iH8DemLibz
When All Else Fails.
A .223 with good hunting bullet properly placed will easily drop smallish eastern whitetails up to 100 yds. The DNR is aware that killing power is a combination of velocity, mass and proper expansion, which is why they specified the minimum in foot pounds and not caliber. It's all about bullet placement. In fact I could kill a deer with my BB gun if I wanted to ;-) Well okay maybe I won't go that far. To the poster who thinks a 400 grain arrow will do more damage than a .223, have you heard of hydrostatic shock? Check out YouTube for .223 tests in ballistic gel for penetration and wound channel. One test with v-max bullets shows a 3-4" diameter wound cavity. There is no way an arrow can do that much damage. A poor shot with a .300 magnum is only going to wound the animal and leave it to die hours or days later. I once saw a group of hunters open up on a herd of western mule deer. Later I spotted a doe running full tilt a half mile away with her entire digestive tract dragging ten feet behind her. I'm sure the caliber used was more than adequate.
It always amazes me how tough animals are and how far and fast they can travel mortally wounded.
If it were a human, the person would be sitting next to a tree while alternating between sucking on their thumb and calling out for their mother.
Yet we still think were IT.