Shot Percentage Poll!

[walksalot]

Come on BIGREDD, how many animals suffer headshot wounds as opposed the the ones which have had their guts blown out. Shooting at running deer and risking gut shooting an animal seems to be an accepted practice by some people. A gut shot animal doesn't look as terrible as a headshot wound so that might by why it is an acceptable risk to some people.

The guy who shot that deer didn't know #### about head shots and should be taken out and publicly flogged. If you are going to make a headshot you must imagine a line from the ear to the corner of the eye and then drop a line straight down from the base of the antler and where the two lines intersect is where the bullet goes. I usually put the crosshairs right in the ear and them move toward the eye and touch off.(Come on BIGREDD, give me a Captian Deadly). On a frontal shot right between the eyes and they turn off like a switch. If you can't shoot that accurately in a hunting situation then you better not be taking headshots.
I have never wounded an animal with a head or neck shot, they all dropped where they stood but then again I am usually shooting at fifty yards or less.

 

[woodchopper]

I've shot a lot of deer, I perfer them to be standing broadside at about 50 yds. Then I have a choice of shots, head or neck is perfered for an instant kill. However deer have a tendency to not cooperate, they dont stand still long and often are facing the wrong way or give a quartering shot. They you take what will work. last few deer I've shot have been predominantly from behind or quartering away shots. That leaves a head or neck shot only.

I got a doe and fawn this year together, Doe 150yds broadside up a trail perfect shot. I went for a high sholder lung shot. Dam thing took off, I couldnt beleive my eyes I thought somehow I missed her. So I went to where I saw her standing looking for blood and I suddelny hear a noise in the opposite direction that she went. Looked up and saw the fawn about 25 yds face on. Quick shot into the neck about 2" below the skull, deer down. I went in and dragged it out to the trail and continued looking for blood. Great big spray just a few feet further and a good trail to follow, whew I says to myself now I don't have to explain missing an easy shot. Doe was piled up about 50 yds into the bush.

2 days earlier took a buck at about 200yds in the ditch as it trotted away from me, slight angle (1/8 away). No easy shot so I took it in the base of the neck dropped in its tracks.

So you take what shot that works for what target your offered.

 

[BIGREDD]

Come on BIGREDD, how many animals suffer headshot wounds as opposed the the ones which have had their guts blown out. Shooting at running deer and risking gut shooting an animal seems to be an accepted practice by some people. A gut shot animal doesn't look as terrible as a headshot wound so that might by why it is an acceptable risk to some people.

The guy who shot that deer didn't know #### about head shots and should be taken out and publicly flogged. If you are going to make a headshot you must imagine a line from the ear to the corner of the eye and then drop a line straight down from the base of the antler and where the two lines intersect is where the bullet goes. I usually put the crosshairs right in the ear and them move toward the eye and touch off.(Come on BIGREDD, give me a Captian Deadly). On a frontal shot right between the eyes and they turn off like a switch. If you can't shoot that accurately in a hunting situation then you better not be taking headshots.
I have never wounded an animal with a head or neck shot, they all dropped where they stood but then again I am usually shooting at fifty yards or less.

Two things that you should be aware of... that head shot I posted was unintentional.. he was shooting for the shoulder and the deer moved behind some brush as he shot... deflection! This can happen to any experienced hunter regardless of his opinion of himself and his ability!
And the fella is a very good shot who would never intentionally try a head shot.
I have seen the same guy kill several deer while running and drop them cleanly... as a matter of fact most of the fellas I hunt with can hit deer in the vitals running inside 100 yards with no difficulty.
Out of the 20 deer we harvested this year 12 were taken running with slugguns... and two were taken running with Muzzle loaders, none were wounded, all vital hits. For what its worth I have the pics and four of the shooters are members here!
You contend that more big game is wounded from running broadside shots than from head shots
You want me to believe that it is easier to hit a static baseball size target off hand... than a moving bushel basket sized target...
Sorry bud but I am not buying it, my experience tells me otherwise.

 

[Doug]

Good thread, BIGREDD!

I still think I smell something funny on a few of the replies, but that is not unusual in a place where hunters gather.....

Our one-week controlled hunt (shotgun/black powder) is on right now and we were drawn for our area. One of our guys connected with a nice doe yesterday morning but we have seen nothing other than that. Three guys, two buck tags and three antlerless tags, we need to see some deer!!!!!!

Doug

 

[senior]

Walksalot wrote "Shooting at running deer and risking gut shooting an animal seems to be an accepted practice by some people. "

I have to wonder with an attitude like that walksalot, would you shoot at a FLYING duck?? or do you wait for it to stop moving? Would you also be worried about wounding it to?? Or maybe a duck does not deserve the same "no suffering" rights as do game animals such as a deer, moose....

