I just finished watching the new YouTube video. I wish I could say I haven’t been there, wounding an animal is the worst. But sadly if you haven’t done it you probably will, eventually. Mine was my first year as a hunter and honestly if I think about it too much it bother me still 26 years later.
I’ve done two things personally that seem to help me.
I hunt almost exclusively with a single shot rifle personally the fact that I only have one shot helps me to make decisions about the shot I’m taking
Even though I am capable of shooting much further I give myself a Cap. Can I shoot steel at 1000+ yards? Yes! And I do regularly, but as the video showed even at a reasonable distance and animal can move. Typically I try to keep all of my game shots under 400yards
I’m super glad to hear you were able to harvest the wounded doe. Thanks for sharing your experiences with us good luck to everyone on the chat!
After watching that video and the slowed down version I truly think there was nothing he could have done different. The mental process of pulling the trigger for me is similar to playing golf and swinging a club. You can sit there as long as you want and get yourself ready, but at some point during the process you reach the point of no return. I personally hope I never have to experience the same feeling, but I’m glad Jim was able to find the same doe after and get another shot to put her down.
These are the 3 loads from Hornady for the 7PRC. Hunter, Match, and Outfitter. I am old (almost 70) and not the greatest shot, but was testing the 3 loads in a Fierce Carbon Rogue, trying to see which grouped better. I still think I prefer the Hunter over Match, wasn’t particularly fond of the Copper Bullet Outfitter, though they would have all been in the kill zone.
Please don’t misunderstand me I agree, I do t think there was anything he could have done differently. I was simply giving the personal changes I made after I wounded one with the hope of helping another hunter. I don’t expect anyone to choose to use a single shot, but it helped me make better hunting decisions. I do however preach the idea of a cap on the range your willing to shoot an animal at. I have no intention of dunking on Jim in any way. He’s probably has more hunting experience per year than I’ve had in 26. I was merely trying to offer up the choices I’ve chosen to implement after having made the same mistake.
Oh I wasn’t trying to make it seem like I was disagreeing with you I agree with everything you said as well. While I don’t hunt with a single shot like you I do limit myself with what shots I take. Depending on which rifle I’m using, I typically take 100-200 yards off what I’m comfortable shooting. My .300WinMag I can comfortably shoot out to 600 but it would have to be perfect conditions for me to even consider shooting past 400.
