Head shot gone wrong

[NigelM]

For all those who think the head shot is a good idea...

Got a call this morning from the owner at one of my bits of ground a few miles down the road. Dead Fallow in the middle of his lawn. Now I know it wasn't one of mine as I haven't shot anything I have not retrieved. Terms of the lease however say I need to go tidy it up.

Arrived to find a Pricket with it's bottom jaw blown off. Looked like it had been there for a few days. Nothing in the stomach so I think it had probably starved having been shot by someone a week or so ago.

For those with a weak stomach please excuse the picture, but I think it's worth showing what a missed head shot and blown off bottom jaw looks like a week later when the poor beast finally expires. They might be flash but they are not clever when they go wrong.

 

[Bowland blades]

Its not a shot to take from choice and its got no bragging rights ! if you have a brain shot you generally have a neck shot beast facing away from the shooter , from the front presentation an angled chest or neck ( never wait for a head turn because it can swivel around without warning as the trigger is being released )
No more than 1 or 2% of what i have shot at the very most and we can include humane dispatch done at say 12ft of range in that with some poor beast that's already out the game and about to pass away

 

[Rory]

Definitely worthy of revealing the darker side of what things can turn out like if it goes wrong.

 

[patjack]

I posted this in 2019 also to highlight when it goes wrong... finally a safe shot many days after the first reports and put out of its misery. A very emotive subject but one that should be pondered.

 

[bottletopbill]

Thank god these animals are not made to suffer any longer well done guys for ending there misery.
Could some of these injuries been done by poachers ,
Just a thought.

 

[Pete6.5]

I could put more pictures up of deer that have been shot low with a chest shot and broken the top of the leg. I'm not saying a head shot is better.

 

[Night òwl]

Top job for sorting it , but I'm sure there are 100s of pictures of deer what's run off due to poor engine room shots also

 

[David Barker]

Never been a head shot person and its not about confidence as some would brag. Its about being humane and if you think nothing can go wrong with a shot you haven't shot enough. Chest or low kneck are my choice and that will remain till i hang my Roe bag up for the last time.


David

 

[Heym SR20]

If you are going to take head shots at least use a frangible type bullet that will pretty explode the head. And only take shots either between the eyes or in the back of the head.

With a frangible bullet eyes will come out and top of head blows off. Its not pretty but massive damage is done to brain and surrounding major arteries. A small high velocity bullet helps as well.

I have taken plenty of head shots on deer out on the open hill. It’s not pretty but maximises return on meat. But we always shot in pairs - one shooting for the head, the other backing up if it didn’t drop immediately. Then the partner moved to next deer whilst you reloaded.

But in these days of monolithic bullets, in woods and on smaller deer a bullet in the engine room is a much better choice and meat damage is minimal.

 

[devon deer stalker]

Well done for posting this, it's in my t&c's no head shots, period.

 

[ndjfb00]

This was another example, the round grazed its temple taking off tissue on one side and probably damaging one eye, I was called to it as a 'zombi' deer

 

[Rake Aboot]

Shot plenty in the heed and they all died.
It’s no different to a gut shot in my opinion.

I also think folk just love making a drama out of headshots.

 

[Malxwal]

Shot plenty in the heed and they all died.
It’s no different to a gut shot in my opinion.

I also think folk just love making a drama out of headshots.

So, you've never had a head shot go wrong, ever ?

 

[NP435]

I know a fellow here that found a mule deer in the same condition but alive while taking his son hunting. Father has no tag but does the moral correct thing and kills the deer. Reports his actions to the local game warden. 45 days elapse and this fellow is cited for taking game with no legal tag. In court he explains the whole thing to the judge(being a total moron) says " Sir you are not qualified to determine if that deer would live or die". I presume with no lower jaw eating would be impossible. The fine was stiff and the contempt the judge earned is beyond measure.

 

[John Gryphon]

I was talking to a meat culler here that is a head shot man. I asked what do you do when you eff up a head shot.
Good on him for not bullschittin and saying "I dont ever eff up"
But his answer was " I just keep shooting them until they are down, I dont give up, i`m not leaving a deer like that" (with results of a poor head shot)

The fine was stiff

There is/was a definite appeal in that decision by the idiot judge.

 

[bullet chucker]

I know a fellow here that found a mule deer in the same condition but alive while taking his son hunting. Father has no tag but does the moral correct thing and kills the deer. Reports his actions to the local game warden. 45 days elapse and this fellow is cited for taking game with no legal tag. In court he explains the whole thing to the judge(being a total moron) says " Sir you are not qualified to determine if that deer would live or die". I presume with no lower jaw eating would be impossible. The fine was stiff and the contempt the judge earned is beyond measure.

MONEY!

 

[Mungo]

I know a fellow here that found a mule deer in the same condition but alive while taking his son hunting. Father has no tag but does the moral correct thing and kills the deer. Reports his actions to the local game warden. 45 days elapse and this fellow is cited for taking game with no legal tag. In court he explains the whole thing to the judge(being a total moron) says " Sir you are not qualified to determine if that deer would live or die". I presume with no lower jaw eating would be impossible. The fine was stiff and the contempt the judge earned is beyond measure.

The stupidity of the judge is clear, but I have to ask: why did he report the kill?

 

[Rake Aboot]

So, you've never had a head shot go wrong, ever ?

Nope, never.

 

[Hunter300]

I am in agreement regarding animals suffering, it is NOT ON PERIOD!!!!!
I am also “somewhat” in agreement regarding no “head shots” “some times”.
However, my MAIN “hate” is BAD SHOT PLACEMENT!!!!!!!!!!
The AGE OLD rule IF YOU CAN’T shoot straight, DON’T HANDLE A RIFLE!!!!!!
It is our RESPONSIBILITY to make the right decision before “jumping” on the trigger!!!! We all want to take a “safe” shot ( make sure we hit the deer and ONLY the deer) some people stop there and THAT is the problem. If it’s not a safe AND humane shot, DO NOT TAKE IT!!!!
Why this “essay”? As a ex PH in SA I had to put down FAR TO MANY injured animals. Not just a head shot can go wrong, ANY SHOT can go wrong!

 

[sikamalc]

The above post is fine in many respects. However every man and women on this forum will have pulled a shot at times, or will do if they shoot enough. True any shot can, and does go wrong. Sorting the issue out after the shot is paramount importance, and for the welfare and benefit of any animal.
But at days end in my opinion, head shots should not be taken unless the animal is very near and looking straight at you or away. In that instance its hit or miss. Side on heads shots at distance is stupid, and has a high chance of going wrong, no matter how good you think you are.