Well, I got a shot at the big 'un I've been trying to ambush for 3 years Sat AM. (He winked at me last year at the last light of the last day to hunt.)
I shot, reloaded, fiddled around, took off some snivel gear-gave him plenty of time. Through the triple-7 smoke, I'd seen him crow hop.
I went down the hill and found a blood trail (heading straight for my truck!) across a cow feeder field, but it wasn't pink or black, but thin and watery, and petered out. No more than half a pint, total.
I marked the last drop and cloverleafed for 2 and a half hours, covering the entire 840-acre zone.
Then I went back and got my beagle with the best nose and a couple of neighbors, and we did it again, spooking one meelion does while we searched.
I could not figure it out. I released a 295-grain hollow point chunk of lead right at his boiler room, and he got a supercial cut from it ?
I've hit small steel at 924 yards in a gusting, 18 mph wind out at Badlands, and this deer was less than 60 yards away when I fired.
I had flashed on the fact that my bead looked different when I shot, so I checked my front sight, and the light tube was missing. I took it home and shot a 3-ball group...4 inches high.
Gotta be a lesson here somewhere besides the Law of Murphy...
I'm gonna go set up on him again, a little closer to his bedding area, after I fix my weapon.