I lost one this year, it sucks. This was the second deer I have not been able to find, but have hunted with a gun for over 20 years and with a bow for 15 years so I still feel good about the average I have going.
The one this year had a good lung hit, just couldn't find him.

 

 

It happens, unfortunately. Deer have an unbelievable will to live.

Capt. Quint, absolutely nothing to do with the .243 in my opinion. I have one and it'll drop 'em as good as any. More speed, a large enough bullet weight, plenty of energy, an adequate diameter, just happens to the best. I had an incident just like you're describing when I hunted an SKS. The deer bled so bad it made me sick. The trail literally went for over a mile with no recovery. Man I was sick.

A old hunter told me once after a long evening looking for a deer, "If you hunt long enough, you'll lose one."

My dad and my cousin are huge advocates of the "neck shot". The theory is the energy alone should damage the spinal cord or you have a greater chance of hitting vital arteries, etc. I like through the front shoulders. Two days ago my cousin called me to help him track one that got away. Perfect shot through the neck with his brand new 30-06 laid the deer over but after a couple of minutes of laying right under his stand, it jumped up and ran off. Never to be seen again. Blood and hair and other stuff everywhere.

 

Don't go for a head or neck shot. It is a very low percentage shot. Most people think the vital area is farther back than it actually is. This results in a lot of stomach and liver shots that the shooter thinks is a solid shot to the vitals. A liver shot will definately kill an animal but it can run a long ways before it dies. Gut shots usually result in death too but a lot of times at the jaws of coyotes.
The .243 will definately kill a deer but there isn't a lot of shock behind the bullet. You have to go for the lungs and you will probably get a piece of the heart or the major blood vessles too.
I believe in shot placement and tracking ability.

 

My anwser is 25-06 and snap there back bone....Killed two yearlings with a 243 but wanted an all around gun. 25-06 has the speed and percution to snap a back and blow through the vitals. But there is nothing wrong with a 243. Also the winchester 243 wssm has a 4000f/s speed out of a 95 grain bst flat and fast.......[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

Happens, last year I smacked on in the vitals and put another one through the back of its neck with a 270 win. shooting 130 grain balistic tips. And you talk abouta blood trail, WHOA! All over the place. ran a good 200 yards and the trail just seemed to stop. Was the biggest 6 i've ever seen too. I was vexed for days. since then the 270 is a coyote gun and 7mm-08 and steped up for deer.