So, here I am not able to sleep reliving a shot I took late yesterday.

The short story is I took a shot at a buck as he crossed some brush. Was a fairly long shot of 325 yards, but I’ve successfully made much longer shots with this gun (usually on nilgai and hogs).

When I took the shot, he disappeared and I can’t tell you if I hit him or not. I did see him again, maybe 2 minutes later, 450-500 yards away, calmly walking through the brush. The direction he was headed, he was 50 yards from where my property intersects with two neighbors.

I gave it about 15 minutes and went to look for blood where I’d shot ande didn’t find a spec. Granted, he was in the brush and I can’t be certain exactly where he was standing when I fired. It got dark and I searched all around the area where I last saw him, but nothing there either.

Does it almost have to be a clean miss? Could my scope be off that much? It’s a 300 Weatherby with very expensive glass attached. It wasn’t an aiming issue.

I’ve never seen a buck casually walk after being shot. Granted, I’ve rarely had one go more than a few steps and never had one go any steps with this gun which is why I’ve gotten to where it’s the gun I use most.

I’ve got plans with my family today and am considering not showing up so I can go look some more. Problem is I can tell on the radar that it’s already starting to rain out there.

I’ve never had this buck on camera. Needless to say, it was a monster.

Sounds like a miss….

That’s my hope.

Makes me sick either way. Would make me more sick to think this buck was hit and not recovered.

Deer don't generally casually walk when hit is my experience. Long shot / short shot, misses can and do happen.

Agree, if hit, deer dont usually walk away casually.

I would chalk it up to a miss, but might still out in some effort to look for blood if possible. If it is raining already, the chances of finding blood are low, and given what transpired the night before, might be a total waste of time.

I'd say it was a miss as like mentioned deer don't casually walk away unless he is about to stagger and fall over, and that doesn't seem to be the case.
I'd do the family thing first, and then go look later.

IF the buck had its head up and appeared to be normally alert....then I would guess your shot was a clean miss.

Typically a hard hit deer will 'run' some distance before walking....so the additional 125-150 yds and time period (2 minutes) suggests the buck was probably walking that entire time.

Only YOU know your sight picture and level of steadiness at the time of the shot. IF your rifle is sighted for 100 yds. (it might not be) and if using a 180 gr, bullet then the drop at 325 yds. would be approximately 12".

If the deer was walking (hopefully you didn't take a walking shot at that distance) that would further complicate things.

If you feel as if the deer has crossed onto neighboring property then I would go and walk a stretch of the fence-line there and look for blood.....rather than at the site of impact.

Where the deer was when you took the shot can be difficult to pinpoint....but you might be able to locate a 100 yd. stretch of fence line to inspect. IF the deer went over or under a fence then odds are....its OK.

IF it didn't go across a fence then there is no telling where it is. But when looking for blood ALWAYS go to the last place you saw the animal NOT the site of the impact.

Look and listen for bird activity, such as Cara Cara, Buzzards, Crows, and even Coyotes raise a ruckus fighting each other over a kill.
You more than likely won't observe any of this in my opinion, so don't fret too much over it.
Casually walking away the deer never knew he was being shot at, so the good news is he is still out there!

The last 2 bucks I've killed casually walked off, however they weren't 300 yard shots. I suspect a miss but you really can't tell. I always assume my shot connects. Always.

Last year I shot a buck at about 220 yards and it never jumped, slumped or anything. Walked off very slowly and I'm thinking what the cheese monkey. It was very close to dark so I wasn't going to take another shot. Buck walked about 100 yards and fell. I totally disintegrated his heart and couldn't believe it. I think it's probably very rare but does occasionally happen.

I have missed shots that I have no idea how I could have. It happens. Good ideas on checking the fence line and looking for buzzards and crows. The lack of blood does not mean much to me at least. I have made some great shots on deer where there was zero blood where I shot the deer. However, I have never had a wounded deer walk casually away so that’s the good news. I think it was a miss from what you describe.

I agree with this assertion...I would still go shoot the rifle to verify zero. I also have never had a wounded deer walk casually away.

I to shoot a 300 wby most of the time I was sitting in a short tripod and a big 8 steps out Im thinging this is to easy 75 to 100 yds put it on the base of the kneck squeze , at the shot I notice something fly , buck walks away ,I go look and the bullet hit not 1 but 2 twigs about 3/8 in diameter. never noticed the limb in the scope like yours its good glass, I think you can rest assured that something like that happened on your shot, it was that bucks day not yours

Thanks guys. Just now got done with family activities and it’d be dark by the time I got out there. Looks like it’s rained all day so any sign of it would have washed away.

He was walking with his head high the last I saw him. I’ve pretty much convinced myself I missed. Regardless, I’m gonna head out tomorrow and watch for buzzards. I know both neighbors and if I see something I know I’ll get access to go look.

I just hope I missed and get to see him again, even just on camera. That buck will haunt me forever unless I find a carcass or get confirmation he’s alive.

I’ve hunted this land for 40 years and have never seen anything even close to this buck. He’d be a trophy on high fences I hunt. To take a buck like that on our little family place would be a dream.

Kenny appreciate your diligence. It may end up being a blessing you missed him. I hope so for your sake. Good luck hopefully you get another shot at him

Flintnappers post makes me realize I went low. I didn’t do the math right in my head on that shot and I’m pretty certain I went low. Gonna get out there tomorrow and make sure it’s sighted.

Checking pictures and had 3 other shooters at feeders so far today after having very little activity for 2-3 weeks.

Fingers crossed for tomorrow.

Sounds like a miss to me but I always assume it’s a hit until I exhaust all efforts to locate sign of a hit, or the animal it’s self. If you were 100% comfortable with the shot then I would take a few shots at the range. Most misses you will know it before you ever get out of the stand. Based on what you witnessed I would have been thinking “miss” but would want to search for full confirmation. I miss is always better than a wound. There is the silver lining.

I’d say a miss as well. He wouldn’t have been calm walkin if wounded.

Good man. You doing all that can be done. My hat is off to you. Many folks would not put in the effort for the peace of mind.

Opening day, this buck is dogging a doe at 140 on the trot

I shoot, he never missed a step

He then goes to leave at 170 and I shoot again

He acted like he didn’t like the sound of me shooting to me

I then called a buddy disgusted at myself because I should have made those shots.

This deer piled up 75 yards away from the 2nd shot

I have never once saw a deer not react to being fatally shot twice until this deer

Absolutely no response, nothing