90ish lb female couger
243/85gr Barnes TSX BT, 2800 fps, 70 yds.
She was traveling to my left, turned half around when I saw her so she was facing me in a "U".
Shot between front legs, bullet entered just right of center breaking 4 ribs, exited just behind last left rib, clipped left knee breaking it and left a 18" crease in the gravel on the edge of the road before flying off into space.
At the shot she reared up and lept into the trees. Not a drop of blood for 50yds. I found blood @ 50yds traveled and getting better. Found her @ 100ish yds traveled looking over a log at me. A few steps to the side and I put a finishing shot through the lungs quickly ending it.
She was nearly dead but I was surprised to find her still very alive after taking a bullet through the chest and one lung. I was racing to get done before dark so I didn't examine the bullet path in relation to the heart, I assume it went under the heart. had it hit the heart she should have been dead where I found her.
This is a great example of how unnecessary solids are on small animals and why we are seeing a shift in bullet construction and caliber/cartridge reduction.
I'll add Cougar is AMAZING meat! If you haven't tried it, you really need to! It's a lot like pork, just organic.
