where to shoot a deer - 11 shot placement charts (where to aim)
Watch this video to learn where to shoot a deer. You'll get 11 universal scenarios, 18 diagrams, and 9 rules to help you.
The scenarios cover hunting on foot, from a treestand, and in the mountains. It's based on rifle hunting, but the scenarios also apply to bow hunting.
See the diagrams here:
courses.redkettle.co/pages/bl...
Btw, knowing where to aim is only part of the equation.
There are several steps required make the perfect shot.
Check out these two free (no signup required) mini-courses if you want Standard Operating Procedures to help set yourself up for success:
Practical Marksmanship for Hunters:
Part 1: How to set up for any shot: courses.redkettle.co/pages/bl...
Part 2: How to execute the shot perfectly: courses.redkettle.co/pages/bl...
Chapter index:
00:00 Summary
00:47 Intro
01:04 Shot placement lessons from Boot Camp
01:44 The 11 shot placement scenarios
01:55 How to kill a deer
02:53: The vital triangle
03:19 The broadside shot
04:16: BONUS - The rear lung shot
04:43 The front quartering shot
06:45 The rear quartering shot
07:52 The front shot
08:53 The Rear shot
09:56 Uphill and downhill shooting intro
10:51 The downhill broadside shot
11:12 The uphill broadside shot
11:28 Combined angles
11:38 Front quartering, downhill
11:54 Front quartering, uphill
12:09 Rear quartering, downhill
12:33: Rear quartering, uphill
13:29 Summary of shot placement rules
Learn to shoot fast and straight! Knowing where to aim is just one piece of the puzzle. Check out these two free mini-courses on practical marksmanship for hunters: Pt. 1 - SET UP: Critical go/no-go checks for any shot courses.redkettle.co/pages/blog?p=free-intro-to-practical-marksmanship-for-hunters-pt-1 Pt. 2 - SHOOT: Step-by-step instructions to help you nail every shot courses.redkettle.co/pages/blog?p=free-intro-to-practical-marksmanship-for-hunters-pt-2
There ins't a single deer in my whole continent, but your content is so well explained I'm becoming addicted.
As a bow hunter, we also have to consider the movement of the animal. Deer almost always drop. Basically sound is faster then an arrow. Often I will aim for the heart anticipating the impact to be higher on the animal. There are a bunch of other factors to consider as well of course.
Thanks, that's great input. I'm looking at taking a bow license so this is a topic I need to get on top on.
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting I bet you will enjoy it. I only hunt deer with a bow nowadays.
Would this not be necessary for using a rifle? Hits faster
@@mrdeath212 correct. Sound travels at something like 1125 f/s. An arrow from a modern bow will be at 200-300 f/s. So the sound of the bow and even the sound of the arrow flying through the air will be heard by the deer before the arrow has time to reach the target. The muzzle velocity of a hunting rifle will be around 2800 f/s, give or take.
With a bow and from a tree stand I am for the the middle or 3/4 height of the shoulder, depending on distance. Mid shoulder is pretty good considering they duck the shot. I usually get a double lung or lung and heart.
Great video! It is nice to see all the different scenarios that you do encounter when hunting. I was off center but on correct angle with a quartering away arrow shot on a doe last year. It was a fatal shot but hit all the chewed up grass...making it a bugger to clean. Thanks for sharing!
Exceptional video and content! Pacing was fantastic, pdf is wonderful, and you are sharing vital knowledge. Thank you!!
Glad you enjoyed it!
Excellent. I am a rifle and bow hunter of 45+ years. i am always searching for new wisdom. I could not refute or add to any of your lesson. I highly recommend this for any hunter, especially for those that are new to the sport.
Thank you for this video and the ebook. I think the concept of the triangle greatly helps new hunters understand where to place their shots. I prefer high shoulder shots because the animal drops more often and more quickly than with lung shots. But a lot of variables go into the decision where to put the shot aside from angle, like distance, cartridge, surroundings. I look forward to your advanced shot placement video.
Thanks for your comments. I hope you can benefit from the video and e-book, even though it sounds like you're an experienced hunter. Yes, high shoulder shots are effective so I understand why you use them. As you hint, this is more of an advanced shot for folks like you who know what you do. All the best!
Great video, watched all the way through, and clean, professional and kid friendly
Awesome! Thank you!
Outstanding video. First one I've seen in your series. Looking forward to the rest. I dont have the bow experience yet, but you've helped me further my competence and confidence. Thank you for your efforts!
Welcome aboard! And thanks a lot. I'm happy to hear the video has helped you. I'm working hard on more videos and hope you will find them useful as well. All the best!
Great video and vital information that I will share. Keep up the outstanding work!
Much appreciated!
Great information. The diagrams are fantastic
Wauw, finally someone who explains it using the right amount of words. Very instructive. Learned a lot! Thanks
Thanks, Richard! All the best.
