I have always wondered about the animal that takes huge punishment and runs forever, versus the single shot and a quick death. I have never had a deer run with one of my .50 cal roundballs in 'em. I shoot a light load of 70 grains, so the ball isn't exactly setting any land speed records either.
On the other hand, I have a friend that is a much better shot than me, shoots a .54 and he hot loads 115 grains of powder. His loads are something like 75% more ft/lbs of energy and he has had to follow deer over a mile after he has shot them. Granted, I tend to shoot deer while their heads are down, but I have also shot them when they were looking me in the eye.
5 rounds from a dirty-ought-six and half a mile vs 40 yds from a broadhead out of a 45 lb bow? I dunno. How come some of us get lucky and drop animals clean and how come others go forever? It's more than kinetic energy, it's more than whether the animal is aware of the hunter, it's more than broadhead vs bullet.
I know I have often held my breath and given thanks for never having to bloodtrail a deer. I know the basics of how to, read some articles, but I have virtually no experience and no faith in my ability to understand where a deer instinctually chooses to go. Lucky I guess, but I'll take it!
Hope you get a large dose of my luck and all your own well earned skill on this hunt, Brother Mohawk! Like most of us in here I can't wait to see the pics and hear the story when you get back!
