Gus
Member
Here is the scenario:
Shot at a nice mature eight pointer last evening. Shot was at 100 yards with my LHR redemption muzzleloader using a 290 grain Barnes in front of 110 grains of BH powder.
I have shot this muzzleloader somewhere in the realm of 30 times since getting it last February. I know it to be dead nuts on at 100 yards. I am always well with in the Killzone even at 200 yards shooting off of sticks.
I was seated up against a tree shooting off of sticks. Immediately after shot it appeared the deer hunched up as if hit. He ran to the north,my right, and appeared to stop for a moment. I say appeared to stop because there were several other bucks around and in the commotion with deer running through the trees I might have lost track of the one I was shooting at. Anyway I thought I had a good bead on the deer I shot at. After the initial commotion all the bucks seem to settle down trying to figure out what just happened. they had no idea I was even there. I watched for about 20 minutes as they slowly moved off. During that time period, Not too long after my shot I thought I heard breaking branches as if the deer I shot at had crashed. Due to the amount of trees and brush I did not visually see this however. After a bit longer I walked down to the spot the buck was standing when I shot. This is where the sick feeling came over me. Snow completely covers the area I am hunting and not one drop of blood. I followed the path I thought the deer took to search for blood and still nothing. I walk the area of about 50 yd.² for about 10 minutes searching for a sign of some sort of wound. Still nothing.
I will note that the shot was rushed a little bit due to the window I had to shoot the deer in. Although it was rushed a bit I do believe it's still to be an ethical shot that I felt comfortable making considering the distance. Another note worthy point is that I am not completely sure the charge went off like it should have. Immediately after my shot I remember thinking that it did not seem near as loud as it normally does and the over all general feeling after the shot seemed different. Not sure if that makes sense but that is the best way I can describe it. I also know that in the heat of the moment shots in the field are completely different than they are when on the range.
Anyway my question for everyone is have they ever seen a gut shot that produced absolutely no blood. I am thinking that I just completely missed him(and I pray that is the case) but at the same time would be absolutely pissed at myself if I find this deer s carcass later this winter or spring in the bottom of a ravine. Ethically I feel I should comb my hunting area looking for this deer but at the same time I don't want to completey screw up my hunting for the remaining days of the season. With absolutely no sign of blood it makes it even harder to justify stomping through the woods. Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
Shot at a nice mature eight pointer last evening. Shot was at 100 yards with my LHR redemption muzzleloader using a 290 grain Barnes in front of 110 grains of BH powder.
I have shot this muzzleloader somewhere in the realm of 30 times since getting it last February. I know it to be dead nuts on at 100 yards. I am always well with in the Killzone even at 200 yards shooting off of sticks.
I was seated up against a tree shooting off of sticks. Immediately after shot it appeared the deer hunched up as if hit. He ran to the north,my right, and appeared to stop for a moment. I say appeared to stop because there were several other bucks around and in the commotion with deer running through the trees I might have lost track of the one I was shooting at. Anyway I thought I had a good bead on the deer I shot at. After the initial commotion all the bucks seem to settle down trying to figure out what just happened. they had no idea I was even there. I watched for about 20 minutes as they slowly moved off. During that time period, Not too long after my shot I thought I heard breaking branches as if the deer I shot at had crashed. Due to the amount of trees and brush I did not visually see this however. After a bit longer I walked down to the spot the buck was standing when I shot. This is where the sick feeling came over me. Snow completely covers the area I am hunting and not one drop of blood. I followed the path I thought the deer took to search for blood and still nothing. I walk the area of about 50 yd.² for about 10 minutes searching for a sign of some sort of wound. Still nothing.
I will note that the shot was rushed a little bit due to the window I had to shoot the deer in. Although it was rushed a bit I do believe it's still to be an ethical shot that I felt comfortable making considering the distance. Another note worthy point is that I am not completely sure the charge went off like it should have. Immediately after my shot I remember thinking that it did not seem near as loud as it normally does and the over all general feeling after the shot seemed different. Not sure if that makes sense but that is the best way I can describe it. I also know that in the heat of the moment shots in the field are completely different than they are when on the range.
Anyway my question for everyone is have they ever seen a gut shot that produced absolutely no blood. I am thinking that I just completely missed him(and I pray that is the case) but at the same time would be absolutely pissed at myself if I find this deer s carcass later this winter or spring in the bottom of a ravine. Ethically I feel I should comb my hunting area looking for this deer but at the same time I don't want to completey screw up my hunting for the remaining days of the season. With absolutely no sign of blood it makes it even harder to justify stomping through the woods. Any opinions on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance.
