First deer shot no recovery

[DesertDug]

Had a real nice 8 in my scoope in ozona. Shot and he dropped his hind side and went to the ground. The two other guys right near him bolted and then he got up and ran off, tail down. After a short wait went to the shot location and no blood. No blood to be found where he ran off towards. Man I was so disappointed.

What says the green screen? Was there a hit, gut shot? Or just scared him off his feet?

I am so bummed, this would have been my first deer. I have been working hard to get to this point and was the first hunt this year with rifle.

[txstringbender]

What caliber were you using? I've never lost one with a rifle but I'm shooting a .30-06. Had a buddy loose a couple shooting a .22-250 and my boy shot one using a .223 and never found her. I have nothing against small calibers but shot placement comes strongly into play. Ask yourself some questions. Did you hear the bullet hit? Where were you aiming? Was there even this slightest bit of brush between you and the deer? Etc. just some thoughts. Sorry about loosing the deer. But it does happen.

[boh347]

How hard did you look for him? Need to walk out the direction he ran.

[DesertDug]

I shoot a 270 win. I had the most clean shot broad side steadied on the blind at 100+ yards on his vitals. We looked for an easy 2 hrs with no blood to go by. I really thought we would pick up a trail but no luck.

The week befor I sighted the rifle and was 3 shoots in a quarter on center with one shoot two holed. I just don't get it. Everything felt so right when I seen him drop.

[glen]

Have no idea deer are strong critters. Kid just punched one with a 270 that was high lung hit that never dropped blood and ran about 60 yards

[DesertDug]

Have no idea deer are strong critters. Kid just punched one with a 270 that was high lung hit that never dropped blood and ran about 60 yards

Ya I am afraid that Maybe my story too, without the recovery

[Hart8]

The biggest deer I've ever shot,went down in his tracks.He layed there for 4-5 mins,and a fork horn came back to where he was and started sniffing around.At some point the buck I shot got up and walked away...I walked down there about 30 mins later,and he was gone.It started to rain...Went back to the house,and got rain gear,and looked for the next 8 hrs,with no luck...The next day everything was frozen,and looked for another 9 hours..To make a long story longer,the landowner found him the following spring...He was 60 yds from my feeder! He went uphill to an area with no cover,just grass about 2 acres...It's the only place I did not look in 2 days..I assumed a dying deer would never go there...Still makes me a little sick to this day.

[hellbndr23]

Call in a dog. A million times better than we can search.

[DesertDug]

Call in a dog. A million times better than we can search.

I wish I could, however this was on the last morning hunt before driving 6 hrs back to work