If you get a big exit wound you have better odds of a better trail. FWIW I'm noticing bigger exits from 140 Berger match bullets in the 6.5 than the 308 and Berger 185 match bullets used to give. Just an FYI.
But I hear you on the blood trail part. Most don't want to trail while we just love that part of the hunt. of course now that I have a dog its even more fun to trail. But I get it.
If I was worried about thick brush, and almost all states have areas of it, I'd try CNS shots period. I've been on my hands and knees crawling after a brown bear in a tunnel so I know what you mean.
And a last story... We followed a blood trail a ways in a swamp once over close to Louisiana. 223 and I hit a vine or something just before it splattered the deer. Broke that deers front leg low and never could quite catch it. Not a killing shot but I digress. Wife said buy something bigger. Went to 50 beowulf and 275 barnes X. Deer still ran about the same distances but they did tend to leave a bit better blood trail most times.
