Thernlund
Member
Eh? It says to shoot between high between the eyes, through the brain and down the neck.
In fact, pretty much everything I found says just about the same thing. Google for "cattle gunshot euthanasia".
-T.
Shooting a Cow! Help!
- Thread starter dubious
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Eh? It says to shoot between high between the eyes, through the brain and down the neck.
In fact, pretty much everything I found says just about the same thing. Google for "cattle gunshot euthanasia".
-T.
Winchester 73
member
If you use the .44, this is your load,dubious.
Adios,vaca.
Buenas Noches,Amigos.
loneviking
Member
My God! Are you guys trying to kill the cow or use it for target practice? I've been in on this many times, and unless you're dealing with a dangerous bull, a 22 magnum does the trick nicely. Facing the cow about 25 feet out, shoot it between and just slightly above the level of the eyes. The cow will go down, often kicking a bit but that's just reflex. As soon as you can, get in there and slit it's throat to bleed it. You'll need to have rigged up a block and tackle to hoist the cow up for ease of butchering. As a kid, I used to think the stomachs were neat as they looked like big, white lozenges! Don't forget to save the tongue as it's good boiled in salt water.
Cows are pretty big dude. More power to you if that works. Personally, I'd plug him with a 12 ga. slug into the base of the brain from above. Last thing I want to do is piss something off that much bigger than me. Then again, I don't know all that much about the critters.loneviking said:
vis-à-vis
Member
No, no Winchester 73. This is the proper way to shoot a cow:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVLyZblo_6w&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVLyZblo_6w&NR=1
This has to be among the oddest threads I've seen yet...rather like the three blind men describing the elephant. 
Has anyone here actually shot a cow?
When I worked in the butcher shop, the butcher used a spring-actuated pistol that "fired" an oblong magnet. He placed the pistol against the cow's forehead, between the eyes, but up about 1". Many times the "projectile" would bounch off.
I would not press a power-charged firearm against the cow's forehead...unless you want to take a shower of cerebrial matter and blood! The muzzle blast will do that!
When the butcher did make a proper impact, the cow would drop immediately. Given these critters aren't exactly light, I'd be sure to stand away from it when it falls.
Now, I can't resist...where's the beef?!
Has anyone here actually shot a cow? When I worked in the butcher shop, the butcher used a spring-actuated pistol that "fired" an oblong magnet. He placed the pistol against the cow's forehead, between the eyes, but up about 1". Many times the "projectile" would bounch off.
I would not press a power-charged firearm against the cow's forehead...unless you want to take a shower of cerebrial matter and blood! The muzzle blast will do that!
When the butcher did make a proper impact, the cow would drop immediately. Given these critters aren't exactly light, I'd be sure to stand away from it when it falls.
Now, I can't resist...where's the beef?!
cracked butt
Member
We used to do it the same way with hogs, except with a .22 pistol at a range of about 1'.
Horsesense
Member
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2003
- Messages
- 565
I have killed hundreds of cows. I worked at a slaughter house and we used a .22 between the eyes and about an inch and a half up, the brain is pretty big and hard to miss.
Sometimes, about 1 in 100, the .22 would find the spinal cord and exit the tail. If I were doing it in a place where they could run off, if you make a bad shot, not likely, I would use something bigger, I did it with a .357 out in a field once at about 10 feet.
Why not use the biggest gun you got and take pictures? I would like to see how it works out.
Sometimes, about 1 in 100, the .22 would find the spinal cord and exit the tail. If I were doing it in a place where they could run off, if you make a bad shot, not likely, I would use something bigger, I did it with a .357 out in a field once at about 10 feet.
Why not use the biggest gun you got and take pictures? I would like to see how it works out.
fixyurgun
Member
+1 on the 22mag . 20 to 25 foot. between the eyes a little high. Jim
alemonkey
Member
Growing up on the farm we used either a 22LR between the eyes or a sledgehammer to the head. That was while they were in a squeeze chute.
TexasRifleman
Moderator Emeritus
My grandad always used a .22LR between the eyes and a little up. We did it once every year.
I'm cracking up at some of the rounds suggested LOL.
Can't believe no one has offered .50BMG from 500 yards as an option yet....
I'm cracking up at some of the rounds suggested LOL.
Can't believe no one has offered .50BMG from 500 yards as an option yet....
