Sorta long story. John's head-area shot reminded me.
I'd spooked a buck at close range, and Oops! my scope was on 7X. An ear, brown, more brown--and then brush. Grump. I figured he'd circle into the wind and uphill, eventually, so I went 90 degrees to his last-known direction and got crosswind of a saddle in a ridge about a quarter mile away, upwind from the scene of the encounter. About 20 minutes later he showed up.
When he stopped for a look around, I had an offhand shot of maybe sixty yards or so. Trouble was, he was in brush, and the "clearest" shot looked like shooting through a prickly pear pad that looked to be right next to him.
Bang. Plop.
So I head over to gut my buck. I go past a CLUMP of prickly pear, with five holes in five pads, all curving slightly upward and to the right. And another ten yards to Bucky!
But, one each dead deer. I looked and looked for a bullet hole and finally found it: Right in that little soft spot at the bottom of the ear. I figured that was exceptional dedication to duty for the Sierra 85-grain HPBT from a .243. Or what was left of the bullet, anyhow.
I'll take luck over skill, any day.
Art