Finishing off wounded game...?

Question

I just thought about this and want to get some input. Lets you are out hunting and you hit your target, but only wound the animal enough to drop it. The animal is still alive and seems to be in pain, or you dotn want to have to wait for it to slowly die. Do you bring a pistol hunting in case you need to finish game off? Or so you have any other method of doing it? Or do you just let it die on its own?

I in no way want the animal to suffer, but being my firs time hunting, I am sure that I will not be as accurate as I would like to be. Do you reccommend using a pistol to finish it off? I would think firing a rifle at close range would be kind of dangerous because of the risk of the bullet ricocheting off of somethign below the animal.

Answer 1

This year will be my 18th year of hunting. I have never been much of a bow hunter, mainly due to the time of year most bow seasons are held.

Despite being a decent shot with a rifle and shotgun, I have dropped a deer before without killing it (my first deer). Long story short, it was my first deer and I shot until the deer dropped, but in my inexperience, I made some crappy shots (through the shoulder, through the gut, plus one more shot I don't recall where it was). The deer probably would have died within a minute or so, but it was still breathing when I got up to it.

Like people have said, if the game is breathing, it is your responsibility as a sportsman to end its suffering.

If it is gun season, then you have what you need in your hands all ready. Take aim and put another bullet into it. The quickest at an animal that isn't moving is to put a bullet through its head. In reality, I don't recommend this as a "for sure" shot through the brain may require getting quite close to the animal. If the animal is still alive, I don't want to risk getting kicked and possibly trip and break a bone while holding a loaded weapon that is off safe.

I have had to finish off two deer in my life. The first was the one from the story above. The second was someone elses deer who took a shot at a deer and unintentionally shot two deer at one time (with a handgun no less). If it still breathing, I keep about 5 yards away from the animal and put a bullet into the heart/lungs. It is a big area so it is easy to hit and even if the animal is moving, you have a decent margin of error. It is not an instant death, but it is a very quick death for a weakened animal.

If I were carrying a bow, I would probably go for the same shot. I would put an arrow through the heart/lung area. The other alternative would be to cut the throat (again, not something I would do for safety reasons...plus it can be difficult to get through the deer hide in the throat area to get at the arteries if your knife isn't razor sharp).

Regardless, you really don't have a need for a handgun for most animals (a handgun for tracking wounded hogs in a brushy area is the only time I'd opt for a handgun). The handgun would just be extra weight to carry.

Would I just let it die on its own? My rule is if it is breathing when I reach it, I put another bullet in it. I am a good shot and when I hunt, I only take shots I know I can make. In all my years of deer hunting, I have only taken more than 1 shot to kill a deer two times, I have only had to kill a deer I wounded 1 time, and I have maybe wounded 1 deer without recovering it (I think it was a bullet nick...I saw the deer hunch its back like a gut shot, but despite white snow and 3 hours of walking circles and grids, I never found a drop of blood). For the record, I missed two shots in my life (one was at a big buck in year 3 of hunting...inexperience again...and the other was due to a weapon malfunction...by the time I got my rilfe working, the deer was 100+ yards away and opening quickly. I took a Hail Mary shot at it with my 30-30 I was carrying...of course I missed)

Answer 2

Most gave already said it is nesasary to finish it off, and i believe so too. You can use a pistol, you can cut its neck (which seems a little stupid), or something to fiish it off. A rifle will probly not ruchochet off the ground when you are pretty much pointing straight at it, but with the right bullet, it wont even go all the way through, or might not be deadly at the exit. I dont own a pistol capable f killing a deer that i would want to take, so id have to use my shotgun or rifle. (in my case it is a shotgun-Illinois) If you let it die on its own, i would leave it lay for a couple hours and then go check it. I wouldnt leave it too long, predators will more than likely get it. Someone said srop a rock on its head, and i would like to know what in the world makes them think a rock on their head would kill it??? Or how you could lift a rock capable of killing an animal??? Best choice-your weapon, whether it be a shotgun or rifle, or a pistol you have.

Answer 3

A rifle is all you need to finish off wounded game. Hopefully you don't wound anything but it does happen to the best of em. You don't have to worry about it richoting back at you if you hit the animal. If the animal is laying down then I would let it be. It more than likely is about dead anyway. You can raise there adrenaline and make it worse if you try and chase or approach them. Aim just behind the front shoulder about a third of the way up the animal and take your time and you will be fine. Don't ever rush a shot, bad things happen when shots get rushed. Good hunting!!

Answer 4

It's dependent on circumstances. In deer hunting, a knife in the carotid artery is traditional and effective. I've used a revolver when bow-hunting hogs, but generally it's too big a pain in the rear to carry both a rifle and a handgun. There's no real problem with a second shot from a rifle if you're halfway careful. You shouldn't, however, let it lie there and suffer. If you have no more regard for the game than that, you probably don't need to be hunting it.

Answer 5

When I was younger, less experienced at hunting, and more foolish I used a .223 to deer hunt. I learned very quickly that even with proper shot placement the deer didn't die quick enough. I don't even own a .223 anymore. Now I always try to use enough gun so I don't have to finish game off. To answer your question, In the case of the .223 I used a second shot and another time I used a revolver to finish the job. Unpleasant business both times.

H

Answer 6

Shoot a close range shot to the head to finish off the animal to stop any unnecessary suffering!Last resort method is to cut the throat this method takes a little time for the animal to die unless the neck is severed!
For bringing a side arm with you that will be up to state reg's if allowed!
No matter what finish the wounded animal off fast! Your goal is to take an animal as quickly and cleanly as possible with proper practise with your weapon and time in the field this will come true.Good luck and I hope to hear that you got a quick clean kill and a safe hunt for yourself!

Answer 7

i like carrying a pistol as it is the only time i can carry a pistol legally in the USA .i have used a hand gun there times to finish off the game i hit this years buck in the spine center of the back it was screaming maaaamaaaa.i shot him in the back of the head at 20 steps with my rifle there is no NEED for a pistol but it is a good feeling to carry it and i have used it for what you say ,finishing off the game .

Answer 8

I usually shoot it again immidiately if I think it has any life left in it, after the first shot I keep my rifle aimed on the animal incase it tries to get up. If I am bow hunting shoot it again if you have a chance.

I walked up to a deer once leaned my rifle against a tree and was looking at it. I had a sense something was wrong but I didnt know what . It looked dead but different. I was going to field dress the deer and it came to life . I reacted immidiately and grabbed its rack and cut its throat and stuck it in the ribs a couple times finishing the animal.

After all the excitement I realized the different looking thing about the deer was its eyes were shut when I walked up to it. A dead deer has its eyes open , be careful when walking up on downed game and pay attention to details like their eyes or ribs moving as they breathe.

Its wise if in doubt to take a second shot to make sure its dead there is no such thing as overkill.

Answer 9

At least in Illinois, you wouldn't be able to take a handgun and another gun out hunting deer at the same time. There is a handgun season but you get busted if you have a gun other than what is listed on your permit.

You have to put the animal out of his misery so even if you have to shoot it again, it is best to do so. Good luck on hunting.

Answer 10

Marksmanship is a key factor in avoiding wounding the animal so you won't have to put it out of its misery... Practice, Practice, Practice... Shot placement is critically important..If your not now using a Scope, get one.. No one wants to see an animal suffer, when it does happen to you, finish it off ASAP.....Pistol is optional, but not necessary...