How many shots to take down your game?

[bighornbor]

I found a piece of copper in my elk meat and it made people ask how many times I shot it. I shot that bull twice and my first bull 3 times, in the fog of adrenaline and thick timber, I keep shooting until it's down. In hindsight it's a bit excessive but I've heard lots of stories of people losing bulls up here in the thick timber. Otherwise all my deer have been 1 shot.
I've also heard some Fudd stories of a 7 shot stone ram and a 12 shot mule deer buck, both involved a lot of misses and buck fever.

Curious to hear your guys experiences, how many shots to seal the deal?

 

[survivalistd]

One shot One kill no exceptions

 

[elsb0048]

2012 smallish 5x5 bull elk 150yds: 2 shots, shot 1 he went down and rolled, stood up so I hit him again and he was down for the count
2012-2019 no strong memories....
2019 mule deer buck 150yd: 1-shot
2020 whitetail buck 90yd: 2 shots, went down on the first one but he was gasping when I walked up to him and so I put another one at the base of the skull
2021 whitetail buck 150yd: 1 shot
2022 mule deer buck 220yd: 5 shots, 2 into the deer. This was a rodeo, lack of practice, buck fever, and cold wind shivering had me hit him bad in the front leg on the first shot. Took me 4 more to get another one in him. Not a proud moment but managed to squeak by. And at least put him out of his misery
2033 whitetail buck 130yd: 1 shot
2024 whitetail buck 100 yd: 1 shot
2025 whitetail buck 120yd: 1 shot

 

[Bendarer]

Honestly, if it’s not down, I’m shooting again - better that than tracking a wounded animal for hours; clean follow-ups matter more than “one perfect shot.”

 

[Steve300xcw]

It always takes one shot unless it requires another.

 

[WoodlandCritter]

Killed my first deer last year. Hit him with 3 rounds of 5.56 in a neat little cluster. Probably was dead after the first one but I kept shooting 'till I saw his legs buckle.

 

[Wizzum]

One for the bull I got last year. Heart and lung shot. Froze standing where I shot him; probably wouldn't have moved but I gave him another for good measure so I wouldn't have to track. DRT, took 0 steps.

 

[Pony Soldier]

Of 75, i can't think of more than one that took more than 1 shot.

 

[Pulleye16]

I'll always take a follow-up shot if presented and the animal is still up!

 

[Reburn]

As many as required until it falls and doesnt get back up.
I dont even track how many shots anymore.

 

[Mike D Texas]

If they are on their feet after the first shot and I can get another, I’m shooting until they are on the ground.


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[Turkeygetpwnd38]

If they are standing, lead keeps flying AND when they are on the ground, stay in the gun and be ready to shoot again, especially if they dropped after first shot.
More than a few times I’ve seen guys shoot, animal drops like a sack of potatoes, they jump up and start celebrating, animal gets up and runs off.

 

[Yellowknife]

I used to do the one shot / one kill thing.

Then I started taking tactical handgun and bear defense classes. It's been double taps from force of habit ever since. This falls moose was a perfect "Failure to Stop" drill. Two to chest, one to the head in <10 seconds. First one was good, but ammo is cheap.... so why not?

Sometimes they drop instantly, but if they stay on their feet for more than a few seconds I can almost always hit them again.

 

[The Harbor Master]

Small sample size for me, but 5 animals all taken with 1 shot each.

 

[ElDiablito]

I hunt with muzzys. One shot is all I get in most cases over hundreds of animals taken.

 

[5MilesBack]

I had one bull that I shot three times within about 10 seconds from inside 25 yards, and the fourth shot from about 50 yards. All four shots on their own were kill shots through the vitals, but he stayed up until after the last shot. 175gr Nosler Partitions 7mag.

 

[Olympics777]

Every bull I’ve gotten has been dead in one shot, sometimes where they stand and sometimes they run ten yards or so and pile up. I did have one deer that took three shots, it was a doe that just would not die. Two of those shots were a little far back though, probably poor trigger pulls on my part.

.308 with 168 ELDM does the job well.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I don't remember the last time I have shot and and killed a big game animal and it has taken more than one shot. I usually fill my antelope & deer tag every year that I draw one. Elk , not so much filling my tag every year. I am very particular on the shots I take and makes one shot kills possible.

 

[Steve300xcw]

I've had one rodeo, never realized how few rounds a tikka holds until that day.

 

[ReddingArcher]

The majority are 1 shot kills. I know I’ve killed a pig or two that took a couple rounds. My caribou soaked up 3, the first was a bit back but the next two was heart and lungs. We couldn’t tell he was hit until the 3rd round, he had no reaction. I can think of 1 deer that took 2 rounds.