Reactions of deer when hit?

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse

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What can people tell me about the reactions of deer when fatally shot?

I have now shot two deer with a rifle, both with a .30-06 and both at modest range. The larger one dropped instantly on a double-lung shot where the only damage was to ribs. The smaller one was able to run frantically even though it had a shoulder destroyed and was also double-lunged. When dressing the deer, I found that both had their lungs totally destroyed. I've shot a deer with an arrow, and there was a really big difference in the condition of the whole lungs.

Actually, the big one moved its legs on the ground as though running, but with no sort of attempt to get up. The little one that ran came towards me, so I don't think that he really had a thought in his mind - just tearing off.

So I have two questions. (1) How often does a double-lung shot deer run and how far do they run? And (2) what (other than brain, neck or spine damage) determines whether or not a deer goes right down to a devastating shot?

One explanation for the difference between the two deer of my experience is that the one that went right down was unaware of my presence, and the one that ran was on to me when I shot it.

RG

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Well you are going to get lots of different answers here because you never can tell what they will do. But here goes with my experiences, with likely over 50 whitetail shot, by myself and 100s shot with the gang.

I have only shot a handful of deer behind a dog that dropped in there tracks, because of a B.S luck shot in the neck or spine, most deer I have lunged while running and the gang shoots on the run being pushed go 75 to 150 yards and die. Most deer in the front shoulder go 30-50 yards on average if the bullet penetrates through.

Most lung shot deer I have shot in a field out of a stand the deer have gone about 100 yards than died, plus or minus in most cases about that, some made it 200 yards

Most deer I have shot in the high front shoulder field stand hunting or a slow walking deer drop on the spot, as the neck and head which is common pratice in our camp, we are set up for it.

So I think and many will think different, when ribs and lung are hit, there is not a bone jarring force like a major bone, and normaly you get a pass through, but not always, your deer is dead, but oxygen in the blood still allows him that extra 15-20 second on go to make a get away until his body saya, f-you charlie your dead same as a heart shot.



Now I would be a liar to say I have not lunged deer that dropped, because I have had a couple only field stand hunting mind you while they grazed, with fast cartridges and soft bullets that might have hit the deer and went into shock. Also the bullet broke up sending fragments everyplace so who knows

But you never know, and i do not know there is a real answer, maybe just opinions and experience that is observed in the field
 
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As you know arrows and bullets make deer act very differently. I have shot deer with arrows that didn't even realize anything has happened, just stood there curiously looking around to see what the "fwap" sound was as they bled out in front of me.
A lung shot deer with an arrow will usually just bolt, perishing in 30-80 yards (sometimes 10 yards sometimes 100 yards) typically it is 30 to 80.
A deer shot in the heart with an arrow will instantly drive it's rear legs straight in to the air, often over it's own head, that is usually a good sign you will see him drop from where you stand.
 
Thanks for the observations. --the one of mine that ran went like a bat out of hell. When they run is it asways flat out? Do they ever walk or bound lazily away if fatally shot?

RG

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Ruffed Grouse said:
Thanks for the observations. --the one of mine that ran went like a bat out of hell. When they run is it asways flat out? Do they ever walk or bound lazily away if fatally shot?

RG

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I always look at the flat-out run as a sign of a good hit......usually heart or lungs.
 
2 things will make a deer run like that, one is the fact it knows it just got shot, the other is the noise of the thing that shot at it.

It never helps to stand up and yell "Whoo Hoo" after the shot either.
 
I shot a good mulie buck a few years ago, about 250yds with a 7mmrm through the lungs and he just jogged off. I thought I had missed but we found him a couple hundred yards from where he was standing dead as a stone. Shot a mule doe the other day at about 200yds with the same rifle she gave a bit of a buck and ran like hell for about 100yds, did a flip and died. Top 2" of her heart was destroyed. Couldn't believe she made it as far as she did. The doe was looking at me when I shot. I definetly think that makes a difference. They're tensed up and ready to run when they're looking at you. Just my opinion.
 
A couple years ago I shot a big mule buck at about 200 paces and the following day I shot a fairly big White T buck also at about 200 paces. Both were shot through both lungs and within an inch or so entrance holes and exit holes were within an inch or so. The mule buck was walking and broke into a trot at the shot and piled up a full 90 paces later. The wt which knew I was there, put 4 feet straight up in the air and dropped straight on his back and stopped on the spot. Same rifle and same type of bullet from factory load. Two almost identical shots but very different reaction after the shot. Most of my deer shot this way go about 50 yards. Usually when I drop one on the spot I have found that the bullet hit a little higher than I planned. Not an exact science. I just started watching wild tv. A couple hours on the tube and you will see many different reactions.
 
