I Found a Deer Today

[red rick]

I was running my dogs this morning and found a dead doe just past the ditch line and up a small steep 3 foot rise on my property . Firearm season came in last Saturday and yesterday was the first doe day of the season . It looks like it was hit with just one pellet in the head from a shotgun . It looks like that shot should have dropped it in its tracks to me . The land on the opposite side of the road is public hunting property and it is shotgun only county . That means it would have been shot on my property . Why they didn’t recover the deer I don’t know . I was home all day except for when I went to get my mail at about 3:00 o’clock . My mailbox is 2.5 miles from my house . I never heard a shot all day . Does that look like the deer would have dropped in its tracks from the placement of that wound to y’all ?

 

[buck460XVR]

I would suspect it's a .22, shot from a truck window. Could explain the reluctance to recover it.

 

[JmacD]

What he said.
I wanna call someone an idiot. And go into a lengthy dissertation on the lack of ethics and sportsmanship(possibly brains as well) of someone that leaves one lay etc. but I won’t. That to me is one of the most disgusting things!
(Sorry. Rant over)

 

[red rick]

It’s people like that that ruin it for all hunters and why landowners might seem like asses .

 

[Show Me]

Better than finding dead ones around one of the ponds

 

[Savage30L]

I think .22 or .22 Magnum also. Might have been shot from a distance by someone using a scoped rifle.

 

[red rick]

It would have been a close shot . Too much cover for a long shot . I suspect that it was spotlighted by someone driving down the road with a .22 and probably why I didn’t hear the shot and why they didn’t take the deer . It was done out of pure meanest imo and not to feed anyone .

 

[WestKentucky]

Deer Doe Skull (Whitetail) — Claw, Antler & Hide Co.

Whitetail deer skulls are all professionally cleaned and whitened to reduce grease. Deer skulls are used for crafting, house decoration and classroom identification.

www.clawantlerhide.com

Looks likely that it would be an instant kill, but the angle of entry would matter. I included a link to a cleaned doe skull (i did not know that there was a market for bones like this). So the brain cavity would be right there if it were a straight in shot. If it were a heavy angle down or forwards then it may have been a pretty rough way to go out. I agree that it was likely somebody road hunting, but I would not rule out the possibility of somebody shooting at one deer and a stray pellet hitting this deer in such a manner that she could go 1/4 mile or so to die where she was found.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I have to ask. Is it in the fringe chilling for processing? It would be a shame to let it to the scavengers.

 

[red rick]

I have to ask. Is it in the fringe chilling for processing? It would be a shame to let it to the scavengers.

No , I am on the mend so I’m not up to skinning it right now . I did think about cutting out the back straps though and I called a few people to see if they wanted it . They all had meat .

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

Hope you heal soon. I hurt my left rotator cuff racking my 30.06. A few weeks ago. It's still bothering me. I fixed the rifle at least. Loose bolt on the fore end. Tuesday i go to pain management. Hopeful he will be able to help.

 

[red rick]

Seven years ago I had rotator cuff surgery . That was a long painful recovery . This recent surgery was to remove a mole 6 weeks ago . They did pretty much the same cut that time . After removing it the lab discovered that it was melanoma . I had to get the surgery again and remove a larger area . Fingers crossed that they got it all .

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I was looking at revision surgery on my right rotator. I started to reload then too. Now it's been good. The doc said i rehabbed it. Im going to start using my left side to reload. And see how it goes. Im going to get my left wrist carpal tunnel done this winter. After it heals i'll start reloading.

 

[Ru4real]

Half way between the eye and ear is a lethal kill shot, DRT.

The Native American woman that killed a grizzly with a 22 shot it half way between the eye and ear.

 

[MacAR]

Half way between the eye and ear is a lethal kill shot, DRT.

As someone who's dealt with and known of many poachers in my life, I can attest to this. Looks exactly like a 22 rimfire hole to me, likely fired from a pickup window. It was likely the shooter was "interrupted" by another vehicle and so had to leave. Stumps me why the didn't come back, unless they were so drunk they couldn't remember where they shot the darn thing (also likely). It's a shame the meat had to ruin, too. I know beyond any doubt that poaching is wrong, but I've know a couple guys that fed their families on game year round and not all of it was strictly legal. Hard to fault a man for feeding his kids, but wrong is wrong regardless. Of course, that likely wasn't the case here; I'd say beer and bravado had a lot to do with this incident.

Mac

 

[stringnut]

Looks like a drt to me. Dad, and uncles, were poachers in their youth. Depression , farmers, no money etc. Used a 22 for everything.
When I was a child the neighbors would get crop damage permits. Being ethical people they did not waste the deer , but, passed out extra permits to others. Saw various people use that exact shot and it always dropped the deer. Once in a while one would make a leap, but, that was it. This was just wasteful idiots.

 

[FL-NC]

Thats definitely a DRT shot

 

[Armored farmer]

If it went through....I would add 5.56 fmj to the list of possibilities.
I also second br. @MacAR ...probably some boys shooting from a pickup window with a thermal or NV or a good light..
Boys will be boys.
It happens around here too.

 

[red rick]

It didn’t exit .

 

[Appalachiannative]

It's .22 lr or magnum looks like the ones my dad shot with .22. Mag

 

[red rick]

The buzzards are on it now. When they finish I might take a look at the skull if nothing drags it off .

 

[American_Fusilier]

What does "DRT" mean?

 

[red rick]

What does "DRT" mean?

Dead right there .

 

[American_Fusilier]

Thanks for the explanation!

 

[red rick]

Thanks for the explanation!

I learn those acronyms on these gun forums , I have to ask sometimes also .