treatment of wounded animal
#1
Thread Starter
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 1
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.
#3
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...
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...
#6
RE: treatment of wounded animal
ORIGINAL: mutantcoil
Head shot sounds messy to me. Why not the heart?
Head shot sounds messy to me. Why not the heart?
#7
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.
#10
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.