Author Topic: Most frustrating day deer hunting (Read 2700 times)

ted · « **on:** November 15, 2011, 08:00:36 AM »

I live in KY and went out this very rainy day. I hunt with a T/C 12" 44 magnum. 23.5 grains 296 and hornady 240 xtp. Had a buck came out at 8:10 a.m. He gave me a great broadside about 100 yards away. I put my gun on a rest and lined up sights and BOOM! the deer jumped up and then slowly walked about 30 yards closer and stopped. I debated whether to shoot again and decided too as he gave me a good broadside look again. BOOM! The deer jumped again, stopped, then slowed walked/faltered some into woods right next to the trail. I waited 25 minutes then went to look. Did see blood where I shoot him but, rain was so hard it was washing away quickly. I looked for 3 1/2 hours and never found him! Had to stop as have to pick up daughter from school. WIll look again tomorrow a.m. So frustrated as I know I had two good shots in lung/vital area. The deer jumping twice too along with hoof prints from where he was shoot twice. Thought for sure he wouldn't have gone far. Anyone out there have anything like this happen?

AtlLaw · « **Reply #1 on:** November 15, 2011, 10:22:00 AM »

Had just about the exact same thing happen to me this weekend...

'cept I was using a 30-30! Never found the deer, blood trail ran out after about 10 feet!

ted · « **Reply #2 on:** November 15, 2011, 02:30:24 PM »

Thanks for the reply. nice to know I am not alone in this experience. Still seems unreal to me though.

handi243 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 16, 2011, 01:31:54 AM »

Guys i have hunted all my life i see alot of people are watching the shows about shooting them behind the shoulder. I found out along time ago shoot them IN the shoulder i have never lost one shot there. Yes you may loose alittle more meat but where i hunt it gets so thick just inside the woods that rabbits use the highway!!

Plus i hunt IN the woods very little field hunting.

jhalcott · « **Reply #4 on:** November 16, 2011, 09:52:55 AM »

I've had that happen also. I even had a deer drop too close to the road and SOME one else got my deer. I used to have a Chesapeake retreiver that LOVED deer hearts. He found quite a few deer that had been shot and made it under some THICK brush. After he died ,I found out that I could have CHARGED a fee($$) for this service! MOST of the deer I've shot with firearms didn't go over 50 yards. I normally take out one or both shoulders.

3030guy · « **Reply #5 on:** November 18, 2011, 11:07:45 AM »

It happens to all of us.

painted horse · « **Reply #6 on:** November 18, 2011, 12:13:12 PM »

Not knowing the type country you hunt in I'll tell you how I look. Start at the place you know deer was hit (blood). Start going in half circles (you know it didn't come toward you) about 10 yrds apart, continue until more blood/deer is found. Might do a lot of walking but you will find it.

scratcherky · « **Reply #7 on:** November 18, 2011, 01:01:03 PM »

TED-- I am a fellow KY hunter and would like to know your previous experiences with that bullet. Both my hunting buddy and myself have had poor terminal performance on deer using that bullet in our muzzleloaders. On 4 or 5 good shoulder shots on deer that bullet essentially went to pieces on impact failing to penetrate. We finally just quit using them.
Thanks & Good Hunting,
Don

ted · « **Reply #8 on:** November 19, 2011, 01:57:40 AM »

Scratcherky,
This is the first time using this bullet. I have many different barrels for my t/c. I had been using the 357 Bain and Davis which is a 44 mag. necked down to .357. this load was 21.6 grains of 296 with a hornady 158 fp/xtp at 2100 fps. This bullet had worked fine on deer. I got the 44 mag barrel earlier this year and wanted to use it and decided on that bullet based on reviews of websites and other hunters' results. Since I never could find the deer I can't say for sure if I hit him where I think I did or what the actual performance of the bullet was. I do have some 300 grain xtp's which I have read good things about. Don't have these sighted in though.
I eventually want to use all of my t/c barrels to get a deer. I will be able to go one more day next week. Hopefully, I can tell of a better story then!

