HUNTING Red Stag

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Red Stag shot placement

Like many of the deer species the lungs and heart are in the lower quarter of the Red Stag, approximately the size of a dinner plate. Judging half way going off the top of the shoulder and bottom of the chest you should aim slightly under half way. Being more of a medium skinned animal Red Stags like all animals can be extremely tough during the rut to take down so use appropriate calibers again that deliver good kinetic energy and you can handle to shoot accurately. Muzzle breaks or preferably suppressors are excellent if your worried about recoil and the latter noise which all our rifles are equiped with. Typically trying to double lung, braking both shoulders and potentially also hitting heart is the ideal shot. As we know animals do not always stand square on at 90 % and waiting can mean not getting a shot. First and foremost if you are not confident with taking a shot don`t take it. Its not worth pointing your rifle and shooting or ball parking it. Preparation before the shot and knowing where the vitals are is important. With a steady rest you can make those quartering shots ect if need be as Stags will often turn to face you if they have been alerted or winded you for a brief moment, preparation=opportunity. It`s always important to think about bullet exit over entry as this is where maximum damage occurs so look at where the off set leg is positioned and body. Front on low down and allow for the exit. Another fatal shot that can be taken if you are very confident and your rifle is a tack driver is at the base of the neck and the spine.

 

[JPbowhunter]

Behind the crease for me, then again I hate meat damage.

 

[NEW ZEALAND SAFARIS]

Behind the crease for me, then again I hate meat damage.

Yes mate it’s a good shot alright as long as that’s exactly where it goes as a few inches off is stomach. I’ve based this off 12 years guiding, 35 years hunting and still learning. I have found this is the perfect shot on average that will also allow some small movement a few inches either way to still be in vitals.

 

[CAustin]

Good looking animals in the photos!

 

[BRICKBURN]

I would not have enough guts to shoot at those red dots Jim.
I'd have to center that neck shot and go for that crease between the shoulder and brisket.
Personal preference.

The Red's do not seem to have the same pronounced shoulder hump as our Elk.
I'd have to remember that difference.

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I would not have enough guts to shoot at those red dots Jim.
I'd have to center that neck shot and go for that crease between the shoulder and brisket.
Personal preference.
View attachment 281670

The Red's do not seem to have the same pronounced shoulder hump as our Elk.
I'd have to remember that difference.

I agree with BRICKBURN.

 

[crs]

BRICKBURN +1
Will do my best on reds later this month.
I have found that if my .405 hits anywhere near the desired area, I will have venison.
The proper shot is DRT on bull Nilgai.
Even a gut shot with it has put a running bull Nilgai down.
(I really hate to waste more than one cartridge on an animal, but,,,).

 

[JPbowhunter]

BRICKBURN +1
Will do my best on reds later this month.
I have found that if my .405 hits anywhere near the desired area, I will have venison.
The proper shot is DRT on bull Nilgai.
Even a gut shot with it has put a running bull Nilgai down.
(I really hate to waste more than one cartridge on an animal, but,,,).

I've hunted reds all my life, if you put the shot where it needs to go they won't make it far.

If it gives you something to get excited about, this is my pb red stag from a few years ago. 9x10 free range diy. It's hard to beat chasing big reds!

 

[JPbowhunter]

Pic wouldn't load beforr

 

[crs]

JP
Very nice!
Those ivory tips are striking!

 

[VertigoBE]

Red Stag shot placement



View attachment 281600

Hi Gjim,

Thanks for these pictures and explanation, they are a helpful tool. When learning to hunt and going out the first few times for deer, people told me, aim just behind the shoulder, about mid-way up to the back. On this picture that would have been slightly higher and about 10cm on the animal to the right, like the black dot on the picture:

For clarity's sake, the black dot is not where you should aim in my opinion

Let's say I have since learned my lesson... Behind the shoulder you are actually quite close to the stomach and too far away from the heart and only clipping the back of the lungs (which do not fill up with blood that fast) Especially when the animal is not perfecly broadside, and it becomes more difficult to find the right location, there is too much possibility of not bringing the animal down in my opinion. Or when you get the shakes, there is less room for error

Now your red dot, I find it a touch forward, but it should have a better effect than what most were advising me in the past...

Cheers,

V.