Thread: Front on shots at Deer.

Alert deer are much harder to put down than a deer shot unawares. A sika stag at close range during the roar is most certainly an alert deer, they are often sneaking in on you and are very much ready to bolt should something smell or look not quite right. Additionally their testosterone levels are very high at that time of year and that can sometimes enable them to go quite a ways with some serious damage. In some steeper country they can cover quite a distance before any blood shows up particularly if there is no exit wound. My two longest tracking jobs were on close range sika during the roar. In my experience it doesn't seem to matter too much what cartridge/projectile you shoot them with. If you don't hit the cns or front shoulders an alert deer will usually run. Sometimes a long way.....