question of the day

[peter hawbaker]

Ok, here is my take on it. It looks to me that the ball passed ABOVE the spine, not below it. A lot of folks believe that the spine is on the topline of the deer, when in fact, that far forward on the body it is surprisingly low. In my opinion, the "no mans land" between spine and lungs is mostly a myth, what people are doing are shooting above the spine and erroneously believing that there is a zone between the lungs and spine that will not be fatal to a deer. If you look at a field dressed deer, the lung cavity extends above the spine on each side,the spine intrudes into the thoracic cavity down the center. It is not possible to shoot below the spine without shooting through the top of the lung cavity, unless you are way forward,almost at the neck, in front of the lungs. With your deer lying there for two days, it is possible the holes in the skin are not showing a true picture of the penetration of the shot. Take a look at the following links compared to the holes in your deer. The spinal column is low, with long bones sticking upwards toward topline of deer.

http://media.photobucket.com/user/...]=images&filters[secondary]=videos&sort=1&o=0

http://www.nyantler-outdoors.com/deer-anatomy.html
https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rc...VAGYsooOy61kuy38r3HetJuw&ust=1416143467031449

 

[mnbearbaiter]

Hate to admit it but...a tad too far forward for traditional equipment. Shot many a critter with prb's and those shoulder shots that just crumple critters with modern high power rifles just don't work for us in my experience a shot through the shoulders will leave a poor go of trail. My best guess is and always was that the shoulder wound gets clogged each time the leg passes by it when a deer is running. I run a 54cal TVM Leman loaded with .530 balls, .015 TOTW mink tallow lubed patches, and a felt op button pushed by 110gr of T7 ffg exclusively for all my hunting now and I still treat this hot rod as if it were shooting a wooden arrow tipped with flint. No shoulder shots, cowboy shots, etc. That said you made a fine shot in my eyes and I know since your on this forum a quick clean kill followed up by some tasty venison is all you wanted. Keep your head up, its the gift of the curse bud

 

[Darryl Quidort]

Roklok has it right.