http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm Predator & varmint hunting in your State Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:32:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5352 Hoth Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:54 +0000 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm#comment-5352 Because the head is a much smaller target than the vitals (heart/lungs) of an animal there's a greater chance of just wounding the animal. By going for the vitals you're more likely to make a killing shot. Head shots are also more likely to result in the behavior you observed with the opossum you shot in the head. When the brain is destroyed neurons start to fire off rapidly and randomly. With a shot to the heart, the brain instantly goes into sympathetic shock and shuts down, resulting in the animal dropping where it stood. Because the head is a much smaller target than the vitals (heart/lungs) of an animal there’s a greater chance of just wounding the animal. By going for the vitals you’re more likely to make a killing shot. Head shots are also more likely to result in the behavior you observed with the opossum you shot in the head. When the brain is destroyed neurons start to fire off rapidly and randomly. With a shot to the heart, the brain instantly goes into sympathetic shock and shuts down, resulting in the animal dropping where it stood.

]]> http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5353 Ash<3Zoe Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:54 +0000 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm#comment-5353 Well a shot to the head can be cleaner. If you graze the lung or heart you can cause more pain to the animal. A shot to the head almost always assures a clean kill. If you puncture a lung, the animal will drown in it's own blood, and you can cause painful internal bleeding if you strike the heart. A head shot through the brain is cleaner, and while you said the possum went flying, it was dead by the time it hit the ground. With a body shot you are taking the risk that the animal will suffer unnecissarily. Even though the body shot is easier your concscience will be better off knowing that you are not causing pain to the animal. Well a shot to the head can be cleaner.
If you graze the lung or heart you can cause more pain to the animal. A shot to the head almost always assures a clean kill. If you puncture a lung, the animal will drown in it’s own blood, and you can cause painful internal bleeding if you strike the heart.
A head shot through the brain is cleaner, and while you said the possum went flying, it was dead by the time it hit the ground. With a body shot you are taking the risk that the animal will suffer unnecissarily. Even though the body shot is easier your concscience will be better off knowing that you are not causing pain to the animal.

]]> http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5354 the noob hunter Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:54 +0000 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm#comment-5354 as said in another answer every animal will react differently so go for body shot the brains to small as said in another answer every animal will react differently so go for body shot the brains to small

]]> http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5355 John de Witt Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:54 +0000 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm#comment-5355 The matter of shot selection is one of judment, and that comes with experience. I can tell you're young by the way you describe your shooting. Those who can always hit what they're aiming at do so only for one reason: they haven't shot at that much yet. There is no other group and no better shot, anywhere in the world. Bran shots are an iffy proposition. If you're half good at neuroanatomy and can put the muzzle on the scalp, it's a better choice. Even with elephants at ten yards, it's quite common for people to miss the parts of the brain that shut down the animal instantly, and that's not a small target. Heart/lung shots may not be quite as quick, but they're a lot more certain. The matter of shot selection is one of judment, and that comes with experience. I can tell you’re young by the way you describe your shooting. Those who can always hit what they’re aiming at do so only for one reason: they haven’t shot at that much yet. There is no other group and no better shot, anywhere in the world.
Bran shots are an iffy proposition. If you’re half good at neuroanatomy and can put the muzzle on the scalp, it’s a better choice. Even with elephants at ten yards, it’s quite common for people to miss the parts of the brain that shut down the animal instantly, and that’s not a small target. Heart/lung shots may not be quite as quick, but they’re a lot more certain.

]]> http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm/comment-page-1#comment-5356 shooter Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:28:54 +0000 http://predatorhuntingtoday.com/a-direct-shot-to-the-heartlungs-or-a-head-shot-which-is-more-humane-and-for-what-reasons.htm#comment-5356 G'day mate, a humane kill is a head shot because when the head shot is done the brain stops working straight away where the lung shot or heart the brain still working for about 20 to 25 seconds.It's still a humane kill but not as good as ahead shot.The possum you shot in the head is probably because of the pellet didn't penetrate the skull to get to the brain or deep enough into the brain.it could be because of poor bullet performance or the caliber is not strong enough for a head shot.When yr using a .22lr /.22 magnum,etc a lot of shooter use the hollow point which it scrambles the brain to a pulp,even with a solid bullet because of it energy.I'd say the air rifle pallet didn't fly well or unbalanced in fly t,or distance you shot the possum at the pallet didn't have enough energy.cheers mate G’day mate, a humane kill is a head shot because when the head shot is done the brain stops working straight away where the lung shot or heart the brain still working for about 20 to 25 seconds.It’s still a humane kill but not as good as ahead shot.The possum you shot in the head is probably because of the pellet didn’t penetrate the skull to get to the brain or deep enough into the brain.it could be because of poor bullet performance or the caliber is not strong enough for a head shot.When yr using a .22lr /.22 magnum,etc a lot of shooter use the hollow point which it scrambles the brain to a pulp,even with a solid bullet because of it energy.I’d say the air rifle pallet didn’t fly well or unbalanced in fly t,or distance you shot the possum at the pallet didn’t have enough energy.cheers mate

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