11 shots to drop an elk...really?

[TheCoachZed]

I haven't killed much big game, but my theory is always that sure, one shot can do the trick, but if two shots or three shots can save you hours of searching, tracking, or even lugging, then take the second shot - just make sure it's aimed carefully, like the first. I know some would poo-poo that viewpoint, but they are the same guys who've never had to beat brush looking for blood trails.

 

[tracker]

Sometimes the first few shots are to make it run faster before u dump it. Not everyone is a lousy shot.

 

[H4831]

Im fairly new to hunting and I've only shot one bull elk, but it only took one well placed shot from my .303 and he only ran maybe 10-15 yards. I dont see a need to fire a dozen shots at an animal. If you arent close enough to hit it where it counts, dont shoot.

Fairly new hunter, or not, you are right on the money with this post.
Actually, this thread has been very enlightening.
After years of reading the posts on Canadian Gunnutz, I was completely convinced that everyone of you who went out hunting was a dead-eye-####, who would not shoot at an animal unless you were certain your bullet was going into a vital spot on the animal, and of course, one shot from your rifle that would drop an elephant in his tracks, was all that would be required to cleanly kill the animal.
It seemed to be a given that none of you would risk taking a shot if the animal was a bit further away than was your ability to hit a fly in the eye.
Then I read the posts on this thread!
I find that many of you are taking shots when the animal was at a rediculous range, where a clean, killing shot, would be pure luck and most likely would result in a wounded animal getting away. Some of you are making multiple hits, obviously not in a vital zone, with a heavy calibre and the animal gets away to die a horrible death.
Some have hit the animal from stem to stern, before the animal finaly fell over.
Some lucky animals have simply run away, amid a barrage of bullets, but escaped unscathed.
My faith is completely shook!

 

[tbdtp]

You can never tell how an animal will react when shot or how far they can go on pure adrenalin. I have seen a whitetail buck that was shot at a distance you would measure in feet instead of yards hit perfectly in the heart with a 220 grain round nose bullet completely destroying the heart run for 200 yards then fall dead. I have also had the not so fun time of blood trailing a cow elk shot by a friend for 400 yards on my hands and knees. I witnessed the shot and knew he connected on it. He was sure he missed but I knew better and found the first pin prick of blood at about 50 yards. 350 yards of crawling around I found said cow. On field dressing she had been shot just behind the shoulder through both lungs with a 308 win. She was dead but someone forgot to tell her. When shooting any big game I always have and always will continue to shoot until the animal is down. Bullets are the cheapest part of the hunt I am not afraid to use all the ones I have with me if needed.

 

[trevj]

When shooting any big game I always have and always will continue to shoot until the animal is down. Bullets are the cheapest part of the hunt I am not afraid to use all the ones I have with me if needed.

This^^^ In spades!

Idealism dies hard. Some critters die harder. Eventually everybody gets one that doesn't die right there, and they get to try to find it and spend a bit of time second guessing themselves.

If it's still got legs under it, and you can see it, it's worth shooting again.

Cheers
Trev

 

[Republic of Alberta]

I just like shooting so I shoot.

 

[rral22]

I watched my hunting partner shoot a decent whitetail buck at about 150 yards with a .30-06 using 165gr Ballistic Tips. The buck was standing at the first shot, and didn't even seem to flinch. Second shot followed shortly with no reaction. After the second shot we actually looked at each other with a WTF? The third shot produced no reaction immediately, but about 2 seconds later the buck started to walk and fell over dead with the first step.

All 3 shots formed about a 6" group forward of the diaphragm. Never saw anything like it before or since, but judging by animal reaction, a .30-06 with Ballistic Tips is not nearly enough for deer. Sometimes an animal will not "behave" and I advocate shooting until it does. It may prove to be redundant, but I've never seen a wounded animal run toward somewhere easier to get him out.

 

[angrysoldier]

i havent hunted alot of large game, but this year was my first year to get a moose tag. i seen a huge bull about 400 meters away in the middle of a logging road on top of a ridge. i dident shoot. for me chasing a wounded amnial in the thick brush with a shot i question is just not worth it to me. if i was less than 200 meters, i might have taken it. i have seen people empty guns on amnials that you could hardly see, just a dot on the tree line. i try to aviod those sort of hunters.

