Shawnee
member
Put an "x" on this deer where you would place your bullet for a heart shot and an "o" where you would place it for a spine shot.
Your Shot Placement
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Ridgerunner665
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NonConformist
member
Its been a long time since I went hunting and I am not familiar w/ a 'spine shot' though I understand, so heres what Id do-
Vern Humphrey
Member
The best heart-lung shot is right behind the front leg, about 1/3 of the way up from the belly. You can shade it into the leg itself, and break the leg as well -- that would be a good shot on an elk in rough country, since it anchors the animal as well as killing.
The spine shot is best directed at the shoulder blades -- makes a bigger target and more room for error.
The neckbones are nearly mid-depth of the neck, not high on the top edge.
The spine shot is best directed at the shoulder blades -- makes a bigger target and more room for error.
The neckbones are nearly mid-depth of the neck, not high on the top edge.
Shawnee
member
Vern knows his stuff...
Here is the same deer with the wrapper removed. You can see the spinal column is centered in the neck and thus a great place to slip a bullet is right above the point of the shoulder or through the shoulders. The visible "landmark" that is key to finding the spinal chord is that shoulder blade. On a frontal or front quartering stance a bullet slipped into the "pocket: beside the shoulder blade is almost certain to take out the CNS and a shoulder on it''s way into the lungs - BUT - it still has to be more or less center (top to bottom).
You can also see the heart actually lies low in the chest - the lower third, at least, and an "above the elbow shot" (on this deer) would give the deer a heartache.
Here is the same deer with the wrapper removed. You can see the spinal column is centered in the neck and thus a great place to slip a bullet is right above the point of the shoulder or through the shoulders. The visible "landmark" that is key to finding the spinal chord is that shoulder blade. On a frontal or front quartering stance a bullet slipped into the "pocket: beside the shoulder blade is almost certain to take out the CNS and a shoulder on it''s way into the lungs - BUT - it still has to be more or less center (top to bottom).
You can also see the heart actually lies low in the chest - the lower third, at least, and an "above the elbow shot" (on this deer) would give the deer a heartache.
NonConformist
member
Like I said, not familiar w/ that particular method. Ive always gobe for the x on mine. Nice to know though!
Ben Shepherd
Member
Like Art says-
Shoot 'em in the white spot.
Shoot 'em in the white spot.
Shawnee
member
"I'm not a hunter, but I think I have an idea where the shot should go...."
Where on that Elk do you think a hunter should place their bullet ?
Where on that Elk do you think a hunter should place their bullet ?
Matt-J2
Member
Put one in his kneecap, and I'll bet he never 'forgets' to pay up again.
NonConformist
member
koja48
member
Couldn't copy the image (I shoot VERY well; I compute on a basic survival/frustration level). Heart would be slightly below mid-line, almost touching the shoulder. Spine would be just below the shoulder blades. I shoot heart/lungs (and I suspect Brother Vern and I have been around "a spell").
Vern Humphrey
Member
I don't know about being around for a spell, but I can remember when the Arkansas Fish & Game commission finally approved the atlatl. Up until then the only legal way to take a deer was by the "finger crooking" method.
koja48
member
Been around long enough & learned sufficiently, my Friend.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
Sorta long story. John's head-area shot reminded me.
I'd spooked a buck at close range, and Oops! my scope was on 7X. An ear, brown, more brown--and then brush. Grump. I figured he'd circle into the wind and uphill, eventually, so I went 90 degrees to his last-known direction and got crosswind of a saddle in a ridge about a quarter mile away, upwind from the scene of the encounter. About 20 minutes later he showed up.
When he stopped for a look around, I had an offhand shot of maybe sixty yards or so. Trouble was, he was in brush, and the "clearest" shot looked like shooting through a prickly pear pad that looked to be right next to him.
Bang. Plop.
So I head over to gut my buck. I go past a CLUMP of prickly pear, with five holes in five pads, all curving slightly upward and to the right. And another ten yards to Bucky!
But, one each dead deer. I looked and looked for a bullet hole and finally found it: Right in that little soft spot at the bottom of the ear. I figured that was exceptional dedication to duty for the Sierra 85-grain HPBT from a .243. Or what was left of the bullet, anyhow.
I'll take luck over skill, any day.
Art
I'd spooked a buck at close range, and Oops! my scope was on 7X. An ear, brown, more brown--and then brush. Grump. I figured he'd circle into the wind and uphill, eventually, so I went 90 degrees to his last-known direction and got crosswind of a saddle in a ridge about a quarter mile away, upwind from the scene of the encounter. About 20 minutes later he showed up.
When he stopped for a look around, I had an offhand shot of maybe sixty yards or so. Trouble was, he was in brush, and the "clearest" shot looked like shooting through a prickly pear pad that looked to be right next to him.
Bang. Plop.
So I head over to gut my buck. I go past a CLUMP of prickly pear, with five holes in five pads, all curving slightly upward and to the right. And another ten yards to Bucky!
But, one each dead deer. I looked and looked for a bullet hole and finally found it: Right in that little soft spot at the bottom of the ear. I figured that was exceptional dedication to duty for the Sierra 85-grain HPBT from a .243. Or what was left of the bullet, anyhow.
I'll take luck over skill, any day.
Art
Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow
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Now THIS thread, and the one on ruining your venison, are good and valuable threads with great info - thanks! Just wish I knew how to make my marks and re-post...I could probably figure it out.
ltetmhs
Member
koja48
member
I'd wait for the elk to turn a mite, then take it behind the front shoulder.
~z
Member
As for the elk, I gotta ask what is in the background? Almost looks like a trailer house. Think I'd figure that out first.
~z
~z
Shawnee
member
The Elk photo does look like it might be on the golf course at Estes Park or maybe one of the parks on the north end of Yellowstone. But no matter - the images are just to show shot placement for the sake of discussion.
stevelyn
Member
On the deer I'd shoot for the fold behind the shoulder just above the joint where the leg attaches to the shoulder. If the range was under 100 yrds I'd clean his ears. Same on the elk. No sense in damaging meat when you don't have to.
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