JasonYuke said:
Most deer I have shot in the high front shoulder field stand hunting or a slow walking deer drop on the spot,
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I have found this as well. I often avoid this poi because of the damage it causes, but will not hestiate to choose this shot if target is near cover and there is no snow on the ground. Most of my deer are shot near prairie coulees and open stubble fields. I have lot of room to watch them after the shot.
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All of mine have been on standing deer with shots in the heart lung area. They typically went 10-50 yards. A buck that I angled one frontally into the heart lung area from the neck (closest to the body) dropped on the spot despite not hitting the spine. Was the most dramatic drop of any of my shots. Friends took pure neck shots and while the deer dropped on the spot, they did not die from the shot and required further action to speed up their death. My muzzle loader shot deer were both lung pass through and the deer went straight in the direction they were pointed about 20-50 yards. One leapt, one simply bolted.
 
I have seen only two reactions: drop on the spot (80%), or run full out into cover, then crash and burn within 25 yds. I had one that I thought I had missed at first, it just stood there, then started to wobble and went down. All of these were hit in pretty much the same spot (double lung).

Plenty of theories, such as where in the breathing cycle the deer was when the bullet hit, to how relaxed was the deer, i.e. "on alert" deer will tend to run when hit, and "surprised" deer will just fall over and die. All theories have exceptions, so who really knows?
 
I've seen many reactions to being shot. Some dropped their tails immediately, some did not, some gave no reaction whatever (typical of running shots) but skidded to a dead stop in less than 20 yards.
With the exception of my last crossbow buck, all of my deer have died within 100 yards, most within feet of where they have been hit.
This is with a wide variety of rifles, chambered from 44-40, through 45-70, and including rifles such as the 338WM, at least once with a shotgun, and buckshot.
The strangest one, was an eight pointer hit with early versions of the Barnes X point in 30-30. That buck was hit multiple times in the chest before he fell. He was 20 feet from me. The push was still going on, so I kept the buck in sight but did not approach. I heard a noise, and turned to see him dragging himself away with his back end out of commission due to a broken spine.
Later examination showed two lung hits, both pencil through, and one spine hit. (I was shooting down from a high rock at the time)
Early Barnes X points in 30-30 lost their petals on entry. I understand that has been fixed, but I've not used them since. The sight of that buck dragging himself away isn't a great memory.
 
Pyd said:
, the other is the noise of the thing that shot at it.

r.
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Oh boy.

I wish I had a video camera so that I could show you how many times a deer froze to see where the noise came from. I'm not the greatest shot. My success comes from the fact that they stuck around after the first shot.
 
cdngunner said:
Oh boy.

I wish I had a video camera so that I could show you how many times a deer froze to see where the noise came from. I'm not the greatest shot. My success comes from the fact that they stuck around after the first shot.
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Aw an honest man, :)

I have seen the same as well on deer & moose. You shoot one & the other will sometimes just stand there, course it's always when you don't have a tag for the other :rolleyes:
 
I've had deer drop in there tracks and I've had them run up to 100 yards before dropping. About half of my kills have been in front of dogs. The strangest I've seen was the 8 point buck I got this year, he was running flat out in front of a dog. I hit him twice in the vitals destoying the lungs and heart but when the 2nd shot hit him he stood straight up on his back legs and went over backwards dead. I've never noticed any diffinitive reason or reaction that makes them run or drop other than the spine or neck shots.
 
I had a nice experience last year. Shot a big Muley doe at about 220yards with my buddies 325WSM. The 220gr Sierra knocked her over. She got back up and slowly started to walk towards me. The other deer in the herd just watched her, stunned. She came about 50 yards towards me then dropped for good. Shot placement was right in the boiler maker, pass through. Still had to pack her out a couple miles though....

I'd say that most my deer that have been hit good, buck a bit, then run for a few yards, then drop. I've never had one drop in its tracks.
 
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I've never had one drop in its tracks.
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You rarely will with a heart or lung shot. The one exception seems to be at close range with a bullet with lots of energy. I killed a ram at 59 yards this year with a lung shot and he dropped on the spot....dead. I've seen the same thing several times with deer at close range but once you start to get some distance between you and the animal, count on it running off.

If you really want to anchor an animal where it stands, middle of the shoulder seems to be the best bet. I've seen some high shoulder shots go bad, however, so it is critical not to hit them too high when shooting shoulder.
 
I've had every reaction under the sun. On Tuesday I shot a doe with a 130g 270 at 100 yards. Double lung shot and all she did is bound off like nothing was going on. She went a good 200 yards with little bleeding at all. I thought I missed.
I've have seen them all out bolt, or jump, or kick, or just fall over dead.
 
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