Deer dropped after shot. 15 mins later jumps up and runs away

[Woodbutcher2008]

Got a few questions for deer hunters.
I shot a whitetail buck, broadside, standing still, at 275 yards with a 300 win mag. 1 shot and the deer dropped. Waited 20 mins before walking up to it. Got within 20 yards, the buck lifts its head, jumps up and takes off. Goes 15 yards and face plants. Jumps up again and runs. As it was running away, it was stumbling back and forth through a hollow in the carriaganas. Since I was in the middle of the scrub brush, I couldn’t see which direction the buck ran.
There was not a speck of blood anywhere as there was no snow and tracking was impossible.

I grid searched the area walking 15-20 yards apart, in both directions for over 5 hours. Put on over 8 kms while grid searching the area in the direction the buck took off.

Has anyone else dropped a deer, no trace of blood, and no way to track.

My hunting partner says I Concussed the deer and didn’t hit due to no blood at either the spot where I figured it dropped or through the scrub brush where it was pin balling back and forth or where it fell down.
Not 48 hrs later, my son shot his first bull elk at 250 yards with the same gun, same bullets, and similar distance. Made a perfect shot through the shoulder. Bull was bedded and folded. Never got up or moved.
I call BS that I concussed the deer…
Has anyone ever heard of a deer jumping back up after a shot that “concussed a deer”
I know that I hit the deer as I saw visible sign of impact. The odd thing was no blood.
What’s your opinion about concussing a deer?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
Thanks

 

[yoderjac]

Guys have posed for pictures with their rile on the antlers and had the deer stand up and run off with their rifle and sling hanging from the antlers. It can happen.

 

[1100LT20]

I did that once too. Deer was walking away from me at 60 yards, I whistled to get him to turn to me. He looked back and I put the crosshairs on his neck right above the spine and squeezed the trigger and he dropped. As I was walking up to him, he jump up and ran into the briars stumbling and falling a couple times. I backed out of the area for 3 hours and returned to find a hand sized smear of blood where he had fell each time and that was it. To this day, I have no clue on where my bullet actually hit that animal or what became of that buck.

 

[Mennoniteman]

270 yards is not a chip shot and a lot can happen in that distance even if it felt like a perfect shot. I have had this happen to me, nick the spine and the animal will go down, but recover and leave. You hunting partner is probably right and your buck is alive and healthy. It sounds like you went above and beyond in your efforts to find the buck,, and tt least you have the peace of mind that you put in every effort possible to find him. I'd head back out and try to get another one.

 

[Buckly]

This has happened to me twice. No one would ever believe it but hey, you brought it up so I’ll give my story. Shot at a buck with 12 guage shotgun, deer dropped in its tracks. I went over and there was no visible wound anywhere on the deer. No blood, no hole, nothing. The other was a large doe with 300 win mag. This was close range probably 20 yards. Deer dropped instantly. No blood , no hole, no nothing. Not a wound anywhere on either deer. Very odd. I proceeded to dress the deer as normal so there was no jumping around happening but believe me I was concerned they would when I was field dressing.

 

[MarkDarvin]

270 yards is not a chip shot and a lot can happen in that distance even if it felt like a perfect shot. I have had this happen to me, nick the spine and the animal will go down, but recover and leave. You hunting partner is probably right and your buck is alive and healthy. It sounds like you went above and beyond in your efforts to find the buck,, and tt least you have the peace of mind that you put in every effort possible to find him. I'd head back out and try to get another one.

I've spined one too. Same outcome. I watch, wait, unload my gun, climb down. Take off my gloves and start walking over to it. It jumped up and took off like a bat outta hell, not a limp or stumble to be seen.

 

[KSQ2]

Happened to Dawna during the bonus season years ago. I wonder if it’s the equivalent of a stinger on the football field?

 

[swilk]

Hit their antlers and the stun is often enough to put them down for a period of time .... a little time passes and they are up and off again.

 

[gut_pile]

The bullets impact probably shocked the deer's spine and paralyzed it temporarily. Shoot enough deer with a rifle and it's going to happen at some point.

The deer will be fine

 

[Drycreek]

Never had one to jump up and run off but I shot a doe last Sunday morning and she folded at the shot. She lifted her head up and it fell back down about three times before she shuddered and died. I kept the gun on her the whole time but after a few minutes I knew she was dead. When we loaded her up and I saw the wound I just shook my head in amazement. Her spine was completely blown in two a little forward of where it joined the body. No way she should’ve been able to lift her head but she did. They are tough beyond what they should be.

 

[Native Hunter]

Cousin Eddie had a similar problem:

"You know that metal plate in my head? I had to have it replaced, cause every time Catherine revved up the microwave I'd ________ my pants and forget who I was for a half hour or so."

 

[suburbhunter]

Its called "spinal shock". In tracking deer with the dog I see it quite often, mostly with a firearm on a long distance shot. You likely hit one of the "spinal process" or vertebrae high in the back. I have also seen it happen on shoulder shots. Most of the time the deer survives...