Iam a first time hunter and by watching your videos you have answered alot of my questions. Thank you for all the good information.
Glad to help, happy hunting!
Welcome to the sport. I hope you are successful in your ventures.
Just became subscriber #1000. Woo Hoo. More importantly, I appreciate the info and the way it was presented.
Thanks for the sub! we hope you enjoy the videos!
What great information. I bow hunt and try to emphasize shot placement always. I personally have a knack for it myself it seems. Just never had the right answers for others. Im not a trained rifle hunter or military. Sharing this video for sure.
Hi David. Thanks a lot. I'm glad the video was helpful. All the best!
Excellent, efficient video. Well done.
Thank you very much!
Thank you for the tips, I’m 16 and kinda poor so this is only my 2nd year hunting. Thanks for the tips on placement
Dude! You understood the assignment, and did the work! This is the video I have been meaning to make for years, even though I don't have a channel. I wanted to get some veterinary CT scans and use that to demonstrate where organs actually lie.
Thanks!
Thank you Christian, this is verry informative, also extremly thanks for your free PDF, I have seen other youtubers asking money or some kind of payment for such info, agin, big THX
Nice Video Sir. Thanks for the explanation. I like your rules as much as the thoughts of Mr. Robertson
Glad it was helpful!
Great information! All my years I have been aiming about 3 “ to far back .
Glad it was helpful!
awesome detail, ty
Thanks for watching!
I wished you provided printable version of your PDF/flashcards. Since the PDF you provided has full color backgrounds they aren't really printable. If I had a printable version of your 18 shot placement diagrams (flashcards) then I would print them out and memorize them.
Outstanding.Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
I think this was a fantastic video for beginners. This is my first year and I appreciate it very much. I don't mind the short time on the Q cards, because even though I'm a beginner hunter, I'm advanced at using KZhead So I utilized a tool to help me with your video, Apparently it's an advanced tool that only a few know about, It's called the "pause button" 😂. Hope that gave you a good laugh and I hope to fill my freezer for my family this year. Thank you very much and Have a fantastic day sir.
Good stuff, tips that every Hunter needs to know. Because if you hunt long enough you will encounter several of these shots
Thanks Neil!
Thanks verry help full .I don't have problems often .but tall gass heavy brush low light rain.shooting up hill or down hill
Great video. Very good information!
Thank you!
Good detail, and you are obviously speaking from a lot of experience. This is one of the better videos I've seen on shot placement. I bowhunt exclusively however, and the margin of error with a bow is smaller than with a rifle because the arrow travels slower than any bullet and you're killing by hemorrhaging, rather than by shock, and the arrow just doesn't have the bone-jarring/bone-breaking effect of bullets. The quartering to shots are especially problematic for archers, in that most archers are not shooting arrows with enough weight/mass to break the shoulder bone. Reloading a bow also takes longer than chambering a round (unless one is shooting a muzzle-loaded rifle), so getting second shots while the animal is still stunned are rare.
Thanks, I'm happy you like the level of detail. And thanks for your input on how it applies to bow hunting. I don't (yet) hunt with a bow, so I was careful not to make too many suggestions about overlap. Your comments are very helpful! Thanks for the insight.
Reloading a bow is slower than chambering a round? May I suggest you practice speed loading. Tips: have an arrow nocked with a second in your bow hand or string hand you may even be able to hold three at a time. Second tip if you don’t feel comfortable with that with your attached quiver to the bow have 3 arrows just out of the cover but still in place with the rubber grips. Already have your cocked vanes in ready to go position too. There is lots of things you can do with vertical archery. 1-2 seconds you should be able to loose 3 arrows accurately it takes about 2.5 seconds to chamber a round another second or two to get back on target and steady a scope is another second. Arrows are much faster. Also lose the wrist release and finger draw even faster.
@@chrisruzsa2798 I can tell by your reply you've never hunted big game. For deer, wild boar, elk--doesn't matter. Speed (as in the number of arrows you can shoot in 10 seconds) doesn't matter. Two seconds is an eternity for a deer to be out of range if you miss that first shot. The deer is always faster, hears better, picks up scents better, and detects unnatural movements better than you do. Draw steady and slow, make that first arrow count, because if you miss you're going to be looking at the ass-end of whatever you were shooting at even if you can nock that 2nd arrow in two seconds or less. That's reality.
@@michaelpoplawski3246 kay if you say so. Not only am i big game hunter i am also a dangerous game hunter. Speed of reload doesn’t matter until it matters, and yes accuracy matters first so yes hit well but also pick up that reload too.
it doesn't take alot of experience to have an understand proper effective shot placement. i's called education.
I find the e book very good thankyou
Thanks, James. I'm happy to hear it's helpful.
Great video. Had to pass on a front shot this year... still trying to get him before the end of season.
