That $ucks.

A 30-06 wont make defelction better, it will make it worse.
It is possible you could have hit a big enough piece of bush to damage or stop the bullet,
but I would guess it was deflected.

I have had defections you would not believe. Combine that with pulling your shot a bit
and you are screwed

For a different short action cartridge I would go for a 338 RCM loaded with a roundnose bullet for brush.
338 fed too.

A round nose will plow through brush better, but really you want a slow moving heavy bullet.
At least they will get through the twigs and whatnot without being deflected too much.

I never have tried one in 308 and not sure if it would stabilize but Hawk makes a 250 gr 308 roundnose.

I load a 308 220 gr roundnose in 308.
Load it over RL17 and get about 2425 fps or so out of a 19" barrel.
That is my 308 Hog brush round.
I prefer the 208 gr amax, but its a spitzer so the 220 gr roundnose is just
for the woods.

I read a while back, a test on bullets, of all sorts, different speeds, different size twigs, small limbs etc.
Seems like they tested all the calibers, and in the end they said all bullets deflect even off an tiny twig.

The worst were the higher velocity spitzers, but even the heavy round nose big bullets would deflect more than you would think.

The lowest deflection came from a 50 caliber ball.

A downloaded 458 winmag would do it or in a short action a 458x2 american (cut down 458 WM) loaded with some of these.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=444103

or these for a heavier bullet

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...tNumber=379640