Shots at game?

[captdavid]

I don't really want to stir the pot, but this probably will. Where I hunt in Texas we hunt on land that is fenced and is restricted to hunters only. We know where others are hunting. We occasionally see the land owner. 90% of our hunting is out of permanent blinds or moveable tripods. We hunt over feeders, food plots, or where there are a confluence of game trails. Most of these are placed 75-125yds from where the deer are expected to be. All have at least a forearm rest for the rifle. Some have an elbow rest also. These are usually located on shooting lanes, we call senderos and shots can be as long as one feels comfortable making.

Given my conditions, I have never shot at an unwounded running deer, or taken a Texas heart shot. I used to, on rare occasions, taken a head shot. This stopped when I saw an emaciated buck trying to drink, when his lower jaw had been blown away. The instant killing radius on this shot is about the size of a plum. Neck shooting stopped about the same time. It's about the size and shape about like a small egg plant. To paraphrase an American gun writer: It's not when everything goes right, it's when everything goes wrong. I prefer the behind the shoulder shot. The killing radius of this shot is about the size of one of your footballs. I aim 1/3 up and right behind the shoulder, knowing that it might run up to 100yds or so. They seldom run that far. I mainly hunt does and spikes for table fair. These are fairly common and I can pass on some shots. In most instances I won't take a shot over 150yds or less. knowing that it might run up to 100yds or so. They seldom run that far. Some places we hunt, deer are extremely hard to track, even with a decent blood trail, due to dense brush or elevation changes. In these cases I'll try to take out at least one shoulder, not shoot, or not hunt that area. In the past, when trophy hunting, I always tried to take out both shoulders. It's no more deadly than a behind the shoulder heart lung shot, just anchors them quicker. There is room for a miss from ones aim point.

As far as distance, we practice using a 6" gong. I seldom practice off hand shooting, because I just don't have the need for it. once it gets much beyond 60yds or so, I'm not very good. Most of our practice is with a front rest. With time to calm down, I feel pretty comfortable out to 175, maybe 200yds. Beyond that I need an elbow rest and preferably front and rear sand bags to my personal Max of 300yds.

For most of my deer hunting I use a 7x57 with a fixed 7X scope, shooting 150partitions @ 2700fps. My back up is a 30x06, with a 3x9 shooting 165 partitions @2850fps. Both are about 2" high at 100yds dead on @ 200, -3" @ 250 and -9" @ 300. I believe in KISS, no adjusting knobs, just aim and shoot.
capt david


senderos senderos texas hunting - Bing images

Blind bag Caldwell Blind Window Front Shooting Rest Bag Nylon - MPN: 247261

something new I'm going to try Caldwell DeadShot FieldPod Aluminum - MPN: 488000

 

[enfieldspares]

The Texas heart shot is the one where you basically shoot it up it's arse yes? On the belief that the bullet will travel along the spine and thus kill the animal that way? Or am I confusing that with something else?

 

[captdavid]

you are correct. Not for me unless game is wounded. I've never tried one. capt david

 

[Silvius]

I have always wanted to know why such a shot is called a "Texas heart shot"? Is it just that it is most popular in Texas or is there more to it? I have never tried it because I am imagining it would ruin most of the good meat?

 

[potshotpat]

I have always wanted to know why such a shot is called a "Texas heart shot"? Is it just that it is most popular in Texas or is there more to it? I have never tried it because I am imagining it would ruin most of the good meat?

I believe the Texas heart shot is the one shot that bow hunters (aim !) prefer.

 

[captdavid]

I would guess tnat it was a joke that the meaning has been lost. capt david

 

[S&L7x57]

I see nothing wrong in what you have set out, it mirrors my own belief and practise pretty accurately. You describe a sensibly approach, understanding your own limitations and abilities. Good on you. My go to rifle is a 7x57 also.
My only difference is that my back up is a 270W and zero at 1" high @100 yds as my group has to cope with everything from muntjak to red and I don't shoot out beyond a 1" drop below line of site (about 170 yds) unless something has gone badly wrong and then I would hold over.

 

[captdavid]

S&L7x57
I have a 280, that I rarely use. It's on the rare occasions that I might have longer shots. I haven't shot at a deer over 125-150yds in years. We do have feral hogs, that I will shoot at longer ranges. They average, body size, about the same as our deer, which are the same size as fallow. Therefore the simple sighting setup. My best sets up his 7-08, obviously inferior to the 7x57 the same as you. We argue the merits of that all the time. He just cant see the superiority of my arguments capt david

 

[ejg]

This year I had quite a few long shots, mainly to get deer in plantations where other legal methods would not work. Taking a long shot from the other side of a valley is often the safest option. For the 9 deer I shot since sept. Average was ~250m. Later in the season we might do more walk through rough terrain and shots are more in the 20-100m region.
edi

 

[Dunwaters]

The Texas heart shot is the one where you basically shoot it up it's arse yes? On the belief that the bullet will travel along the spine and thus kill the animal that way? Or am I confusing that with something else?

