was the gun but I will shoot it again to see how it’s hitting.

 

[INKYHUNTER]

Years ago using cap and ball, I shot a buck and he went right down. Having had a conversation with a friend who had a deer get up and run off, I reloaded. I got down and as I was walking toward the deer it jumped up. I shot it again! The first shot grazed the top of spine.