 

[walksalot]

Two things that you should be aware of... that head shot I posted was unintentional.. he was shooting for the shoulder and the deer moved behind some brush as he shot... deflection! This can happen to any experienced hunter regardless of his opinion of himself and his ability!
And the fella is a very good shot who would never intentionally try a head shot.
I have seen the same guy kill several deer while running and drop them cleanly... as a matter of fact most of the fellas I hunt with can hit deer in the vitals running inside 100 yards with no difficulty.
Out of the 20 deer we harvested this year 12 were taken running with slugguns... and two were taken running with Muzzle loaders, none were wounded, all vital hits. For what its worth I have the pics and four of the shooters are members here!
You contend that more big game is wounded from running broadside shots than from head shots
You want me to believe that it is easier to hit a static baseball size target off hand... than a moving bushel basket sized target...
Sorry bud but I am not buying it, my experience tells me otherwise.

To go for the shoulder and hit it in the head To let fly with a Hail Mary when an animals is running through the bush? How many others suffered the same fate and got away? If they were gutshot they may show no sign of being hit or leave any trace of blood. You created Captian Deadly to show your disproval toward headshots when Captian Deadly should be all over running shots like ugly on an ape. How many hunter actually practice running shots, a few I am sure but the majority, no. I shudder to think of the animals wounded before a hunter can classify himself as good at running shots.

I conclude more animals are wounded with gutshots than headshots because there are a higher percentage of shots at animals on the run than headshots. Your rundown of the shots taken back my statement.

Of the animals I found dead, wounded by other hunters, none had head wounds. I simply don't understand your reasoning.

 

[BIGREDD]

To go for the shoulder and hit it in the head To let fly with a Hail Mary when an animals is running through the bush? How many others suffered the same fate and got away? If they were gutshot they may show no sign of being hit or leave any trace of blood. You created Captian Deadly to show your disproval toward headshots when Captian Deadly should be all over running shots like ugly on an ape. How many hunter actually practice running shots, a few I am sure but the majority, no. I shudder to think of the animals wounded before a hunter can classify himself as good at running shots.

I conclude more animals are wounded with gutshots than headshots because there are a higher percentage of shots at animals on the run than headshots. Your rundown of the shots taken back my statement.

Of the animals I found dead, wounded by other hunters, none had head wounds. I simply don't understand your reasoning.

You are very good at putting words in my mouth... or maybe your comprehension is weak... whatever, I distinctly said the animal moved as he shot.
The fact that you don't understand how quickly an animal can move or the fact that a deflection can change the point of impact dramatically is telling.
Your assumptions about running shots and skill levels are ludicrous... and your single minded opinions of other hunters rediculous.
You keep taking your headshots... we will continue to "cleanly" kill lots of Big Game on the run and using high percentage shots.

 

[Doug]

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts "

Did I not read that somewhere???

Doug

 

[walksalot]

You are very good at putting words in my mouth... or maybe your comprehension is weak... whatever, I distinctly said the animal moved as he shot.
The fact that you don't understand how quickly an animal can move or the fact that a deflection can change the point of impact dramatically is telling.
Your assumptions about running shots and skill levels are ludicrous... and your single minded opinions of other hunters rediculous.
You keep taking your headshots... we will continue to "cleanly" kill lots of Big Game on the run and using high percentage shots.

No, you guys keep shooting for the shoulder and hit them in the head and I will shoot for the head and drop them like a stone.

As far as my skill levels go, I have passed up all the legal animals I could have shot this year and everyone was within 50 yds. It is called stalking skills, something you should look into. It may open a whole new world of hunting for you.

 

[senior]

"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts "

Doug

Again Doug nice post

Where is Captain Deadly BREDD ?? Put up a picture of him with a walksalot nametag on one arm & maybe amphibous on the other

 

[BIGREDD]

No, you guys keep shooting for the shoulder and hit them in the head and I will shoot for the head and drop them like a stone.

As far as my skill levels go, I have passed up all the legal animals I could have shot this year and everyone was within 50 yds. It is called stalking skills, something you should look into. It may open a whole new world of hunting for you.

If you wish us to believe you have passed on all these animals, how about you leave your gun at home and carry a camera... then at least you would have something to show us to prove your stalking skills
Your assumption that we do not stalk animals is just another feeble attempt at deflection from your baseless argument.

 

[walksalot]

If you wish us to believe you have passed on all these animals, how about you leave your gun at home and carry a camera... then at least you would have something to show us to prove your stalking skills
Your assumption that we do not stalk animals is just another feeble attempt at deflection from your baseless argument.