Blackbeard
Member
Also remember to be aware of what is on the other side of the cow. Don't have your buddy over there holding the reins.
mcmoyer
Member
We used the same method...always worked like a champ. Some of the other suggestions are great for comic relief though.
neviander
Member
lol, I know it's a comedy, but I always wondered why the guy did it in a field next to the highway, far and away from any sort of building or equipment...the screaming onlooking kids always makes me laugh.
Dravur
Member
Holy crud
Its a freaking cow.... We used a .22 and it worked. You might as well nuke the cow from orbit...
And with the .22 you dont get as big of a splatter fest.
Sheesh, a .45-70??? this isn't a buffalo at 1000 yards.......
Reins? what the heck are you doing shooting your horse?
Its a freaking cow.... We used a .22 and it worked. You might as well nuke the cow from orbit...
And with the .22 you dont get as big of a splatter fest.
Sheesh, a .45-70??? this isn't a buffalo at 1000 yards.......
Reins? what the heck are you doing shooting your horse?
ozarkhillbilly
Member
Another for a .22lr, thats how both my grandparents did it. Dad once used a .38spl not sure why but it seemed to work just as well.
ctdonath
Member
Been there, done that, it dropped like I'd turned off it's switch.
Google (if you're reading this, you can find the info you need) the anatomy of a cow's head. The brain isn't quite where you think it is. Pop a round into there thru the most direct (i.e.: least intervening skull) route thru the brain. Done right, it will just drop. (I actually missed the brain, but was close enough for total hemorrhaging.)
It's a standard part of Ayoob's LFI-IV class.
Google (if you're reading this, you can find the info you need) the anatomy of a cow's head. The brain isn't quite where you think it is. Pop a round into there thru the most direct (i.e.: least intervening skull) route thru the brain. Done right, it will just drop. (I actually missed the brain, but was close enough for total hemorrhaging.)
It's a standard part of Ayoob's LFI-IV class.
It's easier and cheaper to:
hold it by it's back legs, stretch out it's neck on the ground, put a rake handle accross it's neck, standing on either end, pull the legs and the head pops off. Then you have a hold of the decapitated beast and can hold it up and let it bleed out without flopping all over and getting dirty. Easy as pie.
Oh, wait, that was for a chicken. Hmmm, we always took ours to a slaughter house and paid for thier services with a little beef ...
But in theory, the chicken method could work?
hold it by it's back legs, stretch out it's neck on the ground, put a rake handle accross it's neck, standing on either end, pull the legs and the head pops off. Then you have a hold of the decapitated beast and can hold it up and let it bleed out without flopping all over and getting dirty. Easy as pie.
Oh, wait, that was for a chicken. Hmmm, we always took ours to a slaughter house and paid for thier services with a little beef ...
But in theory, the chicken method could work?
savetheclaypigeons
Member
Don't forget your rain coat!
... I clicked on this thread to read all of the ex-wife jokes. Very disappointed in the lack of them.
... I clicked on this thread to read all of the ex-wife jokes. Very disappointed in the lack of them.
buck460XVR
Member
- Joined
- Feb 6, 2007
- Messages
- 10,085
heh-heh, some funny stuff here. We always used a .22 at close range too. If you're gonna shoot em at a distance with anything bigger, make sure they got their head up.....there's lots of good meat back there if you miss or get pass thru.
alsaqr
Member
"My grandad always used a .22LR between the eyes and a little up. We did it once every year."
Grew up in rural WV. At butchering time every year, folks got together and helped butcher hogs and cattle. Dad was the designated shooter. He used his faithful Winchester model 60A single shot .22 and solid point long rifle ammo. Never saw him shoot a hog or cow twice.
Grew up in rural WV. At butchering time every year, folks got together and helped butcher hogs and cattle. Dad was the designated shooter. He used his faithful Winchester model 60A single shot .22 and solid point long rifle ammo. Never saw him shoot a hog or cow twice.
bhk
Member
My wife and I rented a house on a cattle farm for several years. The owners would always dispatch cattle that were to be personally butchered with a .22, shot head on into the forehead. They were very careful with shot placement, sometimes taking 5 or 10 minutes for the perfect shot. The steers always dropped like a sack of potatoes. I was always amazed at this.
Bigjake
Member
A sledge is ideal. .22 to the forehead is fine too if yer squeamish.
There is such thing as Too Much Gun in more than a few of the replies here...
I've heard of the light shotgun to the head technique, but never seen it done.
There is such thing as Too Much Gun in more than a few of the replies here...
I've heard of the light shotgun to the head technique, but never seen it done.
Geronimo45
Member
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