I did it once to a wounded stag, scored a perfect bullseye, it dropped immediately . Not a mark on it except for the original hit.

 

[User00033]

Capt David
No offence, but what you describe sounds to me like shooting captive animals in a wildlife park.
A very different proposition to hunting wild and unrestricted animals on foot, in the woods, on the tops, in the snow or in the desert, at whatever the range is required.
There are many different ways to secure game animals. Guns, bows, dogs. All have their ardent fans and equally ardent detractors. How others kills their game is how they choose to do it.
One thing I have learnt having lived on four continents is that there are great differences in hunting practices between the various countries, local practices are often very much at odds with those in another part of the world, despite the fact that the two locations potentially host exactly the same game animals and the shooters speak the same language! And shoot with the same guns! So other than describing what you do, where you are, I don’t really see the point of what you’re saying.

 

[devon deer stalker]

Am I correct t in thinking there is no public land in Texas?
Of course when you mention fenced in area's how big are these area's, some are pretty big I imagine, so not much difference from hunting in Africa for fenced in animals?As for the Texas heart shot, I thought it was a myth, until I witnessed a Texan try it on an Elk!
He said to me, 'I often take that shot, messes em right up' I should say!
Cheers
Richard

 

[captdavid]

dodgyknees,
I suppose it depends on one's definition of captive and how it pertains to the ability to find and take game. My intent was more on ethical shooting. In Texas, most land is private or corporate owned. The state sets limits on 'native' species. The state sets the rules, but if it's on your land, it belongs to you. 'Exotics' i.e., sika, fallow, Axis, Reds, etc. are owned by the landowner, even if they just escaped from a neighbor. Most Hunting land in the western part of the state is in larger particles and ranched, not farmed for crops. These ranches can be hundreds of thousands of acres. of course most are smaller. Most of those are 'under low fence,(free roaming) barbed or sheep /goat wire. Some is under 'high fence.' This is 8' game proof fencing. obviously these ranches can be large or small. In my opinion, to be fair, animals hunted on small 2,3,4,5, hundred acre ranches, are not my cup of tea. Depending on geography and cover, once one gets bigger than a thousand acres, while technically captive, it doesn't make them any easier to hunt.
My hunting is divided between low fence and high fence. On the low fenced ranches there are feral hogs, native deer and a few exotics. on the high fenced ranches there can be a mix of exotics and natives. Although I have hunted smaller the ranch I have hunted for the last five years is 4600 acres. I can hunt Elk, Axis, Fallow, Sika, Black Buck and Scimitar Horned Antelope. There are also native whitetails and hogs. The cost for an animal is the same as on low fence hunting. another ranch that has red deer is 3600 acres. Due to a friend of a friend, I have a chance to hunt a management 4-5 year old red stag 8pt. It's priced right. It's on a 1600acre ranch. All of these ranches have thick cover, valleys and hills. Were it not for Game Ranches, lots of hunting opportunities would be lost. capt david

 

[CarlW]

Am I correct t in thinking there is no public land in Texas?
Of course when you mention fenced in area's how big are these area's, some are pretty big I imagine, so not much difference from hunting in Africa for fenced in animals?As for the Texas heart shot, I thought it was a myth, until I witnessed a Texan try it on an Elk!
He said to me, 'I often take that shot, messes em right up' I should say!
Cheers
Richard

Africa is a very big place. South Africans and Namibians shoot within fences (as is necessary in their local context); however, most of the rest of us hunt in open, unfenced areas, the scale of which make any European or American hunting ground seem like someone's back garden. Each to their own, I guess.

Kind regards,

Carl

 

[captdavid]

carl,
lets go to another post

'Captive deer
capt david

 

[CarlW]

carl,
lets go to another post

'Captive deer
capt david

We'll all end up hating one another! Too emotive a subject, Captain: I regret opening my big mouth already...

 

[CarlW]

We'll all end up hating one another! Too emotive a subject, Captain: I regret opening my big mouth already...

Although, just before I go to sleep, I do get disappointed how Brits in particular conflate 'Africa' and 'South Africa' when it comes to hunting. Canned lions, for instance, are a country-specific (SA) question; not a continent-wide one. It's a bit like assuming Scotland is full of bullfighters just because - for now, at least - it happens to be in Europe.

See what you've done, Capt!

Night night.

Carl