I passed on the animals because I was after a decent rack and none fit the bill. Most didn't know I was there and I like to keep it that way. However, a decent camera is on my wish list.

My argument is not baseless. Your original post was high to low percentage shots and you intentionally leave out running shots which account for a huge percentage of the shots taken in a hunting situation and the basis of my argument is that for the majority hunters a running shot is a very low percentage shot.

I cannot sit by and have one shot criticized and another which is responsible for the majority of wounded animals condoned.

 

[sv10002003]

No, you guys keep shooting for the shoulder and hit them in the head and I will shoot for the head and drop them like a stone.

As far as my skill levels go, I have passed up all the legal animals I could have shot this year and everyone was within 50 yds. It is called stalking skills, something you should look into. It may open a whole new world of hunting for you.

Not to jump in to the middle discussion, but thought I might throw in my 2 cents......

As for your "STALKING SKILLS" Walksalot.....seems like if you had such skills you would have found something with horns on it by now.....am I wrong? Maybe your headshot theory went south, and he lived to see another day by chance?

Maybe I can shed a little light on the deer BigRedd has shown picuters of in the hopes of showing what head shots can result in. I am the one who shot that dear and put it down....WITH A BROADSIDE SHOT.....but I also had the deer in my crosshairs at the time it was shot and saw what happened. The deer was standing still and moved as the shot was taken.....I have no doubt that is was more likely a deflection that caused that bullet to hit where it did. The deer was between me and another hunter, who took the shot, and there is a lot of small branches that are difficult to see in the low light in the morning. If it wasn't a deflection it may have been the fact that the gun was shot earlier that morning at another deer, and the barrel was fouled and loaded again. We all know how a dirty barrel or a speedy reload that doesn't seat the bullet properly can cause accuracy to decline in a muzzle loader. But with all that said I watched that deer take it in the face and it walked down the hill towards me without any inclination that it was injured. I took the shot broadside at under 50 yards and the deer didn't make it 20 yards before it was over. Not once did I think..."maybe I'll take a headshot and drop this deer like a stone".....no I thought I'd take the broadside shot and make sure it went down.

I must say that there are a lot of hunters here that have much more experience then me....when it comes to deer hunting I don't have a great deal, but I do know.....broadside shots seem to be high percentage shots for putting deer down.......my thought is, an inexperienced hunter like myself has figured it out.....why havn't you Walksalot?

 

[walksalot]

Not to jump in to the middle discussion, but thought I might throw in my 2 cents......

As for your "STALKING SKILLS" Walksalot.....seems like if you had such skills you would have found something with horns on it by now.....am I wrong? Maybe your headshot theory went south, and he lived to see another day by chance?

Maybe I can shed a little light on the deer BigRedd has shown picuters of in the hopes of showing what head shots can result in. I am the one who shot that dear and put it down....WITH A BROADSIDE SHOT.....but I also had the deer in my crosshairs at the time it was shot and saw what happened. The deer was standing still and moved as the shot was taken.....I have no doubt that is was more likely a deflection that caused that bullet to hit where it did. The deer was between me and another hunter, who took the shot, and there is a lot of small branches that are difficult to see in the low light in the morning. If it wasn't a deflection it may have been the fact that the gun was shot earlier that morning at another deer, and the barrel was fouled and loaded again. We all know how a dirty barrel or a speedy reload that doesn't seat the bullet properly can cause accuracy to decline in a muzzle loader. But with all that said I watched that deer take it in the face and it walked down the hill towards me without any inclination that it was injured. I took the shot broadside at under 50 yards and the deer didn't make it 20 yards before it was over. Not once did I think..."maybe I'll take a headshot and drop this deer like a stone".....no I thought I'd take the broadside shot and make sure it went down.

I must say that there are a lot of hunters here that have much more experience then me....when it comes to deer hunting I don't have a great deal, but I do know.....broadside shots seem to be high percentage shots for putting deer down.......my thought is, an inexperienced hunter like myself has figured it out.....why havn't you Walksalot?

sv10002003, it was not the fact I didn't see antler, I saw many but it was the fact that I did not see the quality of antler I was looking for. I set my sights on a respectable set of antlers and was going to settle for nothing less so the result is I did not harvest an animal this season nor did I fire a shot or loose an arrow.
I totally agree that the broadside stationary target positioned within ones effective range and positioned to accomodate a double lung pass through is the most high percentage shot but make that target mobile and now you have to calculate the speed the animal is going, the distance the animal is away from you, is the target as far away as you think or is it simply a smaller animal. how much you are going to lead this animal by and do you have to allow for elevation. This is quite a bit of information to equate in a split second. Personally I avoid running shots like the plague.

 

[BIGREDD]

I passed on the animals because I was after a decent rack and none fit the bill. Most didn't know I was there and I like to keep it that way. However, a decent camera is on my wish list.