Thanks. Fingers crossed that you get him!
Covered a lot of information concisely, and articulately. Good content mate.
Thanks, much appreciated!
Excellent video! Thank you
Glad you liked it!
Grew up in the rocky mountains hunted for most of my life, dad and brothers and friends. I've never had this kind of discussion, not to this exact. Thank you. It was very much informative and interesting. For reasons outside of my control I went hunting for the first time in 20 yrs harvesting a big body 3 point mule deer . Now I have an elk for this year. Curious what you think. Decided to go with a 6.5 cm 140 interlock sp could turn out to be much over a 100yrd shot so the old 30-30 160 gr sp. Will not do
There are better 6.5 bullets available. I like 127 Lrx for great penetration and lead free eating. If you are shooting a cow you will be ok with most modern 6.5 bullets. If you are going after a big bull consider a larger caliber, or limit to distance and stances you are dead on accurate with.
Great video!
Surely your input matters to me. I rely on your experience. Cheers
Glad the video is helpful!
Excellent. Many thanks for taking the time to share. Liked and sub’d
Thanks John! All the best.
Excellent information, sir. New subscriber.
Thanks and welcome! All the best.
1) I like the info provided - Thank you! 2) wish the flash cards occupied more screentime as some went by real fast and hard to find/pause them, 3) really want info on headshots/ranges/types of ammo for that job to just flat out drop the good meat without suffering and chasing (I understand is harder and "showstoppers", but I also know Alaskan subsistence type people frequently use headshots. 4) see #1 again! haha
Thanks, I'm glad to hear you like the info. Re #2 I hear what you say. We've made a note of that for future videos. You can download all the diagrams in the e-book on our website: www.redkettle.co/pages/the-efficient-hunting-framework Re #3, we are working on a video on more advanced, meat saving shots, like head and neck shots. I don't have a release date, but we have started work on the script. Re #4 Thanks again :-) All the best.
Two thumbs up! Thank you
Thanks a lot!
Great information!
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. I live in Texas, having moved here as a kid in 1974. It was odd to hear the Texas Heart Shot moniker from others. The hunters I know would not do that. Great advice here. There are some shots you should not take. I liked Elmer Keith's book on big game hunting but it always seemed like he was making what I call rump shots, barely making one minute of elk. And this was using slow and large cartridges, like the .35 Whelen, .333 OKH, etcetera. Another series of videos I watched was from Rogee Productions in New Zealand. Hunting on public land that is all hills, you can't get very close. So, he shoots a .300 WSM with a Zero Trace scope on it, with great success. Before people say it is unethical to shoot over 100 yards, there are two guys carrying rifles and both are aimed at the beast to make sure that it does not suffer. The vital V is great. I have known some people, with the skills, will take head shots if not making a trophy, such as harvesting a doe. This saves all the meat. Some will take a shot at the brachial axis, or high shoulder shot. This disables the animal structurally and they cannot run off. As opposed to a heart and lung shot, where the deer can still run. So, don't hunt next to property to which you do not have permission. Someone I know personally hunted for Aoudad Sheep in south Texas (there is a ranch where they care for herds of big horn sheep and exotics, such as onyx) and he was shooting a .300 Win Mag. I think at least a 180 grain, perhaps 200. Split the difference between broadside and quartering to and that was the angle. That ram took the hit and turned directly to him from 200 yards(ish) away and started charging as the guy cycled another round. By the time the round was in battery, the ram dropped. It ran about 30 yards on its last heart beat and breath. So, that is a good reason for the double lung shot. I have also learned that you have to wait. Don't pressure the animal, let the ram or buck expire in peace. If they are pursued, they may try to run farther.
Thanks for your input! I'm not sure where that terms comes from, as I'm sure few hunters in Texas do that, as you say. I've yet to read Elmer Keith's book. I'm sure it's interesting reading. And even though much has changed since then, I'm sure it contains lot's of food for thought. Agree, patience is a virtue when it comes to hunting. No need to rush after it. Thanks again for your thoughts. All the best!
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting A shot right up the ass hole will drop an animal quicker than any shot but brain if done right . " I shot 45/70 500 grain hard cast slug , 50/90 sharpd 450 grain semi wad cutter .or 650 grain hard cast postell ". I am sure a 180 grain 308 could do the same . " The only reason I wouldn't recommend it ,Well it is one serious nasty gut job .The strait on shot is just as gross but worse ,you will loose one or possibly both hams .
Sorry but the 35 Whelen is not a slow cartridge. My 225 grain bullets have an average muzzle velocity of 2816 feet per second. Not slow at all and as flat a shooter as an 06.
@@russellkeeling4387 Sorry, not as fast as the 7 PRC, so, slower relative to some cartridges but not the slowest. My Federal Fusion .308 165 gr are slow at 2700 fps. I don't think I said anything about being not as flat as a .30-06. I suppose if you have the right load. What is your range on that .35 Whelen.
