A buck with some wounds what do you guys think? Theres a lil story on it.

This is a buck we call Tall Tine 8. He is 5 1/2 years old from our estimation, and history with him. We've been getting picks of him for the last 4 years. We have sheds from the last 2 years. I'm hoping to find this years sheds also. He looks to be a solid 140" 8 point. He has went downhill since last year. Last year his tines were a lot longer. Its possible he could be older than we think, but I dunno. Every year we print pictures of every deer we have gotten a picture of that year, and put them up at our cabin. We put them in a shooters list if they are 4.5 years old or better. Then we have a non shooters list. We do it to just try to save some of our younger bucks. Anyways. After the 3rd evening of gun season one of the boys comes in, and said he missed a big 8 point. He pointed to this ones picture, and said thats it right there. He said he it was standing abou40-50 yards away. He shot at its left side. He said after the smoke cleared the deer was standing about 5 yards further forward than it was when he shot. He watched it for a second, and it started to walk off. So he started reloading his muzzleloader fast he said, but by the time he had it reloaded it was gone. He said he looked where it was, and didn't find any blood or hair, or anything. Plus the way the deer just stood there, and then walked off slowly he thought he had missed it completely. Well a few days later we get a picture of the deer he said he missed, and it has a weird looking wound in its neck. Everyone I asked about it doesn't think its a gunshot wound. If he would have shot into the left side it shouldn't be tore up that much on that side should it? Check out the pics, and let me know what you think. Also do yu think this will mess up his rack for next year. I know it usually has to be a skeletal injury to mess up the rack. So I'm not sure if a wound just through the meat would have any effect on its antlers next year. Anyways let me know what you ghuys think.

Thats what I've always heard. If it doesn't hit bone it usually doesn't mess the rack up, but just wanting some of your guys thoughts.

He was on the ground when he shot it. It would have been about level with him where he described it standing. I just don't see how he couldn't find any blood, (IF this wound is from his shot) I mean if you zoom in on the pics there is some serious amounts of damage to the flesh. When putting the pictures on a big screen tv, and zooming in. It just doesn't seem to have the characteristics of gunshot wounds, but the thing that keeps me questioning it is he pointed out this deer as the one he missed, and then we get pictures like this....

Thats kinda what I thought, but it was kind of a weird coincidence that he shot at that deer, and just a couple days later we get pics like that. That deer doesn't look real good. We have pics of him earlier in the year, and it looks like hes easily lost 50+ pounds. I know he prolly lost a lot during the rut, but he just doesn't look real good in the pics I posted. What else could it possibly be besides a gun shot wound. It also makes me think it could be a gunshot wound by the way its like almost even on both sides. Like the others have said a straight through gun shot wound, but the entry, and exit holes just don't look right to me. I mean they almost look like the deer is slit open vertically. I've never seen a bullet leave gashes like that on a deer. The kid was shooting the same bullets I use to shoot out of my muzzle loader too. 200 grain Shockwaves.....

I would never aim for the neck for 2 reasons. One It would tear up the cape on a buck! lol Two There isn't any vitals in the neck. The only chance is juggler, or spine........There is a chance Dannmann801 that my father could get him before season is out, but its unlikely as we haven't got a picture of him in a couple weeks. We haven't been able to get him on a pattern at all. He is real unpredictable about where, and when he shows up.