Forget caliber and bullet, let’s talk shot placement

[ShootsManyBullets]

I guess they realized a lot of newer hunters have questions on where they can expect lethal hits with their Creeds? This is really helpful for my kids.

 

[Gerald Martin]

I guess they realized a lot of newer hunters have questions on where they can expect lethal hits with their Creeds? This is really helpful for my kids.
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That’s a normal crosshairs pattern after you bail out of the truck and start pulling the trigger at running elk 500 yards away.
#Norrisroadelkhunt.

 

[OntarioHunter]

Ha. Beat me to it. I was just about to post this:

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Actually, I shot both of these bulls in the head ... going away from me. The bigger one (1971) I first hit in the neck then Texas heart shot. The other bull (1980) was a one shot kill. Didn't hurt the horns on either of them.

 

[JLS]

I guess they realized a lot of newer hunters have questions on where they can expect lethal hits with their Creeds? This is really helpful for my kids.
View attachment 253013

I’ve seen this aiming pattern long before the creed.

 

[JLS]

That’s how my deer presented itself.

I still want to know how it tracked up the hide around the ribs to lay on the back strap. Last time I shot federal pow’r shok.

Bullets do some really weird things from time to time.

 

[nastynate]

I wonder if people who bowhunted 1st are more prone to move back??

Yep... well... almost. Rifle hunted first but always made clean kills/recoveries.n The first unrecovered deer came from an archery shoulder shot to far forward, and that stuck with me.

 

[CowboyLeroy]

Nek shooter 4 lyfe

 

[Nick87]

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There's a lot going on here but stay focused

WRONG!! FIFY.

 

[Nick87]

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All. Day. Long.

Agreed. I'll take that every time.

 

[Deleted member 28227]

2 pages deep and not one HTM quote.

Sad.

SHOW ME YOUR BUTTHOLE

 

[noharleyyet]

SHOW ME YOUR BUTTHOLE
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Requisite...

 

[fmnjr]

Got interested and found these to be helpful.

 

[Jbotto]

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Got interested and found these to be helpful.

Yep. Helpful for sure! Pay attention to that shoulder. Farther forward than more people realize.

 

[JLS]

You need to add the triangle illustration for broadside. I, and I think many, shoot too far back on animals a lot because we think we're seeing the shoulder when there is no bone in that area.

This, of course, referring to using a rifle.

Sorry for the shitty finger sketch, but here you go.

Note, after looking at this again, I’d shift POi about an inch to the rear. Either way, the elk will die quickly.

 

[JLS]

20 yard recovery with a fantastic blood trail.

 

[westbranch]

Good stuff. Having my wife look at these for late season cow elk.

 

[buffybr]

It seems we have ad nauseum conversation and debate about what is the best caliber to get a blood trail out of an elk. Followed up by, what is the best bullet to get a blood trail out of an elk.

It’s been my experience over the years that shot placement is far more important than either the heads stamp, or the type of bullet being used in terms of a short recovery on an elk.

In order to find the ideal aiming spot for a fast kill, do the following:

1. imagine a vertical line that is perfectly centered between the two front legs

2 for your horizontal hold imagine the body cavity is divvied up into quarters. Go slightly above 1/4 of the way up that vertical line.

You can go higher than this if you want to, but absolutely do not go above the halfway point of the body. The further away you get from that 1/4 horizontal hold, you are still in double lung territory, but the amount of vasculature is greatly reduced relative to the lower hold. View attachment 252966View attachment 252967View attachment 252968View attachment 252969

All shots pictured will result in a dead elk. Shots 1, 2, and 4 will result in a good amount of meat loss from the shoulder. Been there, done that. My choice is shot 3.

 

[bullbugle307]

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Choose your own adventure

Had to explain what a Texas heart shot was to my boss the other day while I was recapping a WT buck I killed a few weeks back.

No, I didn’t take said shot, obviously. I waited for the doe to lead him back towards me where he turned broadside.

He had never heard the term, and having come from Texas I wasn’t sure how he’d react, but he thought it was hysterical thankfully.

 

[ShootsManyBullets]

In case some of you need some guidance using this reticle.

 

[Mtnhunter1]

Good post @JLS.

While I agree that taking out the front shoulder is needed, on a few of your examples, I would personally wait for a broadside or quartering away opportunity.

Agree with @buffybr, been there, done that. The front shoulder is a mess and meat is lost.