I recently saw a post on a Kentucky deer hunting Facebook page, where someone asked the following:
“Thoughts
to ponder…quick humane kills, or shoot and hope it’s wounded enough to find
later?”
As I read this, I didn’t know what
to think. Every shot I take, I hope for a quick, humane kill. I want the animal
to drop in its tracks and die quickly so there is no suffering. I responded
with the following:
“I
think (well, hope) that every hunter aims for a quick, humane kill. But unfortunately,
it doesn’t always work out that way. And it’s not always the hunter’s fault or
bad judgment. In the fraction of a second between the arrow leaving the rest or
the bullet leaving the barrel, the animal can turn, step, jump, etc. An
unnoticeable twig or blade of grass can deflect an arrow or bullet, causing a
bad shot. It happens. Even the most experienced hunters don’t always make the
perfect shot. But when a shot goes wrong, it’s important to learn from the
mistake and be conscious of that for the next hunt. Every trip to the field or
woods can be a learning experience.”
This question and my response got
me thinking about the perfect shot and all of the things that can go wrong. Is
there really such a thing as the “perfect shot,” and does it depend on the
weapon, angle, animal, time of day, weather, and, of course, the hunter? To me,
the perfect shot is double-lung pass through, the deer drops in its tracks and
dies within seconds of the impact. This is immediate, and the least amount of
suffering. But it doesn’t always happen that way.
There are so many factors that
hunters should account for when getting ready to take their shot, and ways that
we can prepare before we ever step foot into the field.
Below are tips on how to prepare
before the hunt and what to look out for while in the field.
Before the hunt
·
Practice, practice, practice! Probably the most
important tip of all. When you practice at different distances, angles, positions,
wearing different clothes, and in different weather and lighting conditions,
you improve your chances of making a good shot when in the field.
·
Look at hunting magazines or game-camera
pictures and practice pointing out the best shot placement on the pictures of
animals. There are usually pictures at many different angles and you can judge
where the bullet or arrow will hit.
·
Prep your hunting area by clearing shooting
lanes, removing tall grass and low-hanging branches, and any other brush that
could get in the way of a bullet or arrow.
·
Range find landmarks, such as trees, around your
tree stand or blind prior to the season and mark them with paint or ribbons. In
the event you don’t have a range finder with you during the hunt, or don’t have
time to use it, you have a starting point for determining your distance.
·
Familiarize yourself with the animal’s anatomy
so you can visualize where the vital organs are in relation to shoulder blades,
ribs and non-vital organs.
Bow hunting tips
·
If possible, go to a 3-D archery range that has
different animal targets to practice shooting. This provides a more realistic
scenario since many times they are set up in the woods, allowing you to judge
distances and shoot at different angles.
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| Practice at 3-D archery ranges for a more realistic shooting scenario. |
·
Account for any arch when you shoot your arrows.
When looking from your tree stand or blind, you must be aware of not only
what’s in your shooting lane when looking through the sights, but also what’s
above your line of sight.
I learned this the hard way! I shoot a Mission Craze bow at 55 lbs., and
at 40 and 50 yards, the arrow has a pretty high arch. During my first Idaho elk
hunt, a cow elk stepped out perfectly broadside at 50 yards. I got ready, aimed
and fired. Then watched my arrow hit a branch and fly left. Then watched the
elk run off. Lesson learned.
·
If shooting from a ground blind, make sure your
arrow clears the opening in the window so the arrow doesn’t hit once it’s
released. Remember, your sight pins are higher than the arrow. Just because it
looks clear, doesn’t mean it actually is.
·
Avoid pulling back too early to prevent muscle
fatigue if the deer doesn’t step into range or a clear spot fast enough.
·
Make sure your broadheads are razor sharp. Dull
broadheads will push or pass by blood vessels instead of severing them, likely
resulting in little or no blood trail. Sharp broadheads will result in better
pass through and bleeding, resulting in a quicker kill and better blood
trail.
 |
|
Razor-sharp
broadheads ensure a complete pass through and good blood trail.
|
·
Be conscious of the wind. Wind can have a major
effect on where your arrow lands. If you’re hunting on a windy day, try to wait
for a break in the wind before shooting.
·
Invest in your own bow. If you’re going to bow
hunt, you should have your own bow. Every archer shoots differently and if
you’re using someone else’s bow that was set up for them and their shooting
style, you’re likely to shoot inconsistently and you’ll have a higher chance of
bad shot placement.
Gun hunting tips
·
If you’ve traveled with your gun prior to a hunt,
make a practice shot to ensure the scope hasn’t been bumped in transit. A small
bump can have a huge impact in a good shot to the lungs or a bad shot to the
guts, or a total miss.
·
Make sure you have a steady rest. Whether you
use a tree, shooting sticks or sit in a position to use your own body, you
should be able to hold the gun steady with very little movement in any
direction.
 |
|
Use shooting sticks for a steady rest, but be sure to
practice with them prior to your hunt.
|
·
Wait for the right shot. Just because you’re
using a gun, doesn’t mean you can take any shot. Straight-on shots are
difficult because the target area is very small. It’s best to wait for the deer
to turn to get an angled or broadside shot.
·
Shoot at a distance you feel comfortable with.
If you’ve never shot 200 yards, are you willing to risk shooting a deer when it
steps out at 200 yards? If you do, make sure you have a solid rest and a
reasonable amount of time to get set up and aim properly.
·
Don’t rush your shot. Rushed shots often times
end in bad placement. Steady yourself and your gun, look through the scope and
confirm there is nothing that could deflect the bullet, such as twigs, fence
wire or tall grass. Once you’re ready, squeeze the trigger slowly and don’t
jerk the gun.
·
Make sure your gun barrel clears your rest or
blind. Remember that your scope is higher than your barrel, and just because
you have a clear visual through the scope, doesn’t mean your barrel is clear.
Regardless of the weapon of choice, another huge factor in
making a good shot is getting your nerves under control when it’s time to
focus. I admit that when I see a deer from my stand, I feel a rush of
adrenaline take over. I take a deep breath and tell myself to calm down.
Huntress View team member Jenny Burden knows well what effect nerves can have
on shooting. In regards to a recent deer hunt, she said, “I was so nervous that
I focused through my non-dominant eye and missed way wide.” It happens to the
best of us!
And remember, some things can’t be
avoided no matter how much you practice and how diligent you are about making
the perfect shot. Unfortunately, that comes along with hunting. It’s the harsh
reality hunters face, and one that isn’t usually shown on hunting shows on TV. Animals
move when you don’t expect it, they duck arrows and bullets, and turn at just
the right (or wrong!) moment. Huntress View founder Andrea Haas had a deer duck
her arrow, which resulted in a shot to the spine and required a follow-up, close-range
shot. Team member Emily Worthy Edwards wasn’t as lucky to get a follow-up shot
when her target buck ducked and turned, resulting in a gut shot. She followed
the blood trail until it ended, and continued to search for three days, unable
to recover the deer.
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|
All wasn’t lost for Emily. Weeks after
her shot, while walking her hunting property, she found the deer carcass and
was at least able to recover the antlers.
|
Ultimately, a lethal shot should be
the goal of all hunters. It’s important to work hard to achieve that “perfect
shot” with every arrow or bullet that you release, but it’s also important to
understand that not everything is within your control.
Happy hunting, and good luck!
Fantastic article!
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