Have you hunted the rugged hills and mountains of Southern Arizona for Coues Whitetail Deer? Rugged country and challenging quarry, one of the best adventures.
Excellent. Thank you
Thanks!
Nice video! Thanks!
Thanks. Glad you liked it!
That's why I use a 45-70. I just shoot them in the hoof and that's all she wrote! But seriously, thank you. That was a great info graphic.
:-) Thanks!
Good video, great info. You should leave the flash card up while you are talking so people can study and see what you are talking about . You only had them up for a few seconds, I had to keep stopping them to really study them. Leave the shot placement up while talking in your next video. Thanks for the info.
I'm glad you like the video Steve and thanks for the input. It's a great point and I'll change that going forward. You can download the diagrams in our e-book for future reference if you want. Here's a link to the download page: www.redkettle.co/pages/the-efficient-hunting-framework All the best!
Excellent!
Many thanks!
Thamks
I've always been a heart and lung shooter but I've known people that always shoot the neck and they drop on their tracks....some are head shooters....but for some reason I just stick with what works for me.
Agree. That makes sense. And at the end of the day, despite one's levels of competence, the lung and heart shot gives a greater margin of error. All the best!
When I was learning to hunt at 15 I shot a deer with your Texas Heart Shot and dropped it cold. I was using a 30-30 open sight with soft point bullets. The bullet expanded to about a 45 caliber and hit the stomach. I still remember the smell when we cleaned it. It penetrated about 18 to 24 inches straight in.
I always line my crosshairs up so that the bottom of my vertical runs down the back of the front leg or parallel just barely off it for broadside shots. Obviously depending on the deer's stance this might not always work out perfect but it makes it easy find your target quicker and is pretty close to a consistent "perfect" vitals shot. I shoot 7 rem mag and this almost always gets the top of the heart (or blows the whole thing to bits) and one or both lungs. And even with a cannon like 7 rem mag it damages very little meat. It's kind of an aim small, miss small sort of rule and generally when in doubt it'll put your bullet where it needs to go.
Thanks for sharing. That's a good reference. Good point. I agree that meat damage can be limited greatly with the use of the right bullet. All the best.
Nice video very clear and to the point. Appreciate it. How did the bum shot get that name i wonder?
Thanks! Yes, that's a good question.
Great video, detailed information and well explained. I would, if I may, suggest a great piece of advise given, a few years back now, by the late US hunter and writer John Wooters: "Try to shoot at an imaginary grapefrout held by the animal between the prolongation upwards of the front legs". It works at ANY ANGLE, is simple enough, fast, and fool-proof. For bigger animals, the grapefout could be "replaced" by a melon, vertically held, or something bigger. With a little imagination, you have got the aiming point easily, fast, and precise.
Hi Luis, That's a great way to visualize the shot. Thanks for sharing! All the best.
I had an 8 pt Buck come at me head on last year. I was hunting bow. It wasn't ideal, but I decided to take the shot. Went right through the neck. He ran maybe 5 yards and was done. I think neck shots are great, but margin for error is slim. A lot of luck on my side that day. Also, I served in the military, and shot placement was always taught. Would I take that same shot again? I think I would, but it's a really tough shot. You better be on. Just my 2 cents. Great video
Hi. Great job on the buck. Thanks for sharing. Yeah, some days, that kind of shot is a "go", and other days you might decide to leave it. As you say, you got to be on. All the best.
Went mule deer hunting with my father last weekend. We split up and were glassing 300 yards apart, looking at either side of a ridge. He got a textbook front shot from 100 yards away! 6 pointer just stood there for him. Perfect heart shot, dead center of his heart, then the round blew out of his left lung. 270 winchester short magnum. dropped him. I wasn't there to see the shot, but I heard it. I will never forget. Hunting memory that will stick with me for the rest of my life.
Congratulations. Well done to your father and thanks for sharing.
I've always focused on where the exit wound will occur, which makes it a 3-d comprehension. A top of the shoulder shot usually drops them where they stand.
Hi Joe. What a great reference point and queue to get the shot right. Thanks for sharing! All the best.
I hate ruining all the front shoulder slow crock pot cooked roast meat...
@@Simon-talks I wasn't suggesting a shoulder shot, but just above , actually closer to a spine shot. Talk about ruining a shoulder, when Hornady 1st released their SST!
I can tell you right now that sustained automatic, high-caliber fire will put a deer down, guaranteed. Great video, very informative. I've never had much luck finding deer, but the one I did get was a runner.
Incorrect. You could shot the deer in the shoulder and you will never find it.
