You cant "bleed out" a dead animal, the heart needs to be pumping, once it stops all you have is gravity to drain the animal. Unless hung your only draining a very small amount, the reason you see no blood is a lack of heart beat, not time. When field dressing your severing the heart, arteries, lungs and all associated vasuclature, that is more than enough to bleed out. Proper fields dressing and prompt cooling / hanging of the meat go a long way towards reducing spoilage. Unless your slaughtering live animals there truly is no reason for it. Or head shots for that matter, unless your a gopher.
Lung, shoulder or head?
- Thread starter sookie_69
- Start date
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
As a general rule -
"Bleeding
It is not really necessary to bleed out an animal. In most cases, a well-placed bullet wound to the neck or torso (lungs, heart, liver) will be all that is needed to bleed the animal out."
https://extension.psu.edu/proper-field-dressing-and-handling-of-wild-game-and-fish
I never take head shots on game. Plan B needed I suppose if you do then.
"Bleeding
It is not really necessary to bleed out an animal. In most cases, a well-placed bullet wound to the neck or torso (lungs, heart, liver) will be all that is needed to bleed the animal out."
https://extension.psu.edu/proper-field-dressing-and-handling-of-wild-game-and-fish
I never take head shots on game. Plan B needed I suppose if you do then.
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For all of the folks who are not world class snipers like you, and there is a large proportion of hunters who are not, there is this:
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Depends on the bullet. A tough bullet doesn't pulp 'em like a standard cup and core. And if it wasn't a really hot load that would only add to the lack of damage.
I'm not a professional hunter... step or two above enthusiast, I suppose.
I shoot alright, fill the freezer every season. Wouldn't entertain a head shot myself, seems like a recipe for an animal escaping with it's jaw hanging by threads of skin. But I don't sit in blinds or trees and call it 'hunting' either...seems like 'Sitting' IMO.
But then again I'm getting to be a more humane hunter, some folks never really grow into that habit.
Hence...aim for the big part, it'll put 'em down.
I shoot alright, fill the freezer every season. Wouldn't entertain a head shot myself, seems like a recipe for an animal escaping with it's jaw hanging by threads of skin. But I don't sit in blinds or trees and call it 'hunting' either...seems like 'Sitting' IMO.
But then again I'm getting to be a more humane hunter, some folks never really grow into that habit.
Hence...aim for the big part, it'll put 'em down.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
Hey BUM, I trust that you meant near leg
Actually, I meant "rear" as in "far side". I can see how it was a little unclear.
BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
I do like the head shot on elephant. Even at 7-20 yards it's very tricky to make properly, and you may need to put one into his ear as he wheels to depart the scene, bu tif you can get in close on an undisturbed animal you can kill it like the hand of God himself reached down and touched him...like you were never even there. To me, that is the only way to kill an elephant...anything less seems somewhat disrespectful to me. Not sure why, just does.
There is a difference between shooting something the size of a Christmas orange at 50 yards or something the size of a football at 20.
There is a difference between shooting something the size of a Christmas orange at 50 yards or something the size of a football at 20.
Agreed.
I shot Elk last year with bow....even with the animal essentially dying from blood-loss I still had some blood in my meat.
If you do shoot in the head you will have to soak your meat in ice water to draw out blood....
I used to head shot Moose as I felt this saved the most meat. The last Moose I head shot was from treestand. After he dropped I thought he was down for good. I pulled out cellphone to tell hunting partner we had an animal dow...about 5 minutes into the phone conversation my Moose started to rise to its feet and get his legs under him. I quickly haf to drop my phone load my rifle and shoot him again. Upon further examination I found my first bullet had not hit spine or brain and merely resulted in a "knocked out" Moose...lol...ever since then no more head shots...
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
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bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've shot numerous different animals in the head (not hunting), and the heart actually pumps for some time after a head shot. The heart's beating is not controlled by the brain. If you head shoot an animal and cut it's jugulars immediately after, it will bleed out very well. It's the very reason butcher's do it,not because they like to clean up the mess.
But it's a low percentage shot in a hunting situation and I never aim for the head, always center of the mass directly behind the shoulder, in a broadside situation of course.
- Location
- Saskatoon Saskatchewan
Let's hear your opinion on it. Let me guess, head shot advocate?
