Lethal hit with no blood trail?

[1_pointer]

One thing switching to "tougher" bullets that have a better chance of exiting has done for me is it has allowed me to change where I aim. I prefer to go through the shoulders instead of closely behind them. Makes tracks shorter IME.

That said, I hit my first bull a bit high and behind the shoulder. It was above me so the exit was even higher. Didn't leave much any blood trail that I can recall, but it was in a fairly recent burn so I was able to keep eyes on him.

 

[nhn2a]

My son, me, and a good hunting buddy each killed whitetail does at a small tract I have here in NC last year. All three ran about 100yrds in some pretty dense cover before dying without a drop of blood or at least any we could find.

I shot mine with a muzzle loader which ended up being a high double lung shot. Because of the smoke, I couldnt tell which direction she ran and started to wonder if I even hit her. I was pretty confident in my skill and the shot so spent 4 hrs doing a clover pattern before I finally located her. Even after finding her, I walked back the path she would have taken to where I shot her and never did locate any blood except in the area she died.

My son shot his doe with a 270 which ended up being a perfect center double lung shot. Thankfully that particular area was like a funnel because it was so thick so there was only one possible area she could have gone and we found her the next morning in some briars.

Lastly my buddy shot his doe during archery season. He was using rage broadheads and they left a much bigger entry and exit wound than my muzzleloader did but still no blood. Also a high double lung shot.

All this to say its not too uncommon.

 

[TheNorthStar]

I have seen a lot of animals shot that didn't bleed until they tiped over.
One memorable one was a young Hunter who's father was a casual Hunter but trying really hard to get his son a doe. I invited them to our farm and offered to help him get his first deer. We got him a shot and the deer kicked and ran into the brush. I knew he had just killed his deer but they both looked deflated!? I asked why and the father said " this just keeps happening". A little puzzled I say "he just shot that deer" , "let's go look"
We get to the spot she was standing and a little hair and no blood. Now they look really deflated. "Just skinned her Just like the last one" I tell him we will track her tracks/path through the brush. He follows under protest. 1/4mi and an hour later I'm taking pictures of one happy young man and his father behind a dry old doe.
Later I found out he had "skinned" at least 4 does with his .223 before he got that one.

Uggggghhhhh, that hurts to read. Was a hunter's safety course not required? I definitely recall going over the ethics and responsibility of doing everything you can to identify a hit and recover your animals, as long ago as my course was.

I hope you suggested a more appropriate caliber too. .22 caliber center fire cartridges were made legal for whitetails over here in MN and WI but that doesn't make it a good idea. It's my understanding that DNR agencies were trying to approve a round whose recoil better suited gun shy youngsters, coinciding with the lowering of the hunting age to 10. In a way, I get it, they're trying to boost hunter numbers back up by introducing kids to it sooner, but in another way, I don't think you should be trying to kill deer sized game (I guess I should qualify that as upper mid-west deer and not the squirrels with antlers they grow down south) or bigger with anything less than a .243/6mm and even then, you better know how to shoot.

 

[1_pointer]

Uggggghhhhh, that hurts to read. Was a hunter's safety course not required? I definitely recall going over the ethics and responsibility of doing everything you can to identify a hit and recover your animals, as long ago as my course was.

I hope you suggested a more appropriate caliber too. .22 caliber center fire cartridges were made legal for whitetails over here in MN and WI but that doesn't make it a good idea. It's my understanding that DNR agencies were trying to approve a round whose recoil better suited gun shy youngsters, coinciding with the lowering of the hunting age to 10. In a way, I get it, they're trying to boost hunter numbers back up by introducing kids to it sooner, but in another way, I don't think you should be trying to kill deer sized game (I guess I should qualify that as upper mid-west deer and not the squirrels with antlers they grow down south) or bigger with anything less than a .243/6mm and even then, you better know how to shoot.

Caliber restrictions are silly IMO. Bullet type restrictions, though I wouldn't support those either, would make better sense. A .22 cal Partition or mono bullet is illegal in this state, but I could run a 110gr Vmax out of a 300 Ultra Mag and be legal. IMO, bullet type matters more than caliber and shot placement trumps all.