My only experience is with American Whitetail Deer and I mostly hunt in densely wooded areas and river swamps where loosing a poorly shot deer a distinct possibility. My most used shot is a high shoulder shot because in my experience it has always put deer down like a sack of potatoes and most of the time is an almost instant death. I have used mostly 150gr 308Win factory ammo...CoreLokts, Hornady Interlocks, Federal Fusion, and Hornady SST. It is not a meat saving shot, but to me it beats spending an hour in the dark trashing around indescribably dense vegetation (coastal Carolina) in the dark looking for a deer. PS....as stated, the above mentioned deer are medium size Whitetails.....I can appreciate the nuisances involved in dealing with small and larger species where my methods would not work well and also appreciate what a difference in terrain would make......my problem is if I don't put them down my terrain presents extremely difficult recovery issues.
Thanks for sharing your experience Bill. I think your approach is sound. Especially as a more experienced hunter. I wanted this video to help new hunters. I am working on a video with more advanced shots. Because I think they are essential to keep in the toolbox for situations like those you mention. All the best!
I have hunted with my dad many times but he never went thru shot placement before & this was PERFECT! You rock man... thanks soooo much!!
thanks! glad it was helpful!
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting you were EXCELLENT, thank you
Thank you for the update brother !
Any time!
The heart shot. Forty years ago, a friend told me about a white tail buck he shot. He went for a heart shot, the deer ran and stopped. He fired again and once more the deer ran (I can't remember the distance maybe 50 to100yrds). He did recover the buck, and was shocked to discover upon dressing it, nothing much remained of the heart. He struck it twice in the heart with 303 British hunting rounds. We thought wrongly, a heart shot was an instant kill.
You can blow out the lungs and heart at once and they can still take off. That's just one last burst of muscle reflex.
I mostly go for heart shots. and its true, they do run a bit, but the shot is definitely lethal. one deer ran 50 meters after the shot, and the heart had fallen out of the exit wound after about 20 meters. the blood trail was almost half a meter wide. I still have a video of me following the tracks and finding the heart
Yeah, heart shot's sound alluring. But they're not the fast killers one might expect. I once shot a sika stag out in a fire break in a fir plantation. I clipped the top of the heart, but it still ran past 100 meters in thick fir criss crossed by irrigation channels. We needed a dog to find it and I couldn't understand how it could run that far with such a shot.
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting That's pretty much the same story Dave told many years ago.
They usually run harder and further when hit in the heart than a good center lung shot, and their initial reaction is usually stronger or more dramatic too. The heart shot is also more iffy as it's a smaller target and sits low in the chest, so you have less margin for error.
In my life as a hunter I have had great success aiming high on the upper arm on the other side.
I watched you video and really took the advice seriously, and practiced (in my mind) these tips. I just got back from my first ever deer hunt, I used a scope for the first time in my life after 25 years of shooting guns iron sighted for target practice/fun. I sighted my scope in for 75 yards, since the land owner said it'd be a 75 yard shot from the blind to the feeder. The actual shot i was given (by the deer, whom had different plans) 142 yards away, down a small hill, and a rear quartering. Actually less than quartering, more like rear 15%'ing, since the deer turned its head just enough to barely expose it's left shoulder. I followed this guide/advice, and aimed high even though that was counter intuitive being downhill, and several inches behind it's shoulder. It nailed perfectly right behind it's shoulder and almost dead center, cut straight through the deer, and dropped it instantly after it spun almost 360 on the way down. I hit nothing but both lungs, and possibly it's heart I couldn't tell when cleaning it because it was starting to get dark. Thank you very much for such a comprehensive, and useful guide. The land owner, and guide were both amazed at my shot placement, and how clean the hit/kill was. I got to pretend I was just that good, lol.
Hi Joshua. Congratulations on getting your first deer! I'm pleased to hear it went so well. Great job on the shooting. I'm happy the information was helpful! All the best!
I find it kind of interesting that considering one of the gun safety laws(know your target, its foreground, and its background) aids in your shot placement. Your target isn't the outermost layer of skin, it's the vital internal organs that rest inside of all of that flesh. Using the heart and lungs as the pivot point changes the shot placement on the exterior of the animal accordingly.
What are your thoughts on a broadside neck shot? I've taken a couple deer with that shot and they both dropped where they stood.
Hi Duncan. I think neck shots can be great, as you've found. I did the video on the double lung shot to help folks new to hunting. It gives the greatest margin for error. But as long as you know what you're doing, neck shots are very effective. I know some hunters who do nothing but neck shots and it works well for them. To me, it's all about picking the right tool. All the best!
I like to set up the broadside shot slightly further back on the animal, in line with the spot where the front leg meets the body. The reason why is because by going for the inside of the triangle, you’re minimizing your room for error, especially when using a bow. You have only a couple of inches of forgiveness and you’re into the heavy shoulder bone. I have seen more animals get away wounded with hits to the shoulder than anything else. By aiming back 4 to 6 inches and only 1/3 of the way up the body you still get double lung and often will hit the bottom of the heart and instead of a 4 inch target you have an 8 inch target. I took one earlier this season with that exact shot.