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
Another reason to avoid head shots -
"Deer Head Submission and CWD Testing
If possible, please do not shoot deer in the head, as this can damage the lymph nodes and brain samples needed for testing. A usable sample consists of the entire head but you can remove the antlers and antler skull plate and not damage the required tissues."
http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/fishing-hunting-trapping/hunting-alberta/chronic-wasting-disease.aspx
"Deer Head Submission and CWD Testing
If possible, please do not shoot deer in the head, as this can damage the lymph nodes and brain samples needed for testing. A usable sample consists of the entire head but you can remove the antlers and antler skull plate and not damage the required tissues."
http://aep.alberta.ca/fish-wildlife/fishing-hunting-trapping/hunting-alberta/chronic-wasting-disease.aspx
I'm not a proponent of head shots, but I've taken them in a few circumstances. Some have been close, some have been far, but it's not my first or even second or third choice.
I personally believe that if you take a head shot, you should make every effort to slit the throat and place the head downhill to drain as much blood as possible. The heart will keep beating for some time, but don't delay in this.
When slaughtering livestock, you usually shoot the brain then cut the throat to bleed, and the heart keeps pumping out the blood. The same should be done for head shot game animals. With other shots, those that hit vital organs like heart, lung etc, the animal will bleed out on it's own. I've seen some guys cut the throat on animals with blown out lungs or heart. I guess it can't hurt if you don't plan to save the cape, but it's not required.
I personally believe that if you take a head shot, you should make every effort to slit the throat and place the head downhill to drain as much blood as possible. The heart will keep beating for some time, but don't delay in this.
When slaughtering livestock, you usually shoot the brain then cut the throat to bleed, and the heart keeps pumping out the blood. The same should be done for head shot game animals. With other shots, those that hit vital organs like heart, lung etc, the animal will bleed out on it's own. I've seen some guys cut the throat on animals with blown out lungs or heart. I guess it can't hurt if you don't plan to save the cape, but it's not required.
Head shots are low-percentage shots, and should be avoided like the plague.
I have been involved in tracking and finishing 3 moose, each of which had been shot in the head.
Two had the lower jaw hanging, the other was shot through the upper nasal area.
Over the years I have also seen several dead animals...[not recovered] shot in the head or neck.
Comment I abhor is: If you shoot them in the head, they are either dead instantly or it is a miss!!
I always shoot for the heart/lungs. A good bullet will get there from practically any reasonable angle.
D.
I have been involved in tracking and finishing 3 moose, each of which had been shot in the head.
Two had the lower jaw hanging, the other was shot through the upper nasal area.
Over the years I have also seen several dead animals...[not recovered] shot in the head or neck.
Comment I abhor is: If you shoot them in the head, they are either dead instantly or it is a miss!!
I always shoot for the heart/lungs. A good bullet will get there from practically any reasonable angle.
D.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
There were issues with that when Marco Polo sheep guides were slitting the throats. I remember seeing quite a few pics with capes ruined. Muslim religion dictates the animal must be bled, even if it serves no purpose, like in these cases. A $40,000 cut .
Depends on terrain and location.
Here in swo I like the shoulder shot when muzzle loading for the simple fact that it drops the deer on the spot. With such small bush lots its easy for a deer hit well to cross a property line or be stolen by another hunter
For bear in thick woods I prefer the shoulder shot to anchor him where he's easy to get at
When bow hunting deer I only take heart lungs and back leg shots
If you know where to place an arrow thru the hind quarter arteries they bleed out much faster than a lung shot. Not a shot for a rifle
To loose a couple pounds of meat to garuntee a recovered animal is worth it to me every time and I choose my loads accordingly. I wouldn't use a sst type bullet and try to break big shoulder bones but platinum power belts or woodliegh or partition than yes
Here in swo I like the shoulder shot when muzzle loading for the simple fact that it drops the deer on the spot. With such small bush lots its easy for a deer hit well to cross a property line or be stolen by another hunter
For bear in thick woods I prefer the shoulder shot to anchor him where he's easy to get at
When bow hunting deer I only take heart lungs and back leg shots
If you know where to place an arrow thru the hind quarter arteries they bleed out much faster than a lung shot. Not a shot for a rifle
To loose a couple pounds of meat to garuntee a recovered animal is worth it to me every time and I choose my loads accordingly. I wouldn't use a sst type bullet and try to break big shoulder bones but platinum power belts or woodliegh or partition than yes
A back leg shot with a bow - I know they bleed but I have seen too many deer in SW Ont over the years shot in the ass, with arrows, dead, to even consider this ethical, to each their own and not many bow hunters can hit a 3/8" artery let alone the vitals when the pressure is on. Glad I no longer bow hunt if this is even considered.
On the previous muzzle loader comment a 50 thru the furnace will anchor them in short order and it doesn't matter how thick the bush cause the blood trails are messy
On the previous muzzle loader comment a 50 thru the furnace will anchor them in short order and it doesn't matter how thick the bush cause the blood trails are messy
Back leg shots on purpose while bow hunting? Never heard of that, doesn't sound like a go to shot to promote. Behind the shoulder, heart lung area for me.
