What is considered a humane kill shot ?

[jaycee]

What this thread is about is "What is a humane kill shot " not ethics .
For a definition of ethics , go to these links ;

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/ethics
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethics

[werner.reiche]

If your deer travels more than 75 meters you missed a humane kill shot, hmm.

Heart shot deer, runs 150 yards, not a humane shot? I think not.

What you have to look it is how long a deer lives after it has suffered a heart shot or lung shot...and what it does in that time.

Not sure exact lengths of time, but say 30 sec for a heart and 60 sec for a double lung. A deer can cover quite a bit of ground in that time if it decides to run - so equating "humane shot" to distance run is wrong.

The inverse is also true - a gut shot deer might only go 100 yards to bed down and stay there for the hours or days it takes to die if not disturbed.

[Pat32rf]

I always think that it's how long an animal suffers between the shot and death.
Each bullet is designed to work best at a certain velocity when hitting a certain size critter. A moose or elk bullet can pass thru a small deer without much expansion, even at its design velocity. Centifical force also plays a large part in bullet expansion. Once they get "out of shape" a lightly built bullet can come apart pretty quick at 120,000rpm....(30-06 area)

[Fox]

What you have to look it is how long a deer lives after it has suffered a heart shot or lung shot...and what it does in that time.

Not sure exact lengths of time, but say 30 sec for a heart and 60 sec for a double lung. A deer can cover quite a bit of ground in that time if it decides to run - so equating "humane shot" to distance run is wrong.

The inverse is also true - a gut shot deer might only go 100 yards to bed down and stay there for the hours or days it takes to die if not disturbed.

Exactly, the first deer I actually shot was hit before by an arrow and was a little back, clipped the liver and gut, I took the shot from 15 yards to finish it and saw it fall within 30 yards of the shot. The original shooter was almost in tears because he made a bad shot and caused undue pain to the animal, I will hunt with him any day with that attitude.

[welsh]

A guy/gal who never goes to the range or sights his rifle in makes his best shot possible.

I would suggest that he does not. He could make a better shot if he went to the range. Maintaining competence is just part of making the best shot possible.

We are arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin here.

[Jim Davis]

We are arguing over how many angels can dance on the head of a pin here.

Lol, great analogy welsh!

[Blackwolf]

While I can agree with some of this I don't agree with the last statement.
A guy/gal who never goes to the range or sights his rifle in makes his best shot possible. Compare that to the guy who sights his rifle in, practices often, hunts often will most certainly take or make a better shot than the first example.
The first guy hasn't done his part and there are way too many hunters in this group.

My point exactly. If you do not practice you do not know where you shoot. I've shot competitively and in the armed forces, where a long shot was to order of the day. Every year I practice about 200 rounds with each rifle I'm hunting with. Some because I enjoy it but also so when I'm in the field I can be my best, without question. With all my experience shooting, I guess I'm just incompetent and I need the practice I'd say who told me about missing if the deer goes further than 75 yards, but one you've already called a liar, and stupid. The others, well, between gunsmiths and hunters there is probably about 1000 years of experience. You probably don't believe them anyway

Yes Hunting, any part of it is about ethics. Especially when you are talking about humane shots. I have very little respect for anyone who takes an untried weapon into the field. Taking a couple shots doesn't cut it. Sawbill is absolutely right, you need to practice till you are positive you know exactly where your shot is going.

[Roper]

Blackwolf - you seem to be suggesting that if you do everything right - it will be a humane kill.
Are you saying all your kills were humane? I doubt it. I"m sure they were intended to be humane but life (and death) is not always cut and dry.
If for some reason you shoot a deer in the front leg and it hobbles/runs off. This was a mistake that happens. Not a humane kill.
But what are you going to do - quit hunting? No. You live and learn from the circumstance.

[Blackwolf]

I'm suggesting that if you practice and study your rifle and ammunition, you will reduce the chance of not having a humane kill. The first deer I took was south of Cambridge in the late 90's. I missed with a slug and it crumpled about 200 yards away. I learned to practice. Even with all I have shot, I thought shotgun..whats the big deal. Was the shot humane NO!! I should have known better but I made a mistake. I have shot almost 5 deer a year for the last 7 years. And helped my wife shoot her deer every year. All in all, I have never seen a deer go more than 20 yards in the last 7 years. That includes all my two son's deer and my daughter's deer. Then there are the deer I help hunt with friends. So all in all I shoot and help hunt almost 50 deer a year. I still never see a deer go more than 20 yards after its shot.

Am I a perfect hunter or shot? No, We just all take the time to practice and get better at our art.

[Pat32rf]

The other extreme from BW are some of those we see at the gravel pit who shoot until one of their shots hits within 6-8 inches of the aiming point, and then declare that's close enough to kill, never having moved the sights during the whole 6 shots!