Wounded animal

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flutie

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I wanted to ask a very serious delicate question, tried to decide where to ask it, I decide here, hope that`s OK

From time to time I have a situation on my farm when a sick or wounded animal needs to be put down quick and humane. Talking about situations were vet is not even a option.

What would be the quickest way to end suffering, Shotgun at close range is perhaps overkill? All I own is a 12 gauge shotgun, I have 1 oz slugs and various shells, but wonder if a rifle of some type might be better, if so I would purchase one for emergency.

30/30 just wondering.

Thanks

For the record shotgun is very quick but maybe overkill, I had to do this the other day to a old wonderful dog that was gasping for breath in the living room late at night.

2 shots in head outside was quick, but disfiguring.

Would I get the same result with a rifle of some sort without such overkill,he idea is to be quick.

Thanks ope you guys can take this :)
 
A .22 is all our local dead or dying pick up guy ever uses. One shot in the forehead of a cow and maybe a second one in the back of the head when the animal is down. It is also less messy on small animals than a shotgun.
 
I grew up on a small farm, and we always used a 22 to dispatch animals, whether they were sick, or if we were butchering.
I can never remember having to use more than one shot.

However, I had a professional butcher tell me he kept a 30-30 handy after having one bad experience with a huge Hereford bull and a 22. [Failed to penetrate, apparently]

I would bet a 22 Magnum would have penetrated just fine.

Regards, Eagleye.
 
I do not think 22 is enough, perhaps I am not sure the difference between a 22 magnum and straight 22.

The shotgun at close range is pretty instant.I only added 2nd shot for good measure, more than you wanted to know, but I layed a comforter blanket down outside on ground before carrying him out, so mess was not a problem for me personally, was only wondering if there was a better way even. I have never been shot

Thanks for responses, I thought I might get beat up for question.

I think if a person GOD FORBID was taking his own life, would not want to use a 22.

I did witness as a child, a cow being shot by a man with 22 rifle, cow just stood there, he ended up bashing with axe until it finally fell.

I actually had a 22 pistol my dad left me some years ago, I traded for shotgun
 
The .22 magnum is a big step up from the regular .22LR and would handle 99% of your shooting needs. If you're really concerned, a .223 would give you another big step up without dealing with recoil or expensive ammo.
 
I've shot or seen shot a lot of çattle and hogs with a 22, with cattle you need to aim high on the poll, seems like it would almost be too high. Shooting between the eyes will result in disaster. We've switched to the 22 magnum for a little extra punch and range, I've only seen one very large Hereford bull shake off a properly placed 22 round, but the 32 Winchester finalized the deal.
 
Trappers use .22LR to dispatch but nothing they are trapping has the large thick skull of cattle. A mare's leg in something like .357 would offer enough penetration for cattle and would also be useful to carry around for predators. Then again, so would a .22 magnum.
 
flutie said:
2 shots in head outside was quick, but disfiguring.
Click to expand...

Maybe disfiguring and hard to watch for you, but probably the fastest to depart for him. Sadly, I might be there soon with my poach, and I know if that dreadful day comes, it will be a large caliber.
 
While I was still a teenager I shot quite a few beef for butchering, always using a 22.
Animals are starved for a day, before butchering, so it takes only a handfull of hay to attract them to the tree they will be strung up in. With the animal looking at you, your eye forms a mental cross on their head, eye to opposite ear, both sides, then hit thim in the middle of the cross.
Eagleye, in the town you came from there was a slaghter house by the highway out of town. You probably knew the owner, he shot pistol with us.
You could use a shovel to pick up the 22 empties at his slaughter house, that he used for butchering beef.
 
There are so many levels of different powered 22s that I would stay away from recommending it for such chores. The 22 mag however is a significant step up, if one does not think it 100% capable, I would highly recommend the 22 Hornet. I have killed several hogs and a couple cows with it over the years and it is absolutely final. Minimal noise and zero recoil and won't mess up a beloved pet too badly either. It can do double duty as a coyote and other unwanted pest, control rifle, quite nicely out to about 150 yds.
 
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