 

[archie_james_c]

I haven't killed much big game, but my theory is always that sure, one shot can do the trick, but if two shots or three shots can save you hours of searching, tracking, or even lugging, then take the second shot - just make sure it's aimed carefully, like the first. I know some would poo-poo that viewpoint, but they are the same guys who've never had to beat brush looking for blood trails.

Agreed. I shot a calf moose last week. Me and a partner were in a no motor-vehicle area so the SOB was getting packed out on our backs. I put one shot into its throat, it started running toward a deep, thick gut in the bottom of a ridge. That calf made 5 or 6 steps toward the gut and he had another shot into his shoulder. For the 4 pounds of meat i wasted by hitting the shoulder it was worth the saved aggravation of hand bombing moose quarters out of a cedar swamp.

And like you said, make sure you can put the second or third shots where you want them. A hail mary gutshot won't help your cause.

 

[Jesuswon]

i would only shoot when presented with the perfect shot! period!

 

[nate18]

i once saw a guy shoot 103 rounds at a deer. there was nothing left of it

 

[Jesuswon]

i once saw a guy shoot 103 rounds at a deer. there was nothing left of it

you shoulda reported him,taken his licence plate (and then reported him),or even slapped him.. (if you look like Arnold in his prime that is,.

 

[tactical870]

While I realize that my first shot has usually done it's job, if an animal is still running or on it's feet I like to put a solid second round into it. Also, I can sometimes be a little like the guy Captonion mentioned. After almost 30 deer, I still manage to get buck fever and occasionally manage to screw up some pretty easy standing shots because I overthink it and get excited. Strangely enough I almost always hit them solidly on the second shot while running.

 

[Ardent]

i once saw a guy shoot 103 rounds at a deer. there was nothing left of it

Calling bullsh1t.

 

[Paatz]

On opening day for elk season, I heard 11 consecutive shots fired just after shooting time. Does an elk really need that much lead or would it be two dipsh*ts unloading their guns at an animal that is too far away? My guess is the latter.

Anyone have any unusually tough game that just won't go down?

Sure it wasn't the quebec gendarme chasing a cow....?

 

[regulate34]

i was lucky on my first hunt. we were going for black bear from boat. i spotted it at 400yrds across the water in my binos. we start heading in and i pull my rifle out of the gun locker. we shut the boat off and trim the leg out of the water. i was lucky that i was with some very experianced guys. they could tell i was getting excited. they told me to calm down its not going anyway it dosnt see us. so i took my time and dubble lung shot and down it went. it was my first hunt and glad i had some good experance around me.

 

[Slackbunny]

i would only shoot when presented with the perfect shot! period!

Sarcasm maybe? If not I doubt you shoot very often. It's not everyday an animal shows you its broad-side right down an unobstructed shooting lane. At least not where I am from.

And I am in the camp with the multi-shooters. Yes the first shot (if it was good) is probably enough to bring the animal down, but not always quickly. In my mind, the quickest kill possible is the most ethical, and that second, third, fourth shot could mean the difference between minutes of suffering and seconds of suffering.

 

[archie_james_c]

, and that second, third, fourth shot could mean the difference between minutes of suffering and seconds of suffering.

ill drink to that.

 

[JustBen]

In my mind, the quickest kill possible is the most ethical, and that second, third, fourth shot could mean the difference between minutes of suffering and seconds of suffering.

Very true. The quicker you have that animal down on the ground, the better. Which is why it is important to have good shot placement and bullet selection.

My cow moose this year took two shots to put to the ground. The first shot was right through the heart, but all it did was stop her from running and stand there. Second one, I put about six inches farther ahead and took her front shoulder and lungs out. First shot would have killed her within a minute. The second one made it about 45 seconds shorter.

180 grain Nosler E-Tips, fired from .300 Weatherby. Good retention, good penetration. Recovered these under her skin on the other side. If it hadn't been a quartering shot, I'd imagine they'd have gone right through.

 

[Ardent]

i would only shoot when presented with the perfect shot! period!

I was thinking the same thing as the fellow who just replied, you likely don't or haven't hunted much. The perfect shot is often not possible, decent shots are more common, especially in Africa and when chasing a particular big, hunter-wary example of a species. That's why we have shot placements worked out for frontal, quartering away (and to), and so forth. I've even had to use neck shots a couple times after chasing one particular animal for a week and getting mere seconds for a shot. That's hunting, and that's why we love it; there's no sure thing in it.