Thanks for your comments, Daryl. And congratulations on getting one this season. I'm not a bow hunter (yet) but appreciate the benefits of this approach. Thanks for sharing.
Dude that is one good vid right there you words have the right tool for the job if in doubt dont take the shot a wounded animal is not the way to go ps this should be used as a training vid for all pepole who want to hunt ( dont be a c..t learn hunt before taking a shot )
Thanks Darren! And I think you're right. If in doubt, don't take the shot. All the best!
Last deer I shot (nice 3x4 Blacktail buck)aimed my 243 where the neck meets the head, touched her off and he went straight down. (About 130 yards) Use the same rifle (different bullets of course) on 600 to 700 yard shots on Prairie dogs.
I agree that the 243 is great for that job. You obviously know what you're doing. This video is more foundational and with a view to giving folks the greatest margin of error. I am working on a video covering more advanced shots. All the best!
I mainly shoot deer with a muzzleloader, if I'm not successful in muzzleloader season I'll hunt them with regular rifle. Muzzleloaders are similar to rifles but they're a bit different. Big heavy bullets that drop alot due to slow velocity and abysmal ballistic coefficient. Because muzzleloaders often aren't as accurate and have more arcing trajectories, I tend to stick with the low double lung. Usually aim at the lower third of the deer, right in that triangle. A muzzleloader bullet has plenty of power to blast through that shoulder should you hit it. I'm usually not as worried about destroying a bit more meat than I am about not finding my deer
Thanks for sharing! I never shot a muzzle loader, but I see how the terminal ballistics are different with large caliber, slow and heavy bullet. I just googled some and I bet it takes some to stop them. I can also see how the slow but heavy bullets won't create as much meat damage as a high velocity round. Is that correct? All the best.
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting yes you're correct, bullets are usually around or under 2000 fps at the muzzle and impact velocity is usually around 1700. Very similar to a 45-70 load, but not a very hot one. Meat damage isn't usually too bad unless you hit a large bone. The slow heavy bullets tend to penetrate well and will usually exit, although I shot a decent buck 2 days ago that was quartering hard towards me, nearly a head on shot and the bullet went in front of the leading shoulder and stopped in the fat under the off side rear leg. It made it nearly end wise through the whole deer. Bullet retained about 75% of its weight and expanded beautifully. It was a 300gr hornady xtp .452 diameter. Shot was around 100 yards, the deer made it maybe 30 or 40 yards after the shot
@@RedKettleEfficientHuntingthere is a mammoth amount of difference between modern muzzleloader projectiles and traditional patched or Minnie balls. Modern copper sabots (I shoot Barnes) give results equivalent to straight wall rifle cartridges. Traditional setups like a flintlock with a patched round ball should be treated like archery in terms of shot selection and bullet placement. The greater than speed of sound bullet velocity fixes the "string jumping" problem and allows much longer shots than archery tackle but the lack of hydrostatic shock and unlike archery ragged wound channel can lead to a lot of clotting and absolutely miserable blood trails. I've seen 2 double lung hits that were in the rear lobe of the lungs, so only 4" back from the shoulder go over 250 yds, both with horrible blood trails. I take heart shots with both archery tackle and trad muzzleloaders. My expectation is an easy track job and I don't care if it's 200 yds if a one eyed man could follow it.
I’ve been wanting to go hunting for a long time but don’t own anything to hunter with. Hoping to be able to go deer hunting one day with a bow or gun.
Fingers crossed. All the best!
I know this may not be the intended use but this is also very helpful for Hunter call of the wild. (Im 13 so i cant hunt)
Great video - except the rules on aiming uphill and downhill are old myths. It's the same adjustment for uphill AND downhill, which means a lesser distance and thus aiming lower is generally correct for both. The ballistically correct way for extreme angle shots to calculate the drop is to use the actual drop x cosine (angle) to give the true projectile drop. Most shooters will just use the "rifleman's rule" which is to calculate the true horizontal distance, using the point distance (e.g. from a rangefinder) x cosine (angle). And use that shorter distance as the aiming distance. But that rule tends to break down on higher angles.
Hi Daniel. I absolutely agree with what you say about the effects of angle shooting on bullet trajectory. What I’m referring to is the change of aiming point when shooting at an angle and still sending the bullet through the vitals. Two different factors to take into account. I thought about mentioning it, but decided to wait for another video. So it’s great that you mention it. Thanks! All the best.
