cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,359
- 975
Well two years ago I was practically tarred an feathered by some on this board (others were supportive and got the point of my post) when i asked a question like this. BUT I am a glutton glutton for punishment and i think there is some value to sharing and questioning our hunting experiences. As I said a couple of years ago I related an experience of a deer that was hit and didnt go down....and the implications of some choices. Thisis not about me, (when I fill my tag I will let you know) and ends differently.
The Scenario: An average size doe shot at @65 yards with a 12 Ga slug. She is standing broadside and the slug hits just high enough to miss the lungs but too low for a spine shot. At the shot she steps partially behind a tree and goes down. All that is visible to the shooter is the hind quarters. The tail twitches a few times and then all is still. The shooter waits 10 minutes and with no other sign of movement climbs down out of the stand and approaches the deer. She jumps up and runs off a ways so tracking begins. The shooter and a partner follow her through heavy cover for 30 minutes during which time they find her on two occasions. Each time the deer has laid down and has left a pool of blood. Very little blood sign is available when she moves and light is running low so tracking is as much by directon as anything. No other shots have been available. Eventually the blood trail plays out and the shooter and tracker "overshoot" the deer in some heavy brush. As they get beyond her, she runs back the way she came and up a vertical bank out of the draw. No blood trail. The trail is lost until the following day, when the doe is found in a field three miles away. The 12 guage slug is found inside the ribs- no exit wound.
So, what went wrong? My thoughts- shot placement an inch or two one ay or the other would have probably changed the outcome, but honestly with a slug and open sights that was a honest, ethical shot. My person bias against slugs comes into play here, not enough velocity to generate the needed damage, inciosistient terminal performance (i.e. How can it be that it didnt have an exit.... :shock: :twisted: ?) and difficulty shooting them consistiently. All in all, it was just one of those bad situations. Other opinions?
(Now be nice- this is about learning here....not berating some one or thumping your chest as in "that would never happen to me")
CL
The Scenario: An average size doe shot at @65 yards with a 12 Ga slug. She is standing broadside and the slug hits just high enough to miss the lungs but too low for a spine shot. At the shot she steps partially behind a tree and goes down. All that is visible to the shooter is the hind quarters. The tail twitches a few times and then all is still. The shooter waits 10 minutes and with no other sign of movement climbs down out of the stand and approaches the deer. She jumps up and runs off a ways so tracking begins. The shooter and a partner follow her through heavy cover for 30 minutes during which time they find her on two occasions. Each time the deer has laid down and has left a pool of blood. Very little blood sign is available when she moves and light is running low so tracking is as much by directon as anything. No other shots have been available. Eventually the blood trail plays out and the shooter and tracker "overshoot" the deer in some heavy brush. As they get beyond her, she runs back the way she came and up a vertical bank out of the draw. No blood trail. The trail is lost until the following day, when the doe is found in a field three miles away. The 12 guage slug is found inside the ribs- no exit wound.
So, what went wrong? My thoughts- shot placement an inch or two one ay or the other would have probably changed the outcome, but honestly with a slug and open sights that was a honest, ethical shot. My person bias against slugs comes into play here, not enough velocity to generate the needed damage, inciosistient terminal performance (i.e. How can it be that it didnt have an exit.... :shock: :twisted: ?) and difficulty shooting them consistiently. All in all, it was just one of those bad situations. Other opinions?
(Now be nice- this is about learning here....not berating some one or thumping your chest as in "that would never happen to me")
CL
I di try some of your Buck Hammers. My Mossberg didnt like them much and I idnt like the way they hammered me. I'll stand by what I said, My experience has been 50/50 wounded game to success. But thats what I was looking for discussion. Thanks guys! CL