My argument is not baseless. Your original post was high to low percentage shots and you intentionally leave out running shots which account for a huge percentage of the shots taken in a hunting situation and the basis of my argument is that for the majority hunters a running shot is a very low percentage shot.

I cannot sit by and have one shot criticized and another which is responsible for the majority of wounded animals condoned.

You assume a lot walksalot... you assume that running shots cause a lot of wounded animals... you espouse this theory as fact... show me some facts... you can't because it is not fact, it is bull#### .
You admit you don't take running shots and avoid them like the plague. It is obvious to me that you lack the experience and the skill to do so. Unfortunately you also lack the common sense to see that shot placement is critical regardless of whether an animal is standing still or moving.
There are literally thousands of hunters in the boreal forests of the east that can and do practice and kill deer cleanly each year running in front of dogs or doggers!!!!!
Your argument is nothing more than a good laugh to these experienced and skilled hunters.

 

[BC Bigbore]

Here's my .02 on the subject. I've taken big game from a variety of angles and have taken shots at standing, walking, trotting and running animals. Some shots have been very close and a couple were at long range. I've always ensured that my chosen rifle/cartridge combo were more than adequite for the task. That said, my hands-down favorite "meat-in-the-pot" shot is at a head-down feeding animal, which is slightly quartering away at 200 yards or less. I strive to place a bullet, suitable for the game at hand, thru the top part of the heart and taking out both lungs at the same time. This results in a swift clean kill with no muss, no fuss and very little meat loss. This years moose was a standing shot, broadside at about 75 yards. I used my .338 WinMag with a factory 225gr Accubond. At the shot, the bull turned away and walked 50 yards or so and keeled over. My elk was shot quartering away at just over 300 yards across a canyon with the same .338 but using 225gr Trophy Bonded Bear Claws this time. He turned downhill at the hit and went behind some trees. He slowly emerged and stopped broadside. I placed a second shot through the shoulders and he dropped. The whitetail I took was in a grain field at about 100 yards. I was using my .270 Win and a 140gr Accubond handload. The buck was looking directly at me head-on so I put the bullet through the base of the neck at the junction of the chest. The buck dropped and never moved again. These animals had one thing in common. I waited for a shot I was the most comfortable with before taking it. The moose and elk were both moving when I first put the sights on them. I could have taken a moving shot, but chose to wait for them to stop before I dropped the hammer. Besides, it was early in both hunts and I knew there would be other opportunities. Sometimes it just works out

 

[walksalot]

Quote
Out of the 20 deer we harvested this year 12 were taken running with slugguns... and two were taken running with Muzzle loaders, none were wounded, all vital hits.
Quote
Two things that you should be aware of... that head shot I posted was unintentional.. he was shooting for the shoulder and the deer moved behind some brush as he shot... deflection! This can happen to any experienced hunter regardless of his opinion of himself and his ability.

 

[BIGREDD]

I stand by my words... what is your point. I am still waiting for you to prove something... anything... make some kind of legitimate argument.
Survey says....

 

[walksalot]

Quote
There are literally thousands of hunters in the boreal forests of the east that can and do practice and kill deer cleanly each year running in front of dogs or doggers!!!!!

You said it all , it's the law of percentages, with that many hunters taking such a high risk to wound shot at deer there are bound to be gutshot, holes through jaws, legs blown off and shot in the ass animals.
The truly sad part is there are budding nimrods who view this site and you are advocating such a high risk to wound shot.

 

[BIGREDD]

Quote
There are literally thousands of hunters in the boreal forests of the east that can and do practice and kill deer cleanly each year running in front of dogs or doggers!!!!!

You said it all , it's the law of percentages, with that many hunters taking such a high risk to wound shot at deer there are bound to be gutshot, holes through jaws, legs blown off and shot in the ass animals.
The truly sad part is there are budding nimrods who view this site and you are advocating such a high risk to wound shot.

You are without a doubt the most single-minded and ill-informed aspirant I have ever had the pleasure of tormenting....
Do you not see the obscurity or your foolhardy postulations, you have the audacity to hijack my thread with your implausible head-shot claims... and then try to chastize me for running shots.
You obviously have a bone to pick... you don't have any facts or numbers to back up your rediculous assumptions... all you do is post nonsense and inflammatory rhetoric.
I submit that you and your opinions are without merit... and I reject your neverending gibberish as the feeble simpering of a jealous pretender.

Why don't you start your own thread about the wonders of stalking to within a few yards of big game animals only to reject them as not suitable for shooting in the head. That surely will have all the budding Nimrods flocking to you for hunting advice.....
Thanks for the entertainment.