I agree Alex, go for the biggest vital area is the correct shot placement if loosing the animal is your concern why would a person opt for a smaller more problematic vital or non vital area.. doesn't make sense and i'm not impressed if it dropped in its tracks.I do not mind a 50 yard run. Which you can often get when you shoot for the heart and lungs. A heart or lung shot is humane, doesnt ruin meat, and doesnt have them sucking air with 2 broken shoulders and a lot of wasted meat. I think the high shoulder shots became popular because its good TV. It looks like they died instantly.
A friend told me a long time ago that with a solid lung shot, you could count to ten and go get your deer. I never try a head/neck shot or even a shoulder shot. Hit them in the lungs and they're going to die.
Agree. I NEVER aim for the shoulder. Double lungers. If they can't breathe, they're going to die. On the other hand, on three legs, they can run in to the
Here is a blood trail from a deer my buddy shot with my Creed, using a 147 eldm. The doe was only about 70 yards away and at the shot, ran about another 60-70 yards. The shot was a clean lung shot.
Above the shoulder broadside shots between the top of the shoulder and the spine = instant incapacitation and eventual death
I never said that it would always produce a trail like that and most shots don't allow a blood trail, as the deer is laying right where it was shot. I have shot close to 300 deer and have seen all kinds of blood trails, or lack thereof, from several calibers. The consistent thing is that there is no consistency. The 147 has worked as well for me on deer, as any other bullet in any caliber.Broadside vitals (lungs) is where I like to shoot my deer, too! But, I can't help but SMH at when a bullet get some praised (or chastised) for blood trail, or lack thereof...
Weird thing is, ya can never rely on a blood trail always being there, simply because we can't control if & how blood leaks inside or outside the body. Hair / fat or other organs can shift & plug a hole. If you guys never dressed a farm fed whitetail, you might be amazed at how much thick fat they've got on em! Also, angle of travel after the shot can allow blood to pool inside the cavity, as opposed to leaking out bullet hole(s). Neither of the above are the 'fault' of the bullet, it just happens...
Great photo of what we all like to see after poppin' the balloons! But, just know that the very same impact from the very same bullet might not yield that same amount of sign, all the time, every time. Happily, that very same shot will result in a very dead deer, every time, all the time! Someone mentioned above "count to 10, and go get your deer"...I'd say that's being generous...
I have shot close to 300 deer and have seen all kinds of blood trails, or lack thereof, from several calibers. The consistent thing is that there is no consistency.
an animal on the ground is always a great shot...LOL
we need to hear more about that success story
Ray Charles could follow that blood trail!Here is a blood trail from a deer my buddy shot with my Creed, using a 147 eldm. The doe was only about 70 yards away and at the shot, ran about another 60-70 yards. The shot was a clean lung shot.
too bad about that Biffed shot... it happens...LOL. Did you see any coyotes.... I love shooting them long range. I hunted West of Valentine for the last two years after those critters... thinking about heading out that way again....soon.