scratcherky · « **Reply #9 on:** November 19, 2011, 05:18:35 AM »

ted,
Thanks for the info. I have also heard good reviews on the 300 grain 44 cal xtp, but have had no experience with them. I really like Contender in 7-30 Waters.

rockbilly · « **Reply #10 on:** November 20, 2011, 01:03:54 PM »

Over a period of approximately 60 years of hunting I have lost only one deer (couldn’t find after shooting.) That deer was shot with a 30-30 from about 125 yards, I thought I made a good hit, found blood but never found the deer. Afterwards I came to realize you have to really know your capability as a shooter, the gun and conditions before taking a shot. I think a 100 yard shot with a .44 mag pistol is just a little too far for the average shooter, I wouldn’t take it, even in my younger days. Loss stories such as this would not happen if folks took the time to evaluate their shooting and the weapon they use. JMHO!

P.S. I made a one shot 140 yards kill on a nice 8 point Saturday morning, it fell in its tracks and never moved. I was shooting a srortrized 6.5x55 Swed with my hand loads

hillbill · « **Reply #11 on:** November 20, 2011, 02:16:54 PM »

Quote from: ted on November 15, 2011, 02:30:24 PM

Thanks for the reply. nice to know I am not alone in this experience. Still seems unreal to me though.

it does happen and will happen if you shoot enough deer.i do let weather dictate a lot of my shots. if its raining, i wont take anything but a sure kill shot well within range of whatever im shooting.if its gettin dark i wont shoot unless i know as a worst case i can come back in the morning if i have to to track.you learn the hard way.

Steve in PA · « **Reply #12 on:** November 20, 2011, 04:57:56 PM »

The farthest I've taken a deer with a handgun is about 75 yards. I would have no problem taking one out to 100 yards. My SRH is sighted dead on at 100 yards and I use either 240 or 300gr XTP's. It could have been a bad hit on the deer. I've seen/heard of plenty of deer not being recovered by rifle hunters.

ted · « **Reply #13 on:** November 21, 2011, 02:12:18 PM »

All,
Thanks for all the comments! I did have taken a deer at 100 yards from the same trail as one I shot at. I agree you need to know your range and capabilities.
Now to add a glimmer of light to my experience and some more humbleness. . I went back this a.m. and got a small buck came out about 50 yards. I had a good broadside angle and took the shot. the deer walked on and then stopped again. I shot again and the deer fell instantly. I waited and he kept twitching so I put a neck shot into him to finish it. The shoulder shot was high just above the vital zone but, had broken its shoulder. The bullet did not go through the deer. The neck shot did go through completely. I thought how could I have missed completely and why was the one shot in the shoulder high? I walked to where I shot initially and it hit me. There is tall grass (3-4 feet high) all over the field. I did sight in from the stand in the same field BUT, I had trampled down the grass all around the target so I could see it clearly. I didn't realize it but I was not getting a full view of the deer with the tall grass and while I thought I was aiming at one spot, I was actually aiming higher. It was also sunny when I sighted in and was rainy when I hunted (you know the adage light up sights up, light down sights down!). I have been a target shooter for over 30 years and started deer hunting 6 years ago. I can humbly say I make a better target shooter than a hunter. I have lots to learn and this year was a valuable learning experience.
Scratcherky, I thought your comment about your experience with the hornady 240 xtp in 44 mag was very valuable. I thought the bullet would have gone throught the deer when hit high in the should but it did not. I will be using a different bullet next year. I more than likely will go with the 300 grain xtp.

hillbill · « **Reply #14 on:** November 23, 2011, 02:16:32 PM »

im surprised your bullet did not exit on the small buck at close range.really surprised.the small buck should of been less that 12 inch thick high in the shoulders.it should of been a pass thru.at that range it should of passed thru 2 deer acutally.a shot without a pass thru rarely leaves a good blood trail,i dont like it.as a target shooter your probably also a accomplished hand loader.as much as i like hornaday products, try another bullet and do sum testing for penetration.even a hard cast lead bullet should of went thru that deer easy.

ted · « **Reply #15 on:** November 24, 2011, 01:07:47 AM »

Hillbill,
I agree. I do have some hornady 300xtp's and some speer 240 sp gold dots I will do some testing on.

buck460XVR · « **Reply #16 on:** November 25, 2011, 06:59:48 AM »

Quote from: hillbill on November 23, 2011, 02:16:32 PM

im surprised your bullet did not exit on the small buck at close range.

