One Shot, One Kill, or What?

[shaman]

I got into an argument somewhere on another forum (which I can't mention here) over the concept of One Shot, One Kill, it's meaning and application. I didn't want to stir up any more trouble, but I figured that I would come over here an ask you all how you felt.

[Sand Gap Sniper]

Well, I don't know how your argument went on the other sight, but I don't take a shot at something unless I'm reasonably sure that it will kill it. I don't like wounding stuff, that doesn't mean that I've never wounded anything, or that I won't ever wound anything else, but not on purpose.

[nwest]

Well, I don't know how your argument went on the other sight, but I don't take a shot at something unless I'm reasonably sure that it will kill it. I don't like wounding stuff, that doesn't mean that I've never wounded anything, or that I won't ever wound anything else, but not on purpose.


What he said.

[str8 shot]

so who ever voted for only one shot,your tellin me if a big booner walks out and you shoot and miss him, your not guna take another shot if the opportunity presents itself? lol if you say no theres somethin bad wrong with ya

[naturalelite]

If I know that I have hit the animal well then I will not follow up with another shot. If I am some what unsure of the hit I will continue to shoot until the animal is down or I no longer have a reasonable shot. I feel like I owe the animal that much.

In a perfect world it should just take one shot but everyone misses so I am always prepared for a follow up shot.

[BuckUp]

Well, I don't know how your argument went on the other sight, but I don't take a shot at something unless I'm reasonably sure that it will kill it. I don't like wounding stuff, that doesn't mean that I've never wounded anything, or that I won't ever wound anything else, but not on purpose.


Good post..
Thats why I don't like deer drives, 98% of the time people are just slinging lead.

[Rackophrenic Rick]

Not sure what your looking for here?

I think most want to make one shot and one kill. However, in reality that is not always how it ends. I think as sportsman we should be as proficient as possible with our weapons, know our limitations, and make good choices considering all conditions that can effect our first shot in being fatal or wounding.

I'm not against making follow-up shots either, even when the first was mortal. Especially if it ensures a higher probability of recovery success. However on the other hand, just to fill an animal full of lead or arrows for the heck of it would be down right ignorant.

I have always been a proponant of single shot weapons for the reason that those that use them tend to make the first shot count and even if they make a bad shot or miss, the time they have to take to reload will give them a chance to refocus and make a better shot. I have witnessed many times folks (not everyone) hunting with autoloaders that tend to rush, aim poorly, or pop off a shot knowing they had a more shots available at the next squeeze of the trigger. For that reason, I'd never start a new hunter out with an auto loader. For seasoned folks, autoloaders can be very efficient tools to dispatch animals quickly in the case that a follow-up shot be needed.

I guess to some it up, it is ideal to down game with one shot but if it requires another to ensure a quick death and/or recovery, go for it. I will say though, people should understand that an excellent fatal shot may not drop an animal no matter how good. If your sure of your shot. Don't shoot again an let the animal have its time to expire. In some cases another shot may push them to run farther. It pays not only to be able to shoot but also to know how to track.

[Louhunter]

Back when just to see a deer was a big deal my grandfather had a saying. "Shoot All Your Shells". If the deer is moving, I am shooting. That said, I always try and make it a one shot kill, but am always ready to shoot again.

[Pugs]

Last year was the first time in more than 25 years of deer hunting that I've had to shoot twice and I'm darn glad it's always been SOP that the bolt gets cycled and the scope back on the target.

Still don't know why I missed her on the first shot but she ran towards me after the first shot at about 125 and stopped broadside at about 60 so that was that.

[huntindawoods]

Like said in the second post I never shoot anything unless I'm sure I have a clear shot. Not saying I haven't missed b/c I have and it's always been my fault. I do always follow a shell right back in case it is needed. I always know my surroundings. I have wounded deer with my bow and if you knew me you would know right away that I would have soon missed.

[rcb216]

Well, I don't know how your argument went on the other sight, but I don't take a shot at something unless I'm reasonably sure that it will kill it. I don't like wounding stuff, that doesn't mean that I've never wounded anything, or that I won't ever wound anything else, but not on purpose.


Good Post. I had a bad year last year missed a nice 120-130, clean. Then messed up one just as nice if not the same one, then I wounded one (for the first time in several years) and could not find it, but I did get plenty of meat, but for my history normally one shot one kill, but where I hunt the longest shot is 30-40 yards, I can make well placed shots in that close range, but I had a lot of frustration. I always take pride in well placed and safe shots, last year goes to show no matter how hard you try there will be times when it all goes wrong.

