I often hear folks complaining about wasted meat on big game, due to the impact of the bullet. I often wonder, how much wastage is actually there? I traditionally take aim for the heart/lung area on any animal. Usually braodside and right through the rib cage. I have also got a couple of neck shots, and a shoulder neck shot. Some resulted in more damage than others, but I would really have to say, that if you actually were able to weigh the actual "spoiled meat", it wouldn't add up to much. I have used a .50 cal muzzleloader and hit a deer tight through the rib cage. bullet did not strike a rib, just poked a .50 cal hole right through both lungs (missed the heart). Animal ran about 30 yards and fell over dead. Quick kill. No fuss, no muss. I did "ruin" some rib meat, but who freakin cares.
Why the complaining from folks? I would rather have an animal taken, and worry about, perhaps a pound or two (at most)of shot up meat, then one that got away, wounded, because I didn't use enough gun. I mean, the "wastage" is usually in the rib or neck area. That's hamburger or sausage anyway, who really cares? If you hit it in the hind quarters and it makes a mess of your roasts, then tough luck, practice at becomming a better shot or practice at having more patience at waiting for a better shot. Texas heart shots are not ethical, I feel.
I was recently at Wholesale sports in Winnipeg and some idiot was in there wanting to buy a .223. He wanted it for moose hunting. When the sales clerk suggested perhaps a .308 might be a better choice, clown customer says "Yeah, I used a 308 before and it made a mess and wasted too much meat and my buddy uses a .223 for moose and it works great"
Now two things came to mind here:
1. The clerks at these places get a bit of a bum wrap from us gunnutz some times. I talked to the clerk after and he said he gets guys like this and other really stupid people daily. I couldn't imagine having to deal with clown customers like this every day, and still put a smile on. I would become jaded pretty fast. The guy sold him a .223, because after all, the customer is always right, right?
2. Meat wastage. If anyone actually compares what it costs to hunt, versus what it actually costs to buy meat in a store, it is painfully obvious that we hunters are not hunting to save money on meat. When you add up license, rifle, scope, ammo, gas, vehicle, accomodation, etc on a hunting trip, the cost per pound of wild game is extremely expensive. Simply put, we do not hunt for the cheap meat, we hunt because we enjoy the sport of hunting. Who gives a crap about at most, a couple of pounds of poor quality neck/chest/rib meat on a deer or moose. I mean really. A good sized deer will give plenty of good quality meat. Even if you just took the backstrap and loins, there's plenty there.
I guess I just really can't see the logic here. I mean, a big wound channel means that the bullet did what it is supposed to do and that the animal (most likely) died a quick death. That is the hunters duty. To make a clean kill and harvest the animal. Quit #####ing about wastage of meat and be glad that you took the animal. USE ENOUGH GUN!
Okay, my rant is over, flame away if you want.
Why the complaining from folks? I would rather have an animal taken, and worry about, perhaps a pound or two (at most)of shot up meat, then one that got away, wounded, because I didn't use enough gun. I mean, the "wastage" is usually in the rib or neck area. That's hamburger or sausage anyway, who really cares? If you hit it in the hind quarters and it makes a mess of your roasts, then tough luck, practice at becomming a better shot or practice at having more patience at waiting for a better shot. Texas heart shots are not ethical, I feel.
I was recently at Wholesale sports in Winnipeg and some idiot was in there wanting to buy a .223. He wanted it for moose hunting. When the sales clerk suggested perhaps a .308 might be a better choice, clown customer says "Yeah, I used a 308 before and it made a mess and wasted too much meat and my buddy uses a .223 for moose and it works great"
Now two things came to mind here:
1. The clerks at these places get a bit of a bum wrap from us gunnutz some times. I talked to the clerk after and he said he gets guys like this and other really stupid people daily. I couldn't imagine having to deal with clown customers like this every day, and still put a smile on. I would become jaded pretty fast. The guy sold him a .223, because after all, the customer is always right, right?
2. Meat wastage. If anyone actually compares what it costs to hunt, versus what it actually costs to buy meat in a store, it is painfully obvious that we hunters are not hunting to save money on meat. When you add up license, rifle, scope, ammo, gas, vehicle, accomodation, etc on a hunting trip, the cost per pound of wild game is extremely expensive. Simply put, we do not hunt for the cheap meat, we hunt because we enjoy the sport of hunting. Who gives a crap about at most, a couple of pounds of poor quality neck/chest/rib meat on a deer or moose. I mean really. A good sized deer will give plenty of good quality meat. Even if you just took the backstrap and loins, there's plenty there.
I guess I just really can't see the logic here. I mean, a big wound channel means that the bullet did what it is supposed to do and that the animal (most likely) died a quick death. That is the hunters duty. To make a clean kill and harvest the animal. Quit #####ing about wastage of meat and be glad that you took the animal. USE ENOUGH GUN!
Okay, my rant is over, flame away if you want.
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