Posted: Nov 25th 2009, 10:31 AM
Good question Mem, I was worried about that too and when we skinned her back the loin was fine. I have been going for these high back/neck shots because the deer doesn't run after them. I traditionally have gone for vitals shots and still will do that with my muzzle loader because the accuracy isn't there. My 7mm Mag had the accuracy but I couldnt get enough trigger time to feel that accurate. Thats what I love about this rifle and it is why I sought out the platform. The accuracy and the reduced recoil.
When I get more confident, I will go for head shots except on the bucks. You will miss the loin if you get high on the back just forward of a line forward of the shoulder joint. In this case I was real close and need to go a little higher up the back next time. The big thing is to hit the spine and prevent them from running. Base of the skull is ideal. A deer can still run 100 or more yards thru the thickets with it's heart destroyed, but take out the spine and they drop where they stood.
The weather here has been too warm to get the does into heat so we are having a trickle rut. It has caused less movement of the deer and the bucks arent chasing as much. I took last weekend off so I could hunt the opener because the rut is usually on during opening weekend. Just my luck we are getting a cold snap on Friday when I have to work Fri-Sat-Sun this week.
I have been hunting hard and have seen allot of spikes and small does (yearlings). This doe was 2 1/2 and she will make very tasty steaks and bacon burger
If you haven't experienced bacon burger, your missing out. They grind the meat with bacon in it to hold it together because deer meat is so lean that it falls apart on the grill. It's wonderful stuff.