Same here. I shot a large doe(she came in with a 7 pointer, but I let him walk) @ 35 yards with my PC 629 Magnum Hunter using 23.3 gr of H110 under a 240 gr Nosler JSP. Complete pass thru and broke both front shoulders. She went 30 yards then went down while the buck went over and stomped his feet at her while she did her death kicks. I've had similar results with 240XTPs over 23.5 gr of H110 in previous years. I have to agree it was not bullet failure, but bullet placement in your first scenario.

atitagain · « **Reply #17 on:** November 27, 2011, 08:23:57 AM »

I have used that bullet on more then one occasion.
In both handguns and rifles.
Didn't like the performance out of either on.
And I never shot over 40 yards.
Made good shots on both animals but little reaction.
And had to track the second deer over 200 yards.
Very, very poor penetration.
Sorry to hear you lost one, but it does happen.

Flintlock61 · « **Reply #18 on:** November 27, 2011, 12:14:25 PM »

I used the 240 Hornady XTP in my inline ML to kill a small buck at 30 yds. I shot right behind the shoulder . The bullet hit a rib and fragmented, taking out the lungs and one large fragment exited the opposite ribcage. This buck went 20 yds but left near zero blood trail. Last year, using the same bullet on a 40 yd shot, the bullet also had hit a rib and fragmented putting a hole in the heart and the rest made a small hole in the lungs and none of the fragments exited. This buck left a sparce blood trail and required a second shot to put it down more quickly. I am glad I did not hit either deer in the shoulder with this bullet! Will look for something else to work up a load with for next season.

foxx1 · « **Reply #19 on:** November 30, 2011, 08:15:22 AM »

this was from a muzzloader, 44 cal. 240gr XTP, 25 yd frontal shot from a tree stand,hit between the shoulder blades and penatrated under the spine to the base of rump 5 in. approx.from tail. I had exellant results with this bullet,one shot drop from a tree stands. this bullet was recovered this yr on a 2 1/2 yr whitetail doe. two 50 gr pyrodex pellent load.

ted · « **Reply #20 on:** November 30, 2011, 09:45:21 AM »

My shot placement was (unintentionally) not the best. I believe the bullet would have done as designed had I hit the vitals and not higher in the shoulder. I am glad I got the deer.

bfrshooter · « **Reply #21 on:** November 30, 2011, 12:10:44 PM »

I only used the 240 XTP on three deer. They killed OK with lung shots and I seen them go down. But I recovered all three bullets. There worst part is I backtracked then to where they were hit and there was almost zero blood on the ground. If any got into the thick, they could have been lost. That is when I switched to a heavy cast like the LBT 320 gr WLN.
After finding the bullets the only thing I thought of was a big bone hit that could fail or a quartering shot.
I want two holes in every deer.
The 240 is much better in a .44 special, it opens too fast. Try the 300 gr.

hillbill · « **Reply #22 on:** November 30, 2011, 01:03:42 PM »

glad to hear youalls experiences with the 240 xtp. after reading this again yesterday i got out some xtps ive been shooting in my inline muzzeloaders. ive only killed 1 small deer with it. chest shot faceing me at 20 yrds.found the perfectly mushroomed bullet in the loin area.it did pass thru about 2 to 3 ft of deer so i never really worried about it as the deer went rite down.
but now that a take a second look at the bullet, it appears the jacket looks very thin, the hollow point very large. if you look close at it, it does look like a rapidly expanding bullet, possibly made to expand at low velocity and when pushed harder it does come apart and transfer its energy before exiting so much that it doesnt exit.i had some 210 grn sierras on hand so i sighted in my guns with them to be ready for muzzy season.

