So I was in a nice tree stand in South Carolina, I was set for the shot if it came, and it did. A doe walked into my field of fire, left to right. The stand was about 15 feet up, the shot about 50 yards, and the deer was slightly quartering away. I would say it was 5-10 degrees. At the shot the doe kicked up her front legs off the ground, then ran a few steps forward, then darted left into the brush. We found one drop of blood. We looked and found no deer.
I was aiming behind the shoulder, the shot broke well and I felt the trigger squeeze was good. I didn't seem to think at the time the quartering away angle was significant, but those shots can be difficult. Also, I think it works out to be about 7 degree down angle for the rifle to add to the equation. The rifle is a Rem 700 ADL youth model in .308; (aka a carbine), 20" barrel, Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 set on 4x. Ammo is factory Nosler .308 165 gr. Accubonds.
I guess I am asking, what the heck happened ? From my reading I find that a deer kicking the front legs up like that is a sign of a frontal grazing wound. Is this the case ?
Maybe my hold and squeeze was not as good as I thought it was. I am certainly open to that. But I do remember a good squeeze. The quartering away aspect has me wondering.
Help me stop wondering. The thought of a wounded deer is enough to bear, but the not knowing for sure what happened is driving me a little crazy.
Thanks,
Dr.Lee
I was aiming behind the shoulder, the shot broke well and I felt the trigger squeeze was good. I didn't seem to think at the time the quartering away angle was significant, but those shots can be difficult. Also, I think it works out to be about 7 degree down angle for the rifle to add to the equation. The rifle is a Rem 700 ADL youth model in .308; (aka a carbine), 20" barrel, Leupold Vari-X III 1.5-5 set on 4x. Ammo is factory Nosler .308 165 gr. Accubonds.
I guess I am asking, what the heck happened ? From my reading I find that a deer kicking the front legs up like that is a sign of a frontal grazing wound. Is this the case ?
Maybe my hold and squeeze was not as good as I thought it was. I am certainly open to that. But I do remember a good squeeze. The quartering away aspect has me wondering.
Help me stop wondering. The thought of a wounded deer is enough to bear, but the not knowing for sure what happened is driving me a little crazy.
Thanks,
Dr.Lee