Lots and Lots of hair

[gonewest]

I shot at a deer the other day that was facing me but kinda quartering a little . I had to take the shot because the deer was ready to step back into the bush. I had a great rest the shot was 140yds I was using my .270 win with 140 gr accubonds and 53 grs of H4350 powder. When I shot I saw the deer act like it was hit but it ran off with its tail up but not real fast. I waited 45 minutes and went down to look and found about a 6 ft circle with all kinds of white hair and a few bone chips about 2" long. I found very little blood. I did track the deer finding a little blood 150 yds but it got into a marsh and we lost the trail. I did circle after cirlce and never found the deer. It made me sick I had never lost a deer out of 35-40 I have shot. I can't figure out what happened other than the bullet hit the brisket and deflected down to blow off all that hair. There was ALot!!! I couldn't tell if the bullet ever exited or got the entry hole blocked with bone. Anyone ever have this happen and why so much hair. I never shoot low. My gun is always sighted for 2" high at 100yds and shoot out of a box blind with great rest. Any info might make me feel better.

 

[bigngreen]

Sounds like your brisket hit theory may be right on, there isn't many places you could blow that big a piece of bone out that wouldn't drop him or at least make him pack a leg in a very obvious manner. Did you check your zero! Bummer man, happens to the best at some point.

 

[Derek M.]

shot a muley at 45 yards with 140 AB/270. Knocked it on its arse, walked up to gut it and it ran off, we tracked it about a mile and it kept going onto private property. Shot was quartering to and bullet hit in chest b/w shoulder and brisket. Gun was on solid rest.

 

[gonewest]

I did get two nice bucks this yr in Colorado and Alberta using 130 gr accubonds with 60 grs of H4831sc. The bullet performed great. I really would have liked to use the 130's again but my other .270 was sighted in with 140's and my shots are all within 200yds. I would like to see where the bullet entered and exited if it did before I blame it on the bullet. It still amazes me the amount of hair that was on the ground. Does shock knock off hair

 

[3degreesbelow0]

what was your aiming point on the quartering on deer?

Based on your description I would say you hit one side of the brisket and continued down the side of the hide never entering the chest cavity essentially shaving the one side producing the large amount of hair and the lack of blood.

 

[gonewest]

I held on the center of the chest about middle high on the front of the chest. What I was wondering is if it didn't go through (because I got a couple 1-1-1/2" peices of bone) and come out and run along the side of the deer. The bone kinda looked like rib but I still can't believe the deer got away. I knew I might loose one over time but I realy prided myself on getting every deer I ever hit. I'm not saying I hit them all. HECK NO! But I just would like to recover to see the wound. Thanks for the reply.

 

[3degreesbelow0]

I suspect that is what happened call it a glancing shot,...proably hit a little to one side, took out a rib/cartilage of the brisket and then went along side of deer shaving hair. But never hit anything vital...., I fully appreciate and understand your dedication to recovering game it is what we should all strive for,...sometimes things just don't work out.

My first buck I ever got was a strong quartering on shot, with a 30-30 at 15 yards, from a tree stand, I aimed right of center towards the near shoulder to travel through to the off shoulder. He expired quickly after about a 20 yard run but I could not believe the bullet DIDN'T EXIT! It was a 170 win silver tip, there is a lot of structure there in the brisket and I'm always leary about taking that shot.

 

[Bravo 4]

I suspect that is what happened call it a glancing shot,...proably hit a little to one side

If I had to take a guess, this would be it.