dstegjas · « **Reply #23 on:** December 02, 2011, 04:26:53 PM »

Ted,
I have been hunting with the .240 grain XTP out of my T/C 12" hunter barrel for well over 10 years now. I have always had good performance from this bullet. I will tell you as others have that the bullet placement on a pistol bullet is important. I know, I probably didn't need to tell you that. All that a side, we also hunt with 12 gauge deer slugs here in Ohio. I have had more then one deer do the exact same thing you are talking about when hit with a 1-1/4 ounce deer slug. In every case, the slug hit behind the shoulder and between the ribs on both sides. So no matter how small or big that slug is. If it doesn't make a solid hit on that shoulder. You stand a chance of either losing the deer or at least tracking it for quite a distance. My last deer taken with the load shown below was at 96 yards. He walked less then 10 yards then dropped. The bullet broke the right shoulder and lodged in the left one.

Our bullet recipe is almost identical. I don't have a way of checking the velocity but I believe it comes in around 1,500 fps.

.240 gr. Hornady XTP
23.3 gr. of Winchester 296
12" hunter barrel (Contender)

Jim

kmittleman · « **Reply #24 on:** December 03, 2011, 11:35:02 AM »

Quote from: ted on November 15, 2011, 08:00:36 AM

I live in KY and went out this very rainy day. I hunt with a T/C 12" 44 magnum. 23.5 grains 296 and hornady 240 xtp. Had a buck came out at 8:10 a.m. He gave me a great broadside about 100 yards away. I put my gun on a rest and lined up sights and BOOM! the deer jumped up and then slowly walked about 30 yards closer and stopped. I debated whether to shoot again and decided too as he gave me a good broadside look again. BOOM! The deer jumped again, stopped, then slowed walked/faltered some into woods right next to the trail. I waited 25 minutes then went to look. Did see blood where I shoot him but, rain was so hard it was washing away quickly. I looked for 3 1/2 hours and never found him! Had to stop as have to pick up daughter from school. WIll look again tomorrow a.m. So frustrated as I know I had two good shots in lung/vital area. The deer jumping twice too along with hoof prints from where he was shoot twice. Thought for sure he wouldn't have gone far. Anyone out there have anything like this happen?

Unfortunetly yes - it happened to me last week while hunting with a crossbow (which I had just sighted in!). It totally sucks doesn't it? I shot a deer at about 20 yds, he took off, I waited about 45min, and then upon looking for a trail found some good thick blood. Then, it just stopped. And then came the rain which washed away any other hope of a blood trail. I looked everywhere over this 15 acre property for about 3.5 hours. I think he may have gone off into some private adjoining land. Hopefully, I'll figure out what happened at some point.

-Kevin

rybo · « **Reply #25 on:** December 03, 2011, 02:57:17 PM »

Sorry about your deer

I've had nothing but good experiences from the 240 gr XTP. Granted I've only taken 5 deer with them, but they've all went down in short order, with a followable blood trail (even though not needed)

Just today I killed 2 with a 200 gr XTP and again stellar performace. 1 dropped on the spot with a high shoulder shot, the other thru the heart, ran a bit, but just a HUGE blood trail to follow.

Lawful Larry · « **Reply #26 on:** December 04, 2011, 09:54:54 AM »

Had this happen to me this year during muzzle season. Was using my Sidekick with 300 gr. XTP sabots and 100 grs. of BH209 powder. This buck came into my area at about 55 yds. and I hit him with a quartering towards me shot. He didn't even react, but walked about 8 steps and just froze. I reloaded, but couldn't get a second shot. I got from my stand and got to within about 35 to 40 yds. and took a quartering away shot and he still didn't react, but walked three steps and fell over and died.

When I field dressed him I had given him two killing shots. On the first he didn't realize he was dead. When he froze, I think he was just in shock. Two good shots, but the reactions were very uncommon.

Like I said, it was a similar situation, but with different results. Both those XTPs, tore him up good. Smashed his heart and both longs. Very good bullet and one I use for my hunting handguns.