[yeehaw21]

I'm not the greatest deer hunter alive. I've only killed 5 deer during my hunting career, but I've luckily never shot at a deer yet and not found it dead. Only one deer have I ever actually shot at and hit more than once, and I hit him in the spine with the first one. I have taken more than one shot on three of the other four, but really never hit them the second time. I've actually had a lot of luck hitting them good with the first shot. Good thing I'm pretty good on the first shot, because I suck on follow ups!!!:o

My problem happens to be turkeys. I've killed a few, but probably would have to admit to missing just as many, one of which I wounded and never found (I looked for 2 days). I guess I need some more practice with the splatter gun! I switched to a new gun, and I killed one with it last spring, so I guess we'll have to see after a couple more seasons if I can blame my previous lack of success on the old gun! :rolleyes:

[Quickdraw Limpsalot]

Like most everyone else, I agree with what Sand Gap Sniper said in the 2nd post. I try to make the first shot the only one I'll need to fire, but there are other rounds in my gun in case something unexpected happens. I've only needed a followup shot once in my life on a deer and found out later that it was totally unnecessary. I'm not a perfect shot by any stretch, but I owe it to my quary to be at the top of my game when I pull that trigger.

[pedigo]

I try to make all my shots one shots but even a slightest flinch on a long can require you to make a second to finish off the prey.

[turk2di]

Ever shot i make is intended for a quick kill! Its only natural 2b ready for a follow-up shot!

[Jughead]

i try to take the deer on one shot but sometimes that just dont happen. if a big buck walks by and i miss it or hit it in the leg or something, i'll shoot it until its clean.

[BigBoyKY]

I don't think any ethical hunter, with a repeating rifle or not, would take a shot at any game animal without intent to kill it on the first shot. I don't think the choice of weapon has anything to do with it but that is just my opinion. The key word here is "Ethical". Anyone who takes a shot at any animal and isn't sure of whether or not it is going to be a fatal shot, need not make the shot. I realize that sometimes you may have a deer or other animal in your sites with good intent, and they may take a step forward when you are squezzing the trigger, but that is hunting, BAD SHOTS HAPPEN no matter who you are.

[notimlmit]

I don't think any ethical hunter, with a repeating rifle or not, would take a shot at any game animal without intent to kill it on the first shot. I don't think the choice of weapon has anything to do with it but that is just my opinion. The key word here is "Ethical". Anyone who takes a shot at any animal and isn't sure of whether or not it is going to be a fatal shot, need not make the shot. I realize that sometimes you may have a deer or other animal in your sites with good intent, and they may take a step forward when you are squezzing the trigger, but that is hunting, BAD SHOTS HAPPEN no matter who you are.
Agreed -- I have jumped deer only to watch them leave the county without firing a shot only because of risk of bad shot placement and maybe not knowing what would be in the line of fire -- but if one is knocked down and after a time tries to get back up or crawl off then another shot may be needed if for nothing else but to be humane

[GSP]

I'll take the heat here. I hunt deer like rabbits. I don't hunt horns, I hunt DEER, I go kill meat and I am usually done by 9:00 opening day. I hunt with a semi-auto Remington and if the initial stalk through my woods does not produce I kick them up and shoot them like rabbits. Very effective and to my knowledge I have never lost a deer. I have killed over 100 deer and I have killed a grand total of 2 by sitting and ambushing them. Both were pure luck and that is the story on them.

When a deer pops up in a weed field or briar patch, it runs usually 50 yds or less before it stops. They almost always stop, look back to see what jumped the, be ready and drop them in their tracks.


I have no problem in taking more than one makable shot at a deer anymore than I have taking more than one shot at a rabbit, squirrel, quail or clay pigeon.

[shaman]

I didn't want to start a flame war over there, and I certainly don't want to start one here, but I'll tip my hand now and let you all know what set this off. Back when I was first learning to hunt, my buddies were very adamant about forgetting about the idea of one shot- one kill. Now before you all get your hackles up, I want you to all look at the voting. One of those in Option 2 is mine. However, the way I get to it may be a bit different.

The theory I was taught, is that you should never expect the first shot to work. You should shoot, reload, re-acquire, and be ready for a follow-on shot, and repeat as necessary until the game goes down.

That doesn't mean spraying at a running deer, or going for a marginal first shot. It means going for the first best shot you can make-- I'm a boiler room kind of guy, but I know there are those of you here that prefer others. It means not letting up in your concentration until the deer is down. I was taught that the best shot possible is one where your sights come back to rest on the deer as it hits the ground, ready for the second shot. (No, silly, I don't shoot at the twitching carcass either. Jeesh!)

I am also going to say that I stayed quiet about this for years, until meeting up with a guy over on the long-defunct all-outdoors.com forum. JJHack is a professional hunter, specializing in African hunts. His big complaint with American hunters was their tendency towards "Golfer's Syndrome" -- taking the first shot and then putting down the rifle to see what happens. Far too often, he'd seen the rifle go "BANG", the game and the hunter stand their eyeing each other, and the hunter forgetting what he was there for until it was too late.