I was going to say this exact point but I figured that’s what he meant about putting bullets through vitals but you’re absolutely correct when shooting at longer ranges. Cooper was a donkey who said aim high when shooting uphill and low when shooting downhill at extended ranges 🤦🏻♂️
I almost made the same mistake you did, until I listened to the rest of what he said
I took a rear quartering shot on a dear a couple years ago with a .270. Angle was greater than 45, pretty much disentegrated about 5 ribs and then ended up in the lungs.... No guts though. Not ideal but it worked. Deer didn't make it too far. Feel a little bad I had to take out half its rib cage, must have hurt.
I'm glad you got that deer. The 45 degrees is not a hard and fast rule. I wanted to give new hunters something that was easy to remember. As you've found, going past can work. Thanks for sharing. All the best.
Well done
The Texas Heart Shot is the go to shot placement for hogs here in Texas
The fact is deer generally don't give you the typical side shot on the lungs.Sometimes you have to take what's given you. For example if a deer is running straight away and see able a back of the head shot is the shot I would take.Looking straight on,between the eyes But at 300 to 400 yards a lung shot is very appropriate. It's kind of like a hockey forward figuring out how to make that perfect shot.Variable change is the reason.
I have not guided in a few years but i encountered a lot of new hunters so i had one rule. Because American Football is pretty much known by all American hunters. ONE RULE: Split the goal posts! All new hunters normally will be shooting 100 yards, give or take a few yards. So I always promoted a 50/50 for the vertical cross hair. I guess you could refer to this as a 2nd rule. When dealing witha new hunter I like to minimize what they have to think about. So them thinking only about putting the shot through the goal posts! Of course, the goal posts are the front legs. If you put a bullet between the front legs, the quartering angle doesnt really have to be thought about. Bowhunters will only have to concern them selves with one other reference point, no shots from a frontal angle. K.I.S.S. is the best rule for a new hunter regardless of their age!
Thanks for sharing. I agree that keeping it as simple as possible for new hunters makes sense. All the best!
good
Thanks
if there right by my tree stand i do head or neck shots...antlers or not
Makes sense. When they're that close those shots are definitely viable and effective options.
.243 works well for throat and head shots.
I’ve researched a lot about bullets after having some disappointing results and I have decided after a lot of research to stay with copper or bonded. I see a lot of research but really, there’s not much content out there Ryan spomer, vortex pod cast with Hornady, and a new video by meat eater.
I've always had great results with Nosler Accubonds. But now mono-metal bullets are becoming mandatory where I am, so I'm slowly switching. I don't have much experience with them, so I'm not quite ready to post a video on that topic All the best!
"It's like adjusting for open sights, back in the day." You mean it's a different day? I still hunt with open sights. Never did know what day it was. 😉 Really well done, thanks.
😂 Ok, maybe not back in the day then. And that probably says a lot about me. I do have a lovely ghost sight on my CZ550, but I've always used the Leupold scope also mounted on it. Maybe I need to follow your example. All the best.
@@RedKettleEfficientHunting To be honest i hunt in the bush, i don't think i've ever shot any larger game beyond 50 yards cos that's as far away as i've ever encountered it. Also, there are lots of grizzlies here, and during the active season i too carry a CZ 550 - in .375 H&H as part of my insurance package, and you don't want to be trying to find one of those in a scope when he's incoming looking to make long-pig out of you. Thanks again, really enjoying your posts. Never too late to learn something and i did.
Should you ever aim for the spinal column?
Yes, for a neck shot. And they are very effective. I'll post a video on neck shots and other advanced shots in the future. All the best.
The more you hunt the more you will learn and improve. My dad always says to aim for where you want the arrow (or bullet) to come out. That being said, in the excitement I can't always remember this and using a bow requires a bit more thinking than a gun does. Last year was a terrible year, not one chance (at deer anyway) during bow season but gun season, I shot 6 times and only hit (and recovered) the last 3. Last year's lessons were taught the hard way, use a shooting stick or miss and aim for the white patch on the deer's neck for front shots. This year was my best yet. Made a decent kill with a compound on a 7pt quartering away hard. Arrow went in high right by the diaphragm and came out at the opposite elbow, one lung and no guts, he went a ways but we found him fairly easily. Made a less than great quartering to shot with a crossbow on a 10pt that clipped the elbow, tore through one lung and guts then came out between the hind legs. Found the deer after a few hours wait no more than 60yrds from where I was sitting as it made almost a complete circle after I snuck out. I could of thought that shot out better. Lastly a doe that was quartering to me ~70-80yrds away, good old 50cal muzzleloader hit just in front of the shoulder and stayed under the hide on the opposite side a few inches away from the hind leg. I think the bullet ricocheted or she was quartered more than I thought, hit lung, heart and guts and she went about 40-50yrds before going down. This years lessons, don't shoot a bow at a swiftly moving deer (that one lived to be shot by someone else) and carry that stupid shooting stick as it WILL come in handy eventually.
Thanks for sharing. Great lessons. All the best!
