Bad shots on animals

[jackelope]

Gut shot animals hunch up when hit, a double lung will always a high jump and the rear legs to kick, its the air being taken from the lungs that causes the jump kick

this must not be the case every time because i saw a deer get shot in the guts once that jumped higher than any deer i've ever seen jump when shot. not arguing, just sayin...i saw what i saw. some of you guys have seen a lot more deer killed than little old me and are probably mostly right. fortunately an immediate follow up shot put that buck down for good and the suffering was short lived.


my original question regarding ass shots or full frontal shots was not condoning one way or the other...just looking for thoughts on it. i've never taken shots at either end of a deer. i don't think i'd take either shot with a bow...too much potential for running into bone from either end for my liking.

[halflife65]

I think that the Texas Heart Shot is a bunch of crap.  Sure, it works fine when it works, but if you're off by 3 inches right or left your are going to screw it up.  I saw an otherwise, and normally, very ethical hunter take that shot and hit a 5 point bull in the left hip.  Broke the hip but the bull ran off - we tracked it down and got it but that should've never gone down like that.

The guy that did it really is a good guy that made a totally stupid shot.  He wanted to throw his rifle away and not hunt anymore and it took a little pep talk to get him back and moving around again.  He'll NEVER take that shot again and I'll NEVER take that shot, period.

The problem was that he knew that he took a bad shot - someone posted above that a bad shot is different than a shot gone bad.  That's what bothered this guy so much - he knew that he caused this problem.

[bearpaw]

Gut shot animals hunch up when hit, a double lung will always a high jump and the rear legs to kick, its the air being taken from the lungs that causes the jump kick

this must not be the case every time because i saw a deer get shot in the guts once that jumped higher than any deer i've ever seen jump when shot. not arguing, just sayin...i saw what i saw. some of you guys have seen a lot more deer killed than little old me and are probably mostly right. fortunately an immediate follow up shot put that buck down for good and the suffering was short lived.


my original question regarding ass shots or full frontal shots was not condoning one way or the other...just looking for thoughts on it. i've never taken shots at either end of a deer. i don't think i'd take either shot with a bow...too much potential for running into bone from either end for my liking.

jackelope....I wouldn't think anyone took it the wrong way. From some personnal experiences I know a$$ shots can be deadly and even frontal shots can be deadly, but no one can be faulted for looking for the best shot possible. As I mentioned before I prefer vital area shots, and with bear I prefer vitals and a shoulder if possible. I commend you for being a responsible hunter.....

I also want to add....there always seems to be an exception to every scenario.....thus explaining the differences in shot reactions we have all seen.

[coachcw]

He ho takes that ass shot is an ass period. I've had good shots go bad if you hunt enough it will happen , I try to be as ethical as possible and practice as much as possible . Last weekend I had my arrow deflect off a limb I didn't see and stick and elk in the front shoulder . I tracked to the best of mt abillity  four hours intell the blood ran out. My hope is it wil never happen again and the elk will survive the wound I only got about six inches of penitration at 40 yards. This has bothered me all week but I'm a hunter and I'll have to live with any guilt . I hope the guy that shot that 7x7 has had time to reflect and learn a good leasson ,maybe he'll pass it on .

[littlebuf]

i didnt read all the replies so this may have been covered but i can only assume he was shooting a bow correct? to shoot a bull elk up the ass with a bow is one of the cruelest things ive heard in a while. this piece of $H!T deserves the same thing he did to the elk. a "texas heart shot" is to be made with a rifle, but in my opinion should not be made at all. at the least next time you see this dip *censored* go kick him in the nuts

[scoyoc5]

   x2

[LongTatLaw]

coach...

kinda *censored* to say anyone that takes a THS is an ASS when like 6 people have admitted to them and a few advocate them with a rifle atleast!

watch ur tone...its all wrong

[NWBREW]

i didnt read all the replies so this may have been covered but i can only assume he was shooting a bow correct?   a "texas heart shot" is to be made with a rifle, but in my opinion should not be made at all. at the least next time you see this dip *censored* go kick him in the nuts

Your right littlebuff. I geuss I just assumed it was with a rifle because I couldn't imagine anyone trying to shoot an elk up the butt with an arrow. If that is the case this guy is a moron. I will stand behind that till the day I die. I would never take that shot, especially with a bow...never.

Kick him in the nuts...........twice

[mossback91]

I have always opted against the up the ass shot...........rather still have my tag in my pocket than that kind of mess

[Buckoholic]

if your hunting your bound to loose an animal!!!! i almost lost a 5x5 that i had the perfect shot on!!! hardly any blood but went right through the heart!!! i tried to find it all afternoon and went to camp and grabbed buddys and looked into the night!!! found him 2 days later piled up under a blow down we walked by 3 times!!!! even the perfect kill shot isnt alwats the best!!! I also jerked when I shot a buck quartered away from me and it went right in his bunghole!!! Now that buck only ran 10 feet and was dead with the good ol bungholer shot!!! So every shot is different

[halflife65]

if your hunting your bound to loose an animal!!!! i almost lost a 5x5 that i had the perfect shot on!!! hardly any blood but went right through the heart!!! i tried to find it all afternoon and went to camp and grabbed buddys and looked into the night!!! found him 2 days later piled up under a blow down we walked by 3 times!!!! even the perfect kill shot isnt alwats the best!!! I also jerked when I shot a buck quartered away from me and it went right in his bunghole!!! Now that buck only ran 10 feet and was dead with the good ol bungholer shot!!! So every shot is different

The difference is that you weren't trying to shoot it up the ass - you made a bad shot at (probably) a good angle and got lucky.  The guy in question here evidently took that shot on purpose and it didn't work out.  Just a stupid thing to do...

[LongTatLaw]

anyone that takes anything but a PERFECT angle shot on an elk with a bow is asking for a bad outcome!

[h2ofowlr]

Ran into a kid in the Winston Unit yesterday who had 2 bloody arrows in his quiver.  He said he had shot ( 2 ) cows and lost them both.  He should have gone home.

[bearpaw]

I thought my comment might be controversial and that some folks might ridicule my reply. I could have easily not said anything, but that really wouldn't have answered the question. The answer wasn't meant to hurt anyone or degrade anyone. So I am a bit surprised by some of the responses. Oh well, no problem, I have thick skin and I guess everyone is entitled to their opinion.

Back to the topic, very few hunters have always made the perfect shot, many intended vital shots have ended up being anything but that. I usually figure someone who says they always make the perfect shot probably hasn't hunted to much because just about all of us make a mistake sooner or later.

On deer, a heart shot that is off three inches either way will miss the heart, the same is true for a head shot, or a neck shot. However, if a person hits the heart, head, neck, or the texas heart shot, it has been my experience the animal usually dies pretty quickly.

Whether intended or not, a shot sideways with an arrow though both hind quarters has usually proven to be quite deadly in my experience. A "texas heart shot" with a high powered rifle can also be equally deadly whether intentional or not. Obviously if a deer is standing broadside you try to hit the vitas area, but if you miss and hit the hindquarters hard, you will still most likely get the deer.

When I have a hunter who misses a shot that should have been made, I don't usually threaten them or put them down. I usually talk about it and try to reinforce the idea of good shot placement and shooting form and I also like to have the person shoot their gun or bow at a target so they see it hit correctly or so they can adjust as needed until they do see it hit correctly. When a person is taking their next shot at game, they need to have faith in their weapon and know it can do the job.

[jstone]

I guess some people just dont think about what the animals could go through. Yes things can go bad on good shots, but dont take the bad shot. I think a lot more animals would make it through the year if people would think about what they are doing before they do it.