 

[TheJason]

If you shoot an animal in this spot, odds are pretty high you’ll watch it go down within a matter of steps.

 

[Elkmagnet]

Uggggghhhhh, that hurts to read. Was a hunter's safety course not required? I definitely recall going over the ethics and responsibility of doing everything you can to identify a hit and recover your animals, as long ago as my course was.

I hope you suggested a more appropriate caliber too. .22 caliber center fire cartridges were made legal for whitetails over here in MN and WI but that doesn't make it a good idea. It's my understanding that DNR agencies were trying to approve a round whose recoil better suited gun shy youngsters, coinciding with the lowering of the hunting age to 10. In a way, I get it, they're trying to boost hunter numbers back up by introducing kids to it sooner, but in another way, I don't think you should be trying to kill deer sized game (I guess I should qualify that as upper mid-west deer and not the squirrels with antlers they grow down south) or bigger with anything less than a .243/6mm and even then, you better know how to shoot.

Yes the young man was fresh out of hunters Ed. The father was likely grandfathered in due to his age but I'm not sure.
While I'd prefer to see a 6mm type projectile I have to say a 223 at 100yd with a bullet that will pass through would have left a good enough blood trail. But you will still need to know how and put forth the effort.

 

[Elkmagnet]

If you shoot an animal in this spot, odds are pretty high you’ll watch it go down within a matter of steps.

View attachment 83180

I know you know but.. To quantify that placement.

Lite explosive bullet shot fast =splat flesh wound and no recovery.

A quality bonded, mono, or partition style bullet =Drt no blood trailing required.
Ymmv

 

[TheJason]

I know you know but.. To quantify that placement.

Lite explosive bullet shot fast =splat flesh wound and no recovery.

A quality bonded, mono, or partition style bullet =Drt no blood trailing required.
Ymmv

I don't use explosive bullets on anything, even coyotes. There is no bone other than ribs in that spot. If you hit several inches low, high, or forward you will hit leg bones/shoulder.

 

[buckhunterhart]

My cousin shot a mule deer buck at less than 100 yards with a 300 win mag and hit it high in the lungs, with no exit wound. Not a drop of blood and we ended up chasing the thing for a mile to get another shot in it, knowing it was hit as I watched it happen through binos. I heavily encouraged him to invest in a box of newer and different bullets as I believe that was the problem. 20 year old box of soft point ammo might still go bang, but I would never inflict that on a game animal if I wanted a quick humane kill.

 

[1_pointer]

If you shoot an animal in this spot, odds are pretty high you’ll watch it go down within a matter of steps.

View attachment 83180

Yep! I always try to line up part of the running gear.

 

[Elkmagnet]

I don't use explosive bullets on anything, even coyotes. There is no bone other than ribs in that spot. If you hit several inches low, high, or forward you will hit leg bones/shoulder.

No offense intended to you or anyone on the thread including the o.p.
O.p. all you can do is try to do everything right. Sometimes you'll fall short. Sometimes you'll just get delt a shit hand.

 

[TheJason]

No offense intended to you or anyone on the thread including the o.p.
O.p. all you can do is try to do everything right. Sometimes you'll fall short. Sometimes you'll just get delt a shit hand.

Absolutely none taken. I couldn’t agree more with your last sentence

 

[fwagner]

I shot a bull elk three years ago with a 460 grain No Excuses Bullet right in the kill zone, went through both lungs and buried in the hide on the opposite side. Shot was 50 yards maxed. The bull spun around and ran like nothing, not a drop of blood. I sat there and heard a crash in the oak brush and could hear him trying to clear his lungs out. Tried to find blood for 50 yards or so without a single drop, luckily I almost stepped on him and he was dead near by but no blood. It can for sure happen. From reading your story I would say you did the animal it's service and looked to the best of your abilities.

 

[3855WIN]

It’s happened to me. I always assume a hit, and like the OP, perform an extensive search.