Forgot to mention that their 9,3 shot was thru the flesh on the upper side of the neck, and the other (30-06) a slanting shot thru part of the shoulder. This was the first one apparently, when the animal was quartering away from the shooter and it didn't connect with any bones, not to mention not going into the chest cavity. The neck shot was a follow up shot from when they were tracking the wounded animal, and that obviously didn't work out either.

They were kind enough to donate a bottle of cognac to me as thanks for my help in solving their problem.