The femoral artery shot - would you take it if that's all there is?

[rf2]

arteries bleed out nicely :

bang flop..no fuss...

You sure the "bang flop" is from the artery hit and not damage to the spine?
I've shot deer directly through the heart, and it is not always a "bang flop".

To answer the OP's question, I would not shoot for the femoral artery. I would wait for a clear shot to a larger area - preferably heart/lung. If such a shot doesn't present itself, so be it.

[Blackwolf]

Ok, here we go again, Is it ethical?

In a situation like that, I'd take a shot with a camera. As twostroke indicates we don't need the meat that bad. I've passed on a lot of deer, elk and sheep because I couldn't make the shot. Neck shots are different, I consider them hitting a vital area. I'm sure there are lots of situations where you hit somewhere else, I'd rather not take the shot. Remember I'm lazy, I don't track wounded animals if I don't have to.

[kurt tealo]

Lots of small places on an animal where you can be lucky or deadly accurate and kill it.Like leg arteries.
Off a hair though and wounded animal.Which is what we should be trying to avoid.
Miss by a few inches on a double lung shot and still very dead,very fast.
I personally have never shot a moose.Yet called one in to 15 yards and never got more than the walking away angle.So never shot.
Do I wish I could have hit the artery and got it?Sure.Think about it all the time.
But would rather have those thoughts than a day or two in the cut trying to blood trail it and not be successfull.
Just my thoughts.People are free to do as they choose.But marginal shot hunters are not allowed in our gang.Just a camp rule.
Doesn't have to be all camps.

[Fox]

arteries bleed out nicely :

bang flop..no fuss...

Do they ever bleed, but you do have to hit them.

[MikePal]

You sure the "bang flop" is from the artery hit and not damage to the spine?
I've shot deer directly through the heart, and it is not always a "bang flop".

that's the point.....neck = lung (air)+heart (blood)+spine (immobility)....doesn't matter what is hit...it's the perfect trifecta...I often hit all 3 with the .50 cal. Never had one take a step..drop like an feedbag.

[MikePal]

Do they ever bleed, but you do have to hit them.

I don't know about you guys, but I know, before I pull the trigger, that the bullet goes where I put my crosshair...why is that so hard for guys to comprehend ?

you should have trust in your skills and your gun that there is no doubt, that when you pull the trigger, the bullet is going to go EXACTLY where the crosshair is..so place it where it's going to be most effective and take the shot.

[Blackwolf]

I don't know about you guys, but I know, before I pull the trigger, that the bullet goes where I put my crosshair...why is that so hard for guys to comprehend ?

Yup... agree x4

[400bigbear]

I'm not sure where werner is going with this but often the femoral artery shot is considered to be a shot to the hindquarter . I don't like to waste meat personally and if that shot is taken with a rifle your going to lose pounds of good meat . .

TD

[kurt tealo]

So no one ever wobbles crosshairs,bumps sights or misses that spine or artery by a couple of inches or so?
Agree its a great shot if you hit it.

[400bigbear]

I don't know about you guys, but I know, before I pull the trigger, that the bullet goes where I put my crosshair...why is that so hard for guys to comprehend ?

Oh how I sooooooooooooo much agree Mike .

TD