This has been my worst season

[luberhill]

Started with crossbow , missed an 8 point , shot under him , he comes back 4 days later , I shot him at half an hour of light left .

 Lost the blood , came back at sunup the next day and found him , coyotes tore him open,

Then shot at a doe with the crossbow hit a twig , complete miss

Then had a very nice 8 tight under my stand , couldn’t get a hood shot before he noticed me and took off

The very next day a decent 6 comes broadside , goes behind a tree and we play the waiting game .. he won 

Sunday I did kill a nice doe with the .243 so I hope that broke the curse .

Ive checked zero on my crossbow at 20/30/40 and it’s dead on ..

So I guess it’s me 

[airedale]

Come on, if it was easy it would not be any fun. I would say you have done alright for yourself.

Al

[luberhill]

1 hour ago, airedale said:

Come on, if it was easy it would not be any fun. I would say you have done alright for yourself.

Al

Yea well I’ve seen lots of deer , the one the coyotes got upset me .

 Well I’m back at it 

[First-light]

I felt the same way about this year. Missed a few big ones. Opening day I punched my tage on a decent 6 nothing great. I just had a feeling I better shoot this deer. He was chasing a doe under my stand for 10 minutes. He never grunted but the Doe was making a wheezing noise I really have never heard. I shot him she walked off a few yards and just looked at me catching her breath. 

[Hock3y24]

It can all change in a minute. stay after it

[GreeneHunter]

I haven't scored yet but I've been out there and that's scoring as far as I'm concerned !   That's just me .

[luberhill]

We’ll add another , 60 yard shot at a big doe broadside , .243 that I’ve killed lots of deer with ..

Looked like she dropped on her knees for a second then walked into the woods ..

looked for over an hour , two people , can’t even find a drop of blood ..

 Im getting ready to hang it up ..WTH 

[suburbanfarmer]

2 hours ago, luberhill said:

We’ll add another , 60 yard shot at a big doe broadside , .243 that I’ve killed lots of deer with ..

Looked like she dropped on her knees for a second then walked into the woods ..

looked for over an hour , two people , can’t even find a drop of blood ..

 Im getting ready to hang it up ..WTH 

Are you shooting off hand or from a rest?

[Enigma]

Buck up and start getting a killer instinct. You need to be a steely eyed killer. Hunting deer ain't no game.

Pound them and break a shoulder, or two. Get two holes in them if you can.

Poor shots are a part of the business when you start but you need to learn to minimize those situations and possibilities as your experience grows.

Ask yourself what you have to do to change the outcome. Do you want to keep f'in around crawling on your hands and knees for hours looking for blood? Or do you want to pull the trigger and see them die within sight? The choice is your's.

 

 

 

[Four Seasons]

4 hours ago, luberhill said:

We’ll add another , 60 yard shot at a big doe broadside , .243 that I’ve killed lots of deer with ..

Looked like she dropped on her knees for a second then walked into the woods ..

looked for over an hour , two people , can’t even find a drop of blood ..

 Im getting ready to hang it up ..WTH 

243 will get the job done with great shots but off a bit and your looking for sign. I use a 300Wby mag for all big game.  Overkill? Perhaps but 0 out to 500 yards I’m definitely putting two holes in their hide if not folding them on the spot. Keep the faith and spirit up. Remember to enjoy the whole game, Not just the end outcome.  

[First-light]

12 hours ago, luberhill said:

We’ll add another , 60 yard shot at a big doe broadside , .243 that I’ve killed lots of deer with ..

Looked like she dropped on her knees for a second then walked into the woods ..

looked for over an hour , two people , can’t even find a drop of blood ..

 Im getting ready to hang it up ..WTH 

243 great gun but I have heard stories of hitting a deer and no blood or very little. I have a State Trooper and a County Detective that hunt with me. They both missed 4 deer this year. 3 no blood 1 very little. They just plain missed. It happens. Shoot the gun again at target to be sure you are on. GL

[Daveboone]

I think .243 is fine for smaller southern deer...but big bodied northern deer...big plus with a .30 caliber bullet (or bigger). No substitute for putting the bullet in the right place, but on marginal shots...fat and heavy bullets break more bone, penetrate deeper...less deflection....There is a reason the good old 30-30, 30-06, etc. have been favorites for well over a hundred years. 

[luberhill]

Found her , she was 20 yards away , blew the top off her heart 

 

[luberhill]

5 hours ago, First-light said:

243 great gun but I have heard stories of hitting a deer and no blood or very little. I have a State Trooper and a County Detective that hunt with me. They both missed 4 deer this year. 3 no blood 1 very little. They just plain missed. It happens. Shoot the gun again at target to be sure you are on. GL

I shot it again last night 

[luberhill]

17 hours ago, suburbanfarmer said:

Are you shooting off hand or from a rest?

Rest

[Enigma]

What .243 load are you shooting?

[luberhill]

1 hour ago, Enigma said:

What .243 load are you shooting?

I’m shooting 100 grain Winchester power points 

 It broke her shoulder , hole where it broke thru the ribs was the size of a quarter .. it took the top of her heart off .

Exiting hole quarter size busted thru the ribs 

About 60 yard shot 

[luberhill]

8 hours ago, Daveboone said:

I think .243 is fine for smaller southern deer...but big bodied northern deer...big plus with a .30 caliber bullet (or bigger). No substitute for putting the bullet in the right place, but on marginal shots...fat and heavy bullets break more bone, penetrate deeper...less deflection....There is a reason the good old 30-30, 30-06, etc. have been favorites for well over a hundred years. 

I thought the .243 ballistics were better than the 30-30

[luberhill]

9 hours ago, Daveboone said:

I think .243 is fine for smaller southern deer...but big bodied northern deer...big plus with a .30 caliber bullet (or bigger). No substitute for putting the bullet in the right place, but on marginal shots...fat and heavy bullets break more bone, penetrate deeper...less deflection....There is a reason the good old 30-30, 30-06, etc. have been favorites for well over a hundred years. 

https://www.ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/243-winchester-vs-30-30-win

[Enigma]

2 hours ago, luberhill said:

I’m shooting 100 grain Winchester power points 

 It broke her shoulder , hole where it broke thru the ribs was the size of a quarter .. it took the top of her heart off .

Exiting hole quarter size busted thru the ribs 

About 60 

 Fwiw I've killed many NY deer with the .243. Always 100 grain or the Barnes 85 in copper. Sounds typical to my experiences. Always felt the .243 was adequate but moved up to the .308 and don't have the drama anymore. No fuss when I cut one loose.

Keep up the good work. Don't let the bad days get you down and always remember, HIT. THEM. HARD. Those deer have a will to live that you and I can only dream about. 

Keep at it.