? On fatal vs non fatal shots on deer.

[Mudslinger]

What i would like is some of your observations on a deers reaction to fatal and non fatal shots. What i am asking is what is the reactions of the deer with the legs, body, tail and head and wether they run, run a short ways and stand or run till they drop or they are out of sight. All observations and thoughts are welcome.

[boh347]

I know I put a hurt on them when they donkey kick.

[boh347]

I know what else is kinda odd? Is that the last couple years we had about 75% circle back. I don't know if that's coincidence or not.

[texas bound]

Its hard to say. Most of the time they donkey kick and run till they drop but I have seen older bucks run and then stop and stand there. I think every deer and every shot can have a different reaction.

[dustoffer]

I agree w/texas bound--each is different. Shot a buck this year in Oct--kicked and hauled tail but in an arc and I heard him crash, about 50 yds from feeder. Last week shot a doe-no kick (shot was too far back but got liver and 1 lung) and she ran in an arc, I heard her crash and saw the cedars shaking where she fell. Two years ago, shot a doe opening morning -- thru the heart. She ran about 40 yds, stopped, got rubber legged, crashed and was DRT. A month after that, shot a crippled buck thru the heart, and had the same experience--he ran about 35 yds, fell, got up, staggered, and was DRT. Have shot 'em thru both lungs and had them go 100-150 yds though, but if it is a heart/lung/liver hit, they are going to be down and dead soonest in my experience.

[texas bound]

I have had better luck with lung shots. I shot a buck a few years back. Got a single lung and he went 45 yards in a straight line and was done. Shot another buck last year hard quarter to me got lung and liver and he ran in an arch and made it 75 yards or more. Shot a doe in the liver this year and she walked 5 yards and was done. Busted a doe in the heart this year and she went over 100 yards and had a bad bloodtrail.

[Mudslinger]

Have any of you ever seen a deer run after a hit with the tail up then stop and stand flicking its tongue and tail and then walk or trot off and if so do you think this is a fatal or non fatal reaction?

[texas bound]

No I haven't. I watched one that my brother shot at with a shotgun do something kinda like that. It ran as fast as it could then stopped flicked its tail and walked off. He missed. Did you find any blood?

[docmay]

I have seen a few that are hit solidly and start the rapid tail flick. Usually rapid flicks, pause and repeat. All have been dead that I have seen. In my experience, heart shots duck their head and run full steam about 100 yds. Double lungs run a little, weave, Change directions and die in 50-75 yards. Middle gut/liver hunch up and trot. If you watch them, most look for a place to bed in 100-200 yds.

[GarGuy]

Have any of you ever seen a deer run after a hit with the tail up then stop and stand flicking its tongue and tail and then walk or trot off and if so do you think this is a fatal or non fatal reaction?

I have seen that numerous times. It generally means a diaphram shot but behind the lungs. Its eventually a dead deer. Joogers Houston co buck did that this year.

[PhotonSlinger]

Saw a mule deer get hit and run a flat out sprint till he folded up and was pretty sure he was dead before he hit the ground last year in Colorado. The whitetail I shot a few weeks ago got double lunged and hopped the fence the same way he did when he jumped in the fence and ran off like he never was hit and I found him dead about 100 yards away facing back towards where I shot him.

[super_dave]

From my experience, typically a gut only shot will make a deer hunch up or arch it's back.

[Mudslinger]

Scenarios: one shot high shoulder but nocked the deer off its feet as it whirled away. 14" penetration. Struggled to get up but made it about 10 yards and stood and bleed bright ted blood sbout 2' long and 6" wide. Stood for 5 minutes. Walked 40 yards and bedded for 5 minutes then walked thru some brush and dropped the arrow minus the head. Went snother 20 yards, jumped a fence snd left 2 spots of blood then 75 yards across a grass bottom, left one drop of blood before he dropped down a 10' embankement and across the river. Never found as he was off our property.
Second scenario. Full pass thru on what looked to be a perfect in the V shot. Jumped the feeder fence, went 10 yards and stood for about 3 minutes. Low exit wound with blood coming out but flicked its tail and trotted off down the hill towards a deep ravine. About a paint can ld size of bright red blood wher he stood but non found after that and then the rains hit and washed everything out. Looked on 3 separate occassions but no deer.

Thoughts?

[texas bound]

I think the 1st one probably made it and the 2nd didn't.

[GarGuy]

First one will be on camera next year with a limp. the second is coyote bait. Everytime I have seen the lip licking, tail twitching deal it meant a dead deer.