Well I have trailed lung-shot deer farther than that, at least double on a couple of occasions. Not that I'd prefer to, that's just how it works out sometimes. You never know. Two instances that come to mind were with my .257 Weatherby and .30-06, so it can happen with the bigger stuff too.
We also generally hunt from fixed blinds, which makes a world of difference in having a steady rest. Also, quite a few of the deer that get shot with .22 and .243 cal rifles are does and such being harvested for the freezer. It makes a big difference when you have high density and a season 2-3 months long; you can pass up those marginal shots and go out another day.
I'm sure if i get to the number of deer you have taken, i will likely have had to trail one 100+ yards too. Good point about the doe's, a small doe or even medium sized doe isnt hard to kill at all. Where you hunt is there access to dogs for following a blood trail?
I just dont think there is many circumstances where a .223 would be a reliable deer killer, at least you would eventually lose some well shot deer. In the situation you describe it would probably be very usefull. I consider the .243 the bare minimum for a good deer rifle, which require very precise shot placement, and it is a powerhouse with 100 grain partitions compared to the .223 rem.
I very rarely get a chance to hunt doe's here, and the majority of the bucks around here are mature, so over a span of 20 deer here, you are lucky to have 3-4 does mixed in with probably 10 mature bucks and 6-7 young bucks, versus somone who is hunting small doe's with the occasional buck. That calls for a different type of cartridge requirement, so i understand why theres such variation.
I know and understand why the .223 rem is used for deer, i just dont understand why people are arguing that it is a GOOD deer cartridge, it most certainly isnt, just because a lot of guys have killed a lot of miniature does. The pic showed earlier looked like a barnes tsx, recovered from a double lung shot deer with no bone hit, if the bullet not exiting being as high qaulity as it was is not indication that a .223 rem isnt a deer cartridge, what is?
Heck id use a .223 rem for pronghorn in a pinch with some good tsx bullets, but **** its no deer cartridge or itd be as popular or more than the .243, dont you think id like to shoot a pop gun and witness bang flops? i dont really ENJOY the recoil.
