Wounding Your Quarry

[eat4peace 21]

This is topic which can get heated very quickly and as I feel strongly about it, I thought I’d give my opinion on the matter.

Whenever the subject of wounding quarry comes up, the many 'experts' claiming that they have never made a poor shot in their lives and the belittling of anyone who disagrees really infuriates me.

 

As a hunter, I think you should be making immaculate kills at least 90% of the time and I am often appalled and sickened by videos showing a lack of responsibility I see on Youtube. Only take shots you're confident with, spend money on a decent setup/quality pellets and most importantly practice.

But I can also say without shame, I have made plenty of poor shots in my hunting career, many of which were out of my control (e.g. dodgy pellet, ricochet of a twig or movement of your quarry) but of course, many of which were my fault. The issue isn't about never making poor shots, as they will inevitably happen; the ethics of the hunter lies in the way you respond to a poor shot.

Acting quickly, but calmly to ensure a quick follow up shot to prevent a wounded animal from suffering, or in the terrible circumstance that your quarry is able to fly off or get to ground, instead of being angry, you should investigate why the shot wasn't perfect and do your best to prevent the same thing from happening again.

To give an example, a few days ago I was having a little wander around my local permission and managed to get to within 45 yards of a rabbit. I was prone, on top of a mound of earth, with the rifle rested firmly in comfortable position.
Unfortunately I underestimated the wind down range and so the shot drifted to the right and clipped the rabbit in the jaw, not the brain. I immediately realised the shot wasn’t good, so without panicking, re-bolted the rifle, lined on the rabbit which was writhing around on the floor and took a shot for the heart and lungs (taking the wind into account this time).
Thankfully the bunny was stopped in it’s tracks, and I swiftly moved over to make sure it was out for the count.

 

On skinning the very same rabbit mentioned in this post, I soon realised why the second shot put it down so quickly! By an absolute fluke, the .177 Daystate Li passed perfectly through the rabbit's heart!

 

Entry hole

 

Exit

 

 

I don't think that this shot makes me an irresponsible hunter, and I think to deny that these occurances ever happen is ludicrous. I'd be interested to know what you guys think.
Cheers for reading,
Ed

[woodcote1 88]

It happens to everyone, no matter how good they are. Bloody horrible.

[eat4peace 21]

It happens to everyone, no matter how good they are. Bloody horrible.

It is, and you would be pretty messed up not to feel guilty.

Though in all fairness, they would suffer just as much say, getting eaten by a fox, or even more if they got mixy.

[Phantom 631]

As you say, everyone fluffs the shot now and again I've had my share of them.

It is very unpleasant when it happens and I usually make it to the quarry before I could reload and shoot again. Perhaps a second shot would be feasable if I had a multishot, but it's usually me scaring away any other quarry and finalising the kill with a kneck pull. I then spend the time figuring out what I did incorrectly while waiting for the next quarry to come out of hiding.

 

Tony

[eat4peace 21]

As you say, everyone fluffs the shot now and again I've had my share of them.

It is very unpleasant when it happens and I usually make it to the quarry before I could reload and shoot again. Perhaps a second shot would be feasable if I had a multishot, but it's usually me scaring away any other quarry and finalising the kill with a kneck pull. I then spend the time figuring out what I did incorrectly while waiting for the next quarry to come out of hiding.

 

Tony

 

Yeah, when I use my springer, it's easier to run up and neck the animal than reload.

[fitchet 788]

It happens and should be expected in shooting. I dont shoot much tgese days but when i do its usually pheasant pigeon squrriel ect. And i always take a dog that will find any quarry thats wounded and in the case of squrriels dispatch them or bring feather live to hand. No one like to see wounding but it happens. Atb

[jw74 27]

i totally agree,ive made a few misjudments in my shooting career and im sure i will probably have the misfortune of it happening again.i find that even with a magazine its quicker to just run over to it and dipatch it than reload and wait for the animal to stay still enough for a follow up shot.but it really does ruin my day wounding something.

[ghillies 209]

the run over thing, its a 50 50 thing, takes time to 'know' when to and when not to, basically worste case sinario is you wing it, its does the half effert trundle, case 1 you leave it a sec or two and it lays down and 'exspires', case 2 is you leg it on over there, the thing see's you and has a burst of adrenalin and gets up and runs off..when and where applicable is the thing.

 

live n learn as usual.

[Craig Fosse 286]

I'm actually glad this post came up, at the end of the day we are all human, not robots, the key is making sure you do something about it. For example the rabbit warren I shoot at is on a steep bank, which rises in incline the further up I go, it's great for rabbit stalking as the bank covers u, spot a rabbit move up the bank rest rifle shoot down, problem is the further up the bank you go the steeper te incline, I missed a rabbit last month and it withered in pain making me run down and finishing it off in my hands, I'd clipped the top of its head near the eye, I must admit I was quite upset, so the next day I spent 3 hours with targets moving up and down the bank, learning the exact hold over. I now have different coloured waterproof stickers facing me in different positions on the bank so I know exactly what hold over it is at that spot.

[villaman 9,983]

Nice wright up mate and yes we all have had it happened to us

[Craig Fosse 286]

Cheers mate, like I say, we re all human

[eat4peace 21]

I'm actually glad this post came up, at the end of the day we are all human, not robots, the key is making sure you do something about it. For example the rabbit warren I shoot at is on a steep bank, which rises in incline the further up I go, it's great for rabbit stalking as the bank covers u, spot a rabbit move up the bank rest rifle shoot down, problem is the further up the bank you go the steeper te incline, I missed a rabbit last month and it withered in pain making me run down and finishing it off in my hands, I'd clipped the top of its head near the eye, I must admit I was quite upset, so the next day I spent 3 hours with targets moving up and down the bank, learning the exact hold over. I now have different coloured waterproof stickers facing me in different positions on the bank so I know exactly what hold over it is at that spot.

That's a perfect example of how to learn from your mistkae.

Thanks for sharing buddy

[Craig Fosse 286]

No worries, unfortunately I feel we are in a media age where all we read is amazing shooting from 65 yards, my hats off to Zini and the like because they really are gifted people, but I am more of a 40 yard man at a push. In fact I rarely shoot over 35 yards because i know i can hit a 5 pence pieace every time at that range, I only ever shoot from the prone unless its a supported shot, and I use stick when I sit down and roost shoot. But unfortunately I have the reality of sometimes wounding my prey. But I learn from it and try not to make the same mistake agin.

[Mawders 595]

Cracking pictures of the heart there! It's life, it happens, its not nice but if deal with it quickly then that's all you can do. It always gives me a sick feeling when I miss judge a shot or something out of my control happens such as gust of wind, vermin moving at last second or unseen obstacle, really ruins my day.

 

The only time I do get angry is when I see or hear someone purposely taking pot shots at any living creature just to hit it!

 

No ones perfect, even the best shots on here must from time to time miss judge a shot.

 

Mawders

[redial 81]

Good topic it's something we should all give some thought to. I was always taught respect your quarry rat or rabbit.

I like Craigs thinking knowing he can hit a 5p at 35 yard's and shooting live quarry at that range.

Nothing worse than wounding something and you can't finish the job because it's crawled off to cover.

Your's in sport,

Phil.