I used to be a 1 shot one kill guy. Then I realized life isn't perfect. I still shoot 300+ rounds out of my hunting rifle every year to make sure I'm well practiced but life isn't perfect.
1st mule deer: 1 arrow
2nd mule deer: 1 shot
3rd mule deer: first muzzle loader attempt wouldn't set the hammer so I never shot. A couple days later I found a different deer and thought that putting the bipod on a log was a good idea. Obviously I missed that deer.
1st pronghorn (same year as 3rd mule deer): I took out a brand new AR-10 and missed the pronghorn at 200 yards (my zero distance). I sat there for 30 minutes watching a different pair mate before I decided to go get my pronghorn only to be shocked by finding nothing. Ended up finding out my scope had slid when a buddy pointed it out.
A week later I shot at a different pronghorn at 200 yards. It dropped instantly (high shoulder) but I noticed it was still making noises. I tried an off hand head shot at 175 yards full of adrenaline. That was dumb and I hit it's ear. Ended up putting a finishing shot in it from 75-100 yards.
3rd mule deer rd 2:
First shot was 300 yards. It dropped instantly. I stayed in the scope because I couldn't see it and wanted to be ready for a follow up shot. It ended up hitting it in the spine and it's hind quarters were paralyzed but it wasn't dead and was still pushing up with it's front hoofs once it regained consciousness. I immediately dumped another round in it from 300 yards and the sprinted all the way over to it and put another in it's chest from point blank because I felt bad and wanted to make sure I had done everything I could.
Moral of the story. In my opinion, try to be as ethical as you can. Things break, you screw up. One shot one kill is a great goal but the real priority is killing the animal as swiftly and painlessly as possible.
1st mule deer: 1 arrow
2nd mule deer: 1 shot
3rd mule deer: first muzzle loader attempt wouldn't set the hammer so I never shot. A couple days later I found a different deer and thought that putting the bipod on a log was a good idea. Obviously I missed that deer.
1st pronghorn (same year as 3rd mule deer): I took out a brand new AR-10 and missed the pronghorn at 200 yards (my zero distance). I sat there for 30 minutes watching a different pair mate before I decided to go get my pronghorn only to be shocked by finding nothing. Ended up finding out my scope had slid when a buddy pointed it out.
A week later I shot at a different pronghorn at 200 yards. It dropped instantly (high shoulder) but I noticed it was still making noises. I tried an off hand head shot at 175 yards full of adrenaline. That was dumb and I hit it's ear. Ended up putting a finishing shot in it from 75-100 yards.
3rd mule deer rd 2:
First shot was 300 yards. It dropped instantly. I stayed in the scope because I couldn't see it and wanted to be ready for a follow up shot. It ended up hitting it in the spine and it's hind quarters were paralyzed but it wasn't dead and was still pushing up with it's front hoofs once it regained consciousness. I immediately dumped another round in it from 300 yards and the sprinted all the way over to it and put another in it's chest from point blank because I felt bad and wanted to make sure I had done everything I could.
Moral of the story. In my opinion, try to be as ethical as you can. Things break, you screw up. One shot one kill is a great goal but the real priority is killing the animal as swiftly and painlessly as possible.
