Shot a deer but could not find it.

No matter how many deer you have shot in the past or how many hours you put in at the range there are always factors in the field that can't be controlled. That's why they are field conditions.

On the other hand perhaps this deer was a particularly hardy one with more desire to live. I've seen whitetails that were hit HARD in the lungs severing the heart at the top that went what seemed like an unbelievable distance for a deer suffering from the blood loss they had. If you think you hit it in the vitals, it will be around there somewhere.

I've also seen deer dead right in the open, but missed them. Last year we looked for a doe that the shooter was very certain the deer went down in its tracks 150 yards through the semi-open woods. We searched and searched but couldn't find any sign, tracks, hair, nothing. I found the dead deer 2 weeks later bow hunting - exactly where the shooter said it was, only in a now frozen puddle (approx 2x3 feet and 8-10 inches deep). The coyotes had eaten everything down to bone - that's the only reason that I seen it. We must have walked right past it... about 40 times.

What I'm trying to say is that if you hunt enough, you will have to track wounded deer. They are not all bang flops especially if you don't anchor the shoulder (more meat loss).

Loosing a deer is possible even if you take all the normal precautions, that's just the way it is. Look hard for the deer, get some help if you can and learn from it whatever the outcome is. Don't beat yourself up, you put effort into it.
 
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!UPDATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well I was sitting in class today trying to study for upcoming exams and it was just not happening. Our professor said something about being done a certain section and well I decided I was done for the day and proceeded to break a whole lot of traffic laws on my way out to look for the deer I knew I hit. It had snowed about 3"-4" so I figured I might find some blood if it was still alive or maybe a lot of coyote tracks to it if it was dead. Long story short I got about 1/2 a kilometer or so from where I had shot it and saw a deer in a cut block sitting in the snow.

When it went to walk it had troubles. I looked at it through the bino's for a while but it just stood there. I had brought my target rifle with 18 power scope so I took a look at it through the scope and could see blood on the snow where it was. Sure enough there was my deer!! in the middle of a cut block 1/2 km from where I was yesterday freaking out looking for it until dark. When I think back I really cannot remember much now because I was so damn happy (I am still pumped) to find it. Obviously I ended it's suffering as soon as I calmed down enough to take the shot. Upon gutting it I could see that the bullet from the previous day had hit it's shoulder and it had a very broken front shoulder/leg. There was an exit wound out the other side but it was 1/4 the way back through the ribs.

The lungs were not touched as were none of the important stuff from what I could see. I was actually surprised at how small the lungs were on this deer 1/3rd the size of what I am used to seeing with bigger deer. From what I saw it looks like the bullet hit the front shoulder and exited fairly cleanly through the other side further down the body managing to not really hit anything important.

All I can say it this is the weirdest thing I have ever had happen after shooting a deer. Also looking at the exit wound I would guess the bullet did not expand that much. I find that strange as well though because it seemed to destroy the front shoulder pretty good on entry. I would have also thought that some bone from the shoulder would have damaged the vitals in some way.

Anyway I have it all skinned out and called the butcher so I can drop it off tomorrow morning but given that this deer has already been such a learning experience I think I am going to butcher it myself. I have never done it before but figure that I will in some way feel better about the whole sh@tty experience if I learn something from it. So there is the ending thanks for all the ideas on finding it. I think I kind of fluked out just seeing it like that. I will try and post some pictures of the wound when I give butchering it a go.
 
You might want to consider dumping the federal blue box ammo. While I have never had a problem with it some folks on here say the bullets do not perform consistently.

In 308 my go to ammo was 180 gr winchester silvertips for deer and moose, before I started reloading.
 
Good job dude! Bullets do funny things sometimes, even big ones. I shot three deer this year, all at close range, and all the exit wounds weren't much bigger than the entrance wounds, minimal bullet expansion- with premium bullets. I'm thinking of switching back to a standard soft point or 'ol round nose semi jacket, get some expansion happening in soft tissue.

For Butcher paper and twine go a good grocery store or big box like costco or superstore. Any of them should be able to hook you up. I think my last box of paper came from a save on foods.

Look up and try a de-boning method, that's what an older fella just taught me a few weeks ago and it was so easy, just a sharp knife and follow the lay of the muscles.
 
Non-ziplock freezer bags work well also. I buy the medium size ones for cutlets and burger. Put the meat in, twist the neck, then turn it inside itself, twist again. in effect, double bagging. For roasts, I double bag with large freezer bags.

Double bagging and squeezing the air out has prevented freezer burn for up to two years.:)
 
spenom said:
Thanks. Here is a question for you guys. Where do you buy your butchering paper to wrap meat. also the twine to bundle up roasts????
Click to expand...


Many wholesale clubs or Canadian Superstores should have it. Save up for a vacuum sealer though.... much better way to go.

And congrats on bagging your deer - you will never forget this one !!
 
Ditto on the vacuum sealer, its the way to go. Foodsaver makes a great one available at Canadian Tire.

If you're going to butcher it yourself you should bone it out. It results in a really nice product.
 
Congrats on your persistance on finding your deer,I'm glad it all worked out for you.
The buck I took this year led us on quite the trail after I shot it,No hair or blood where I shot it found the first speck of blood and hair 20 yrds. later as it entered the bush.It would bleed good then we would be on our hands and knees searching for a speck of blood,as well as it backtracked on us once.not easy with no snow.We did jump him on last time he went 80 yds and was dead when I got to him.
I was also shooting Federal bluebox 7mm-08 150 gr. shells.I clipped a lung and blew up 1/2 the liver.it still covered a 1/4 of a mile.
I get my paper and twine from the local butcher shop,check out some utube videos on butchering your own deer.
Front legs-I use for garlic sausage,peperettes,hamburger
back legs-steaks,roast,some hamburger
tenderloins-fry them up....mmmmmmmmm
backstraps-make into chops
neck and ribs- can either be used for hamburger or ribs if you prefer,I find there is not a heck of alot of meat there.
Debone,you can seperate the meat by following the muscle as per the back leg I get 9 individual pieces out of.Cut out all the silver grisle and enjoy.

Here is a pic of my chops....mmmmmmmmmmmm
Picture2139.jpg
 
Spenom, sounds like the lungs had mostly collapsed, that is why they were so small. The first deer I ever took with my bow I hit a bit far back and missed the lungs. As he ran his lungs collapsed. I bumped him after about 1/2 hour and he got up and ran another 35 yards, then fell and thrashed around until he died. When I gutted him each lung was only about the size of my hand. Rough ending but I learned from it.
 
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