Spine Shots

[Slugs Away]

Between the shoulder blade and the spine, usally makes them crumble on the spot. Saves on blood tracking.

What do you think?

 

[ack]

Yep

 

[Witold Krzyżanowski]

I agree with you Slugs Away.
Witold

 

[Red Leg]

On a deer in th back forty for sure. On an animal where a creased spine or non fatal neck injury equals a lost trophy fee - no thanks. I'll always take the shoulder/lung/heart when I can.

 

[Slugs Away]

The vitals should always take a hit, spinal or not. With a good spine shot you can do both.

 

[Royal27]

Unless you miss. Smaller margin of error with a spine shot.

I'm with redleg on heart/shoulder/lung. If I do my job they aren't going far. If Im off by a bit the trackers still have a better chance IMO.

 

[Red Leg]

The vitals should always take a hit, spinal or not. With a good spine shot you can do both.

Maybe in BC, but not the critters I hunt. . The most decisive "spine" shot is, IMHO, where the neck meets the shoulder. It is also the largest of the "spine" targets. Pull it and get a lung or break the animal's neck further up (maybe). That still represents a quarter the target area of the heart lung. I use it myself inside a hundred yards on local deer - almost no meat loss. I would only do it as a near last resort when hundreds or thousands of dollars are in play.

 

[Slugs Away]

Sadly I can not speak of Africa ...

 

[BRICKBURN]

For the first time ever I was considering this kind of shot this year on an Elk. Only because of a boundary line that was impassable for the hunter. (Park) Animal runs inside it is considered lost.
Studying one animal and pulling it off, if circumstance required sure.
Otherwise, I like a much larger target.

Have a really close look at the varied structure of the plains game animals in Africa. They differ enough it would make me nervous.

 

[CAustin]

Yes I've made the spine shot on white tail when above them by 20 feet! InAfrica it's a difficult shot. Not to mention that the animals are very tough. Would do it on say impala, Blesbock, springbuck but not when you get up to wildebeest and bigger! The heart lung shot is best or brain which may mess up your trophy.
Had a retired wildlife officer who was a member of my deer club who taught me a lot of things about shooting game. Mr Tom always did a neck shot on deer so as not to damage the meat!

 

[billc]

If your skilled enough to make the shot and keep in a range that is doable I think it can be a good one to do. Normally shuts them down on the spot. I dont think must guys should take this shot though as it can go bad with the limited target for a quick clean kill it offers.
Must guys should stick to heart/lung area.

 

[CAustin]

Bill didn't you take a neck/spine shot on the giraffe that chased you? I think you ran out of ammo shooting at that things neck!

 

[thriller]

Backstrap damage shoot the front of the shoulder/ base of neck to solve that on whitetail they fold like a rug

 

[billc]

Bill didn't you take a neck/spine shot on the giraffe that chased you? I think you ran out of ammo shooting at that things neck!

Yes I did and at a range I was ok with. My shot was to low and that is why he got up and ran off. Lucky for me I got the second shot in the lungs because I stayed focused on making the second shot. Even made the 3 shot before i ran. LOL

 

[G Skinner]

It should be clarified that you guys are talking rifles ..... I don't recommend anyone trying this with an arrow . Arrows are designed to hemorrhage ...not break bone . Just my 2 cents.
Glen

 

[CAustin]

Bill you are the only man I know that has out run a giraffe! Everybody .....don't leave your ammo In The truck!

 

[Bsto270]

I don't care for it, but have done it twice with a bow (once down straight through the blades and a second time at an odd angle at quite close range) and once with a muzzleloader. If not done correctly it can be an indecisive hit, and as such I go heart/ lung whenever I can. I know some people have told be about head shooting deer and such too, but that is another one that makes me nervous unless the circumstances were perfect. As such I have never really attempted it.

 

[Slugs Away]

I have made the shot on deer and bear when the situation lends itself to accurate placement. I hunt alone and I like to keep my recovery to a minimum, particularly when the animal is standing on the edge of a dense forest.
When the bullet hits usally and inch or two below the spine it causes huge trauma to bothe spine and the vitals in that area. All the animals have died instantly on the same spot where they dropped.

Meat damage is very minimal, I believe the less the animal runs the better the meat.

That said, 80% of my animals are hit in the vitals in the more traditional pie plate area. I do not take head or neck shots.

If a person can not make a clean kill shot they should not take the shot.

 

[Royal27]

I stayed focused on making the second shot. Even made the 3 shot before i ran. LOL

Did screaming like a little girl help with your focus? Is that one of those fancy meditation techniques???

 

[Slugs Away]

Furthermore
I have read that a shot to the spine is very humane, the trauma to the spinal cord sends messages directly to the brain causing a fast death.

This to me makes sence as the spinal cord is attached to the brain.