treatment of wounded animal
 

new hunter here. first hunt a couple weeks ago. witnessed a wounded , downed deer shot at close range with 270WIN to ends its life. My question: in such a case, would it not be proper to use a small-caliber sidearm to end the creature's suffering ? Would a shot to the head be inappropriate, or inadvisable ? Please assume the animal is downed and there is no question of an errent 2nd shot; also please do not get derailed on the legal question of carrying a sidearm, concealed or not, for hunting purposes. Thanks for your advice.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Maybe a .22 was available.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Use whatever weapon you have. Here in Texas, we are allowed to carry a sidearm, and I used a .22 pistol to dispatch my son's first doe, after he shot her a little too far back and a little too low.

I guess whether to finish a wounded deer off with a headshot is dependent on what you plan to do with it. If it's a trophy buck, and you plan to do a shoulder mount, and you're only allowed to have a rifle or slug gun, then a head shot as a finisher would kinda mess things up...

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Head shot sounds messy to me. Why not the heart?

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Use whatever you have at the time.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

In my case, my son had tracked his wounded doe for 100 yards through thickets of cactus, etc. The doe had hidden in some brush and the only clear shot to finish her was a head shot. The .22 didn't make a mess at all.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

If another smaller weapon is available yes but just to save the meat. The head is messy but effective and the point to a second shot is to end the suffering as soon as possible. The deer cannot tell the difference between a 270 and a 22 if shot with an instant kill shot.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

I would just bring out a .22 pistol or something small like that and use that to relieve the animal.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

in ohio we can't carry another weapon. so i would have to slug him with a 12ga at close range. and would heart shot. head would not be an option with that gun.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Head shot, hunting rifle. Heart only if you need tosave the mount. Your responsibilty is to the deer at that point. Kill quick and without question. Besides, at the time you walk up to a downed deer, its about to get messy anyway.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Head shot with at .22 isn't messy - done it a couple of times.

Had a friend who used to do it with a fixed blade knife - cut the throat.... I prefer a well placed first shot. If a second shot is necessary, a .22 to the head.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

If i can get close enough i would cut the throat but if thats not possible to get that claose then a good shot to the neck to break the spine is my next choice.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

I'm telling you guys.....rear naked choke!!!!:DYou know what they say....60% of the time, it works every time!!!!

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

I would highly recommend a .22 to the head. Very effective, and no mess. Shoot from behind, right in the back of the head, or just stick it right in the ear. I would not recommend center fire rifle, or shotgun slug to head. Very messy, eyes popping out, jaws disintegrating, brains splattering..... If your main gun is all you've got and a second shot is absolutely necessary, get a broadside angle and shoot right squarely through the rib cage. In WI, it's legal to carry a handgun while deer hunting. Technically not legal to use the .22 for deer hunting, but I've used mine for dispaches a few times.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

I one used my 44mag. Just behind the ear from 3 yards. It was quick and amazingly not messy at all.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

Cant use a 22 in Michigan but my uncle carries his Glock 9mm for just this purpose, not messy at all.

RE: treatment of wounded animal
 

You certainly can carry a .22 as a side-arm while hunting for deer in Michigan. You just can't use it for hunting deer. Dispatching a deer is a different thing. I am not sure if it would be illegal to use the side-arm to dispatch the deer but it certainly would not be WRONG or morally suspect. And I seriously doubt that any conservation officer would ticket a hunter for using a .22 while dispatching a deer already mortally wounded by a legal cartridge.