London Jaeger
Well-Known Member
If the client cannot make an accurate heart-lung shot, surely upping the ante to a far smaller target of a neck or head shot is a recipe for (more) disaster?
This is why I don’t like chest shots.
- Thread starter Dunwaters
- Start date
I have to say that the "chest" shots sound to have been misplaced. It is amazing how many regular deer stalkers do not understand the anatomy of the thoracic cavity and how close the rumen lies to the point of aim that most people use as a behind the shoulder shot (ie behind the front leg 1/3 to 1/2 way up the body). Saying that we all get it wrong sometimes, me included!!
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
You are bang on the ball dunwater.
What happened over your weekend with those guests could have happened to anyone shooting Sika, I've had lads down here with me that usually shoot nothing but reds and fallow and I've often seen them doubting their shot placement when a Sika doesn't drop on the spot. A few minutes searching with the spotter will usually result in them complimenting the "hardness" of the Sika compared to other species. Sometimes it might take nearer an hour than a few minutes and a couple of times we had to come back the next day when we were fresher to find them. They are hard enough to find when the ground is soft.
Maybe there is a similar thread on a German hunting forum telling of a trip that ended in lost deer due to no professional stalker just a blokes mate doing a favour?
Dunwaters
Well-Known Member
Nobody did anything wrong as far as I could see, distances were reasonable the hits were good and the marksmanship was adequate, what we got was different results from a number of shots into the chest/shoulder area with an unusually high percentage of losses. Had they been doing something obviously wrong or shooting badly I could have dealt with it, but they weren’t.
The bullets were 140Gr 7mm in the 7x57R and 7x65R, 140Hornady SST in the .270 and 120Gr Barnes TSX copper in the 6.5, all good reliable rounds.
I’ve had similar issues myself with chest shots in the past to the extent that I rarely do it anymore, but never before have I seen such a high percentage of runners and losses.
Maybe there is a similar thread running in a couple of EU countries, I hope it gets a bit of a debate going, because I’ve tried several times previously to get them to at least consider shooting deer somewhere else. They’re quite happy to pop boar forward of the shoulder but not deer.
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
You say that but please explain how a front on shot at the chest is a “chest” shot? It’s up there with a “Texas heart shot” for simply getting a bullet into a deer, not one that anyone in their right mind would consider for anything anyone would want to gralloch or subsequently eat? Or am I missing something about your description?
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
(That’s not intended as a dig by the way, as someone else has said your honest report is good, and has sparked various questions but I can’t help but feel something isn’t quite right with expectations of outcomes with that shot placement?)
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
Front on in the chest with very few issues….? Hmm.More deer are killed with chest shots than any otheralso shot plenty deer front on in the chest, very few issues
Look on the bright side: All these deer are either dead or dying which is a tick box for DEFRA, and the outfitter has enjoyed revenue c/o those Clients.
What’s not to like?
K
What’s not to like?
K
Yeah you are missing a lot.
If you don’t know the difference between shooting a deer in the chest that is on higher ground than you are when you are taking the shot and shooting a deer up the hole because you don’t have the experience or confidence to not take that shot you need to do a bit more research.
billy_boyle_2010
Well-Known Member
I suspect you shoot/guide more deer shot in a week than I do in a year so I'm genuinely trying to learn here-
Given that accuracy/shot placement was only "adequate"- and the chest shot is the biggest kill zone on a deer- what solution/alternative kill zone do you propose ?
As far as I can see- the only alternative is a neck/head shot- which along with a % of dear dropping on the floor, and some clean misses- will lead to a significant number of horrific woundings.
Very happy to be educated here
140gr what in the two 7mm rifles?
The SST has a reputation the world over for poor penetration if it hits bone at a quartering angle, especially at high velocity / close range.
The Barnes 120gr TSX will perform fine at close range assuming it passes through enough muscle and bone to initiate decent expansion. However my experience of this type of bullet with the quartering shot is that you need to be very sure of your angles to ensure you connect with the hilar or high shoulder, else you will get a pass through that may not deal immediately fatal consequences - i.e. long runner. Again there’s a reputation the world over of this type of bullet producing inadequate wounding in behind-the-shoulder (rear lung) shots.
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience.
lesson number 1, never take a shot on an animal unless you are sure it will land where you aimed it.I suspect you shoot/guide more deer shot in a week than I do in a year so I'm genuinely trying to learn here-
Given that accuracy/shot placement was only "adequate"- and the chest shot is the biggest kill zone on a deer- what solution/alternative kill zone do you propose ?
As far as I can see- the only alternative is a neck/head shot- which along with a % of dear dropping on the floor, and some clean misses- will lead to a significant number of horrific woundings.
Very happy to be educated here
Yes very few issues, no one I know wouldn't shoot a deer in the chest front on.
StephenToast
Well-Known Member
If having othet deer about is a problem your dog is poorly trained.
billy_boyle_2010
Well-Known Member
Indeed that's what we should all strive for. But to avoid being preachy (as the OPs clients didn't do it!)- I'm trying to focus on positive solutions
I have heard an experienced ghili once advocate a front on chest shot in 243 knowing that the bullet will almost always stop before it hits the guts.
Perhaps it was with a v familior estate rifle/bullet combo- perhaps with other stipulations (range, deer size etc).
deerstalker.308
Well-Known Member
So where does the bullet end up then?
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