I shot a buck at 85 yards with a muzzleloader. Knocked him down, he got up and went about 20 feet and went down again. I climbed down from my trees stand after 15 minutes. He was still down in the same place. Waited another 15 minutes before I went over to him and he was gone, but I heard him crash through the brush right behind where he was down. There was about 100 feet of decent blood and then nothing. No evidence that it was a gut shot. Never found him. Does anyone have an idea where I might have hit him for him to be down for all that time and then be able to get up and disappear?
Where did I hit him?
- Thread starter nh hunter
- Start date
I shot a buck at 85 yards with a muzzleloader. Knocked him down, he got up and went about 20 feet and went down again. I climbed down from my trees stand after 15 minutes. He was still down in the same place. Waited another 15 minutes before I went over to him and he was gone, but I heard him crash through the brush right behind where he was down. There was about 100 feet of decent blood and then nothing. No evidence that it was a gut shot. Never found him. Does anyone have an idea where I might have hit him for him to be down for all that time and then be able to get up and disappear?
I agree...you hit him somewhere that shocked the spine...also possibly high shoulder. Where he was laying did you possibly have another shot at him after reloading? I am a firm believer in shoot until dead...have had deer I thought were done get up and run off never to be seen again...
tlh2865
Active Member
I second this, I am not a huge fan of black powder for this reason. I would always recommend a second shot on a deer with black powder where possible.
On a related note, there was a hunter gored to death by a buck in Arkansas I believe earlier this year. Shot with black powder and dropped. Hunter failed to reload before approaching the deer. https://5newsonline.com/2019/10/31/cause-of-death-for-arkansas-hunter-attacked-by-deer-released/
Thanks for the input.
Due to the topography and that the deer seemed to be hurt pretty bad, I opted to grid search after waiting about 10 hours. In hind sight a dog would have been a better idea.
I actually didn’t consider taking another shot since it was down and from where I was I didn’t see any movement. By the time I did approach it it was after shooting light. I will certainly consider a second shot differently next time around.
Yes
My wife and I shoot Powerbelts as well. We have never lost a deer while using them and the list of mature bucks killed with them is lengthy...furthest track job has been 70 yards and blood trails have been impressive.
nh hunter,
Same result at 25 yards and at 50 yards. I could see exactly where it was hit at 25 yards as it layed there and I'm certain about the hit on the 50 yard shot. Only deer I have ever lost and haven't shot them since but have shot a lot of deer since with mz.
They are known for those type of results. Obviously okie has had fine results but there are many, many, who have experienced the same thing as you and I. Do some research on that subject and you'll see what I'm talking about. I wish Okie the same results as he's been having.
Same result at 25 yards and at 50 yards. I could see exactly where it was hit at 25 yards as it layed there and I'm certain about the hit on the 50 yard shot. Only deer I have ever lost and haven't shot them since but have shot a lot of deer since with mz.
They are known for those type of results. Obviously okie has had fine results but there are many, many, who have experienced the same thing as you and I. Do some research on that subject and you'll see what I'm talking about. I wish Okie the same results as he's been having.
Drycreek
Well-Known Member
I’ve killed a few deer with Power Belts, and found all of them. If they hadn’t been the most accurate bullet in my particular rifle I wouldn’t have after the first couple deer. On the second deer the bullet broke into three pieces, no mushrooming at all. Luckily I hit her in the heart. I would still use them on a doe, which is what we were doing in the first place, but I don’t think I would use them on a big, heavy deer. (We used to have an antlerless only BP season.)
Deadeye
Well-Known Member
When I was a much younger man (read teens) I shot a Big Ole Doe on a Pipeline and knocked her off of her feet. She hit the ground and rolled up with her feet pointing up , then back down. I started walking towards her and she got back up and slowly walked across the Pipeline and I never shot her again- feeling it was a waste.
Never found any blood and lost her tracks in a spot where a bunch had been walking under some pines in light snow.
Last time I EVER let one get up and walk away. Always be ready to put a 2nd or even 3rd shot in if needed.
