Wounded Muntjac

Thank you for sharing so honestly. I suspect this has absolutely nothing to do with your marksmanship ability. Hands up who has not executed poorly in the heat of the moment? It happens to most if not all of us unfortunately....
 
Most dogs can follow a blood trail if partially trained but run the risk of getting injured if a shot deer decides to fight for its life. I’m very careful with mine because she just doesn’t have that killer instinct in her.
In fairness even fully trained dogs get killed tackling deer - you can never mitigate for all the risks when you send your dog forward. I’m lucky it hasn’t happened to me or mine. Also I am dubious of what training you can really do to train a dog to tackle deer, some of it they have to work out themselves
 
In fairness even fully trained dogs get killed tackling deer - you can never mitigate for all the risks when you send your dog forward. I’m lucky it hasn’t happened to me or mine. Also I am dubious of what training you can really do to train a dog to tackle deer, some of it they have to work out themselves
Siggy I think it's in their nature, either the dog has it or they don't. My first GWP definitely had it, he was your typical GWP crocodile that would crush the throat of any deer. My current GWP is now an old dog at 13 years of age and I've always called him a total wuss as he's a far more placid nature than the first. None the less he can have his moments and while I'm never likely to ask him to hold a deer now because he's an old man, he still comes to life at the merest scent of a deer and I still think that I would have a problem stopping him from trying. As they say there's nothing like an old fool.
 
Sadly, observing poor practice on too many occasions led me to my choice. ‘It happens’ was a comment voiced too often for my liking. An unsatisfactory shot needs own reflection and deconstructing at every point of the process to understand and learn what human performance factors led to that point so the same scenario can be avoided. Ethically, no bad thing.
Stick to your targets mate, we don't all shoot the bollocks off a gnat at 1000.

Things happen - deer don't always go down, don't die, sticks slip in the mud as you're pulling the trigger. It is what it is and if anyone who shoots deer say they've never lost one they're either lying or haven't shot enough 🤷

Like @Tim.243 says, targets don't move. Deer do. I'm sure the lads kicking himself enough which is 'reflection' and he's asking + recieving advice for the future to make him a better stalker
 
Siggy I think it's in their nature, either the dog has it or they don't. My first GWP definitely had it, he was your typical GWP crocodile that would crush the throat of any deer. My current GWP is now an old dog at 13 years of age and I've always called him a total wuss as he's a far more placid nature than the first. None the less he can have his moments and while I'm never likely to ask him to hold a deer now because he's an old man, he still comes to life at the merest scent of a deer and I still think that I would have a problem stopping him from trying. As they say there's nothing like an old fool.
My old GWP came out of retirement when my new one had an eye injury. She got called out for a fallow which she tried to hold by the neck like she used too. Unfortunately her canines had worn down and she could get no purchase. She was very confused and held the deer at bay for the dispatch shoot
 
I am always wary of the notion of putting a dog onto a wounded but mobile muntjac buck - there is the opportunity of some serious injury from those tusks.
I learnt this the hard way, put my dog onto a wounded MJ buck he gave her a nasty slashing wound to her torso. After a hefty vets bill I thought she'd have learnt her lesson, but now she hits them harder than ever when stalking MJ.

A good dog, that helps with the stalk AND the tracking is worth it's weight in gold.
 
Muntjac don't hang around like roe so you don’t get a lot of time for a broadside shot and they tend to keep close to cover. My only advice with Muntjac is to try and take the shoulders out to stop them getting into cover after being shot. There's not a lot of meat on the shoulders anyway.
 
Would you have lost as much sleep over it if it had been a fox, a squirrel or a rabbit? And if not, why not?

I think the lesson here is we should raise the standard of all quarry- and feel guily about all wounding (in the hope we learn and take fewer risks next time)- rather than lower that of deer to "vermin".

Not judging the OP- it happens to us all if you shoot enough deer.
 
Having scanned this thread the one big mistake after the initial shot was time. Good reason best practice suggest 15 minutes. In the old days it was a cigarette or two. If you have any doubt leave it longer.

Most animals if wounded will quickly lie up. Then they stiffen up and most importantly adrenaline levels drop right off. If you can leave it in peace for an hour or two if not longer especially if it has gone into thick cover. Even more so if its the sort of animal that can cause serious damage.

When you do follow up come in from down wind if you can. If it has gone into thick cover consider circling it to see if it has gone out the other side. A good well trained dog is always very useful, but keep it on a leash unless perfectly trained. Male deer have sharp pointy bits and can cause big vet bills very quickly.

Go slowly- when you see the animal get another bullet into it asap. Good reason to keep dog back.

Personally I would avoid letting my dog chase down a wounded animal. Mostly if you leave it a good while you will recover the animal either dead or very weak.

There is a balance on an injured animal between putting it out of its misery quickly but causing extreme stress versus letting it pass away with minimal additional stress.

But the anybody’s stalking career sooner or later it won’t go to plan through no real fault of your own - a rushed shot, or being pressured by a guide or cull targets or a long spell of absence or you have spent / given up lots to be in the position to shoot that animal, or the animal sees the muzzle flash and instinctively flinches and has moved a few inches before bullet hits.

Its much the best to think these things through and ask the questions and consider what you will do.

Personally the best course is if in doubt, don’t squeeze the trigger.
 
Personally I wouldn’t be using a 223 for deer.Yes its legal for Munties and CWD but I’d favour the 22-250 all day long.Also , if it was in the bad old days you could have just smoked a ciggie and waited ,he might have just curled up and died without the adrenalin rush!
 
I question the value of discussing issues like this on open forum. It's ammunition for the antis and there's sod all to be gained by public hand-wringing. I'd say talk to your mates but don't provide potential disgrace for all involved.
Angry of Dover.
 
I question the value of discussing issues like this on open forum. It's ammunition for the antis and there's sod all to be gained by public hand-wringing. I'd say talk to your mates but don't provide potential disgrace for all involved.
Angry of Dover.
Dont fully agree with your point. Antis are anti shooting regardless and the general public are largely ignorant of the process.

If we only post the good bits nobody learns and after all this is a shooting forum so to a degree..sod the anti shooting lot.

We all know stuff goes wrong, nice when people have the balls to post about it.
 
As regards non shooters reading these sorts of threads, I would suggest that would get a good impression that the vast majority of hunters do not want to have a wounded animal, we all strive to ensure a quick and clean kill, but we also accept that things can and do go wrong, and thus have a plan in place to minimise any potential suffering.

But inevitably there will be occasions when we don’t get a satisfactory outcome, and they tend to haunt us for a long time.
 
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