Hey, if you shot 6 times and only hit 3 then you seriously need to spend more time on the range, to improve before you go out and injure more animals. Your style of hunting honestly sounds very unethical. Do better by man. Respect the animals you are hunting by being a better shot. Don't shoot unless you are 99.9% certain it's going to be a perfect killshot.
Great, can't wait to use this in Call of the Wild 🤣
😂
Shoot through is also a problem with home defense. Its why 44 magnum hard cast solid bullets should never be used for home defense. They can zip right through leaving a nice neat entry and exit holes without doing enough damage to stop the assailant.
Imagine a basketball in the center of the chest and between the front legs, works at almost any angle. From the rear, take the spine shot.
That's a great way to visualize it, Kevin. Thanks for sharing. All the best.
1:20 is it a Mig 29?
Wow, I'm impressed! It is a Mig 29 :-)
My little brother, aged 15, got an archery tag for a mule deer, so I took him hunting. He wasn't very confident in his archery skills, so he was a little nervous. We walked right up on a 3-point mule deer, and it was 40 yards away. He drew his bow and fired, and we heard the arrow make a very strange snap noise as it struck something. Then the deer didn't even flinch, it just fell over. The arrow had struck the spine at the base of the skull, severed the spinal cord, and lodged into the tree behind the deer. It was an instant death, and the cleanest kill I've ever seen. It was an accident too; he was aiming for the heart.
Congratulations to your brother! It must have been nerve wrecking and I’m glad he timed his luck right. Now the pressure is off and I hope he’ll harvest many more bucks!
Adam's apple or anywhere Tru the middle of the neck, just under the hade will take the deer and you won't have to go hunting around for them. It ruins very little venison and makes cutting off the hade a snap. The hadeshot will do the exact same thing.
I find shooting for the middle or the neck has worked best for me. I haven’t ever needed to trail a deer doing this
I use a 308 just got it ,I'm used to a3006. So got. To. Get used to the change.
Your diagram is wrong. With archery always aim lower 1/3. The spine drops more at the shoulder blade than your photo shows. Leaving only the lower 2/3 as vital
While the author recommends “think fast/act fast,” I disagree. The presentation he gives of the POINTS is extremely helpful! Study these until you don’t have to think about them in the field. Go out into the field WITHOUT a loaded long arm. Practice what you studied until the thoughts were uncomplicated and integrated…no pointing of weapon, just looking and finding one or more studied segments of an animal. Practice finding SPECIFIC points until they are naturally found…no pointing, just finding. Startle the game to get used to the new placements of your studied memory. No pointing, just looking and identifying. Discipline your desire to point the long gun until you can move your body with the game’s motion. Now you are ready to point as you will have thought through so many scenarios as to be “one with” the game animal. Stalk an animal with the intent to point the unloaded long gun at any of the available kill sections…before you startle it. Then practice startle and aim unloaded long gun. You will have gone through at least one season of practicing these points and will be ready for one live round down range…on target and ready for field dressing the expired animal. You can then call yourself a hunter: not before.
i always stop and think about which shots gonna ruin the least amount of meat , generally i try to wait for the animal to get facing broadside for a rear lung shot
I think that's a great approach. I included all the scenarios for the times when folks don't have time to wait. All the best.
Have a 1917 Enfield that wasn't accurate with Fac Ammo in the 1980's when I got it, 150 Grns Fed,Rem, Win in 30-06 3-4", bought 165 Grns Fed,Rem,Win same 3-4", reloading, Tried several Sierra,Hornady, Speer even a 168 Grns Match Sierra for comparison and they were very accurate, Finally IMR 4350 with Speer 165 Grns Grand Slams got the 1" I was looking for. Problem, though to expand on game bullets. If I could hit the eye of a Deer at 100 Yds, aiming point changed from Shoulder/lung/heart to behing the ear, neck/backbone or between the eyes. Problem solved
The Enfield is such a classic rifle. I wanted to help folks new to hunting. Which is why I didn't talk about advanced shots. You obviously know what you're doing, so it makes sense. All the best.
Inside 75 yards standing broadside to 45 degrees not moving I go for the head shot. They never run away. My Tikka 270 is the perfect tool for the shot and I practice all the time . Now this shot is only on does for the freezer. For any trophy buck I'd say this guy's video is spot on target.
Hi Steve. Thanks for sharing your experience and opinion. You obviously know what you're doing, and then a headshot can be a viable option. All the best!
I forgot to add, the height the fruit, which should be "placed" about 2/5 from the bottom, or brisket. That is between 1/2 and 1/3 form the brisket, more or less, as you suggested in your video, which was, I consider, correct.
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All you said i would agree with but for one point, the bullet will hit high of where you aim uphill or downhill, the reason being the higher the angle the shorter the distance, dont believe me run it through a ballistic calculator