In our Deer Emergency work in the New Forest area we have had 305 calls to date and in those that needed dispatch only 3 were finished using a knife...all does...we also have captive bolts available when a firearm is not on...
Dispatching deer with a knife?
- Thread starter steve dunham
- Start date
I always wince when using a knife for dispatch is advised. I accept that there are situations where it is the best or only option and I have had to do it on more occasions than I would like, for example when a firearm was not available following RTA. Using a knife is bad for the animal as it may cause unnecessary suffering, it is bad for the operator as the risk of injury is greater and it is bad for bystanders and public opinion as it can be pretty gruesome when arterial blood starts flowing. Whilst penetrating the spinal cord through the foramen magnum sounds ok in practice but is technically very challenging and needs a very thin knife bladeAs others have said it is not always safe to use a rifle due to the risk of over-penetration and subsurface ricochet. A shotgun can be a handy tool but is hard to keep one to hand when stalking with a rifle. A captive bolt would be far better than a knife but should be followed by pithing or bleeding
Folding .410 with a moderator even better, or to reduce kit, a reduced load cast lead round in the same calibre as the rifle (bullet carried separately for obvious reasons)
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
This is why stalkers need small handguns.
Motard
Well-Known Member
Can not bring any handgun while hunting here in Italy if not for the (few) persons who has a self defense permission (yearly request a lot papers & hassel a real need). Two guns in different calibers are ok as well as a drilling or a billing (7-7-12 cal or over under etc) that could work but are not the best for shooting far.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
Here we go. The ever present but very surprising anti gun rhetoric on a shooting site.Nooooo, just some want thembut that won't happen thank God
Way to go standing up for our sport .
I stand up for it a lot just don't think people need to have their pistols back with the poor excuse they shoot deer.
Move to the US and you can have as many as you like.
8x57
Distinguished Member
If going down the cast bullet route you will have to be certain that your loads are significantly reduced. With this in mind I did some penetration tests with a 175grn lead bullet and a fairly light Trailboss load out of my 8x57irs rifle and was totally taken by surprise at the amount of penetration into softwood achieved. I now know why hard cast Buffalo Bullets (the company) are so recommended in north America as a defence round against bears and other large predators.
Frangible bullets would need to be ones specifically designed for the task. Different people have totally different perceptions of the word frangible in relation to bullets. Some consider a jacketed hollow point that expands greatly as frangible, it's not. Truly frangible pistol and rifle bullets are made from sintered polymer or light metals and basically turn to dust on impact with a hard surface. They are usually used by the military and the police in training environments.
I'm not familiar with the HADSafe round that you mention would I be correct in assuming that it's basically similar to a Hatton breaching round?
Only done it twice, once “commando” style around throat, the other, the classic bleed technique. Neither was easy and the strength of the young roe was surprisingly given the shot damage. Like @ColinBr It took me a few minutes to come to terms with what I had done and suffice to say, in the only instance since, I’ve elected for a second shot coup de grace. No way would I countenance the knife on a larger beast.
A chap I know very well has a lot of stock but had never put any of his stock down, so I went with my .410 and did a dry run for him, he shoots and has sgc also a .410.
A week later text "had one with a broken leg, did what you showed me, went well thank you very much for showing me"
8x57
Distinguished Member
I've done it less than that, just the once in my case and that was a roe also.
For me using a knife to despatch is a last resort.
I do it occasionally on the road with roe that have been hit by cars, and also when stalking as it saves my ears (point blank shots in close confines are loud!)
A knife in the atlas joint is much less messy, and also avoids horrible cry from deer when you slit the throat sometimes. It's not a great look turning up to work spattered with blood. I'm not wonderful at finding the atlas joint, but as mentioned above you can practice on dead deer when stalking
A knife in the atlas joint is much less messy, and also avoids horrible cry from deer when you slit the throat sometimes. It's not a great look turning up to work spattered with blood. I'm not wonderful at finding the atlas joint, but as mentioned above you can practice on dead deer when stalking
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
You are aware this is a thread about dispatching injured deer whilst stalking ?I stand up for it a lot just don't think people need to have their pistols back with the poor excuse they shoot deer.
Move to the US and you can have as many as you like.
You thing dispatching injured deer in the absolutely safest manner is a poor reason ?
I stand by my assumption.
One of the rounds that I use is a .38 SP with .410 shot...out of my S&W 686 .357 Mag...really good compromise ...it leaves the barrel as a solid mass at close range ..no ricochet risk...I also use a folding .410 with Hushpower mod..light and effective..
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Personally I would only do it with certain deer.
Hinds, calves , Does and and Kids , possibly Roe Bucks or manageable spikers
Anything with antlers its not worth the risk on being hurt with antlers .
I have dispatched many deer with just a knife at the back of the Atlas or into the centre of the chest, however, I watched someone as a kid attempt to dispatch a stag and it went wrong. I have also witnessed a guest (they know who they are) who is an accomplished and competent stalker, of whom walked up to a stag they shot to try dispatch with a knife ( I told them not to) stuck the knife in, as he did so the stag got up throwing him to the ground and then attempting to run off with his knife then dropping and I followed up after with a shot close range. The knife was never seen again.
I have seen something similar happen with a Sika hind and again the hind did pass away but that expensive Martini knife was never seen again.
I also had the displeasure of hearing a stalker that was with us causing a Roe Buck to scream with his multiple attempts of dispatching with a knife.
I have around 2 to 3 call outs a week, from SSPCA or Police to dispatch RTA deer and always just use the .22lr or 17hmr or even the .223.
I know ammo is expensive and you my have to ruin a good head but humane comes first.
Shoot it dont put your life at risk or risk hurting the deer more.
Just my thoughts.
Rake Aboot
Well-Known Member
I know of two local stalkers who have lost an eye.
Stalkers safety is not taken seriously by police forces in my opinion.
Stalkers safety is not taken seriously by police forces in my opinion.
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