JJHack was the first fellow outside my old group of buddies that preached proper follow-through. One shot-one kill should be a goal, not an expectation. Things do happen. Deer don't always go down right away. I've had this happen with good double-lung/ heart shots with a 30-30 and a 35 Whelen-- good loads, good bullets, good hits at short distances. Sometimes they just stand and look at you; I've had one go back to feeding. Now what?

So, I was explaining this somewhere else, and a fellow responds that he wants to rip my head off-- that I'm the worst order of slob he has ever seen. The battle was on. The thing about pig wrestling is that both sides gets dirty, and the pig loves it. I always try to think like the pig, especially when I'm getting egged on from the sidelines. What really sent this fellow over the moon was a quote from one of my long-deceased buddies: "One shot-one kill is a dream for sofa jockies." It was a bit harsh, but then Jerry was a big burly ex-marine who made an M1 Garand look puny in his hands. When he said it, it sounded like it was coming from the mouth of an angry war god. Again, Jerry wasn't teaching "Spray and Pray"; he was telling me to keep my head down on the stock and never expect the first one to do it.

When the laundry finally hit the line was when my self-appointed inquisitor trotted out his impressive stats: 15 years in the field, and only two deer lost. Mine were a bit better: 25 years, one deer lost to a Muzzleloader, three deer that took more than one shot before they went down. Neither side had any reason to cheer. It simply meant that:

1) Deer, shot well, usually go down after the first shot. Those that don't usually run a little ways and then pile up.
2) Being prepared for a follow-on shot is more mental-preparation than actual execution
3) One guy looks at 3 deer in 25 seasons as reason enough to be ready. Another holds that one shot not only should be enough but HAS to be enough, no matter what.
4) Folks tend to get their panties wadded up over the dangdest things when they're counting down the days until season starts.

Well, from the results of the poll, I see my fellow Hunters of Kentucky may share a somewhat similar idea, about all this. I feel better now. Thanks.

[KuntreeBoy]

I have never taken more then one shot but I have seen deer make a suddent movement when chasing does and made the shooter totally miss the deer. But IMO it never hurts to be prepared. Hope for the best and be ready for the worst.

[BigBoyKY]

I didn't want to start a flame war over there, and I certainly don't want to start one here, but I'll tip my hand now and let you all know what set this off. Back when I was first learning to hunt, my buddies were very adamant about forgetting about the idea of one shot- one kill. Now before you all get your hackles up, I want you to all look at the voting. One of those in Option 2 is mine. However, the way I get to it may be a bit different.

The theory I was taught, is that you should never expect the first shot to work. You should shoot, reload, re-acquire, and be ready for a follow-on shot, and repeat as necessary until the game goes down.

That doesn't mean spraying at a running deer, or going for a marginal first shot. It means going for the first best shot you can make-- I'm a boiler room kind of guy, but I know there are those of you here that prefer others. It means not letting up in your concentration until the deer is down. I was taught that the best shot possible is one where your sights come back to rest on the deer as it hits the ground, ready for the second shot. (No, silly, I don't shoot at the twitching carcass either. Jeesh!)

I am also going to say that I stayed quiet about this for years, until meeting up with a guy over on the long-defunct all-outdoors.com forum. JJHack is a professional hunter, specializing in African hunts. His big complaint with American hunters was their tendency towards "Golfer's Syndrome" -- taking the first shot and then putting down the rifle to see what happens. Far too often, he'd seen the rifle go "BANG", the game and the hunter stand their eyeing each other, and the hunter forgetting what he was there for until it was too late.

JJHack was the first fellow outside my old group of buddies that preached proper follow-through. One shot-one kill should be a goal, not an expectation. Things do happen. Deer don't always go down right away. I've had this happen with good double-lung/ heart shots with a 30-30 and a 35 Whelen-- good loads, good bullets, good hits at short distances. Sometimes they just stand and look at you; I've had one go back to feeding. Now what?

So, I was explaining this somewhere else, and a fellow responds that he wants to rip my head off-- that I'm the worst order of slob he has ever seen. The battle was on. The thing about pig wrestling is that both sides gets dirty, and the pig loves it. I always try to think like the pig, especially when I'm getting egged on from the sidelines. What really sent this fellow over the moon was a quote from one of my long-deceased buddies: "One shot-one kill is a dream for sofa jockies." It was a bit harsh, but then Jerry was a big burly ex-marine who made an M1 Garand look puny in his hands. When he said it, it sounded like it was coming from the mouth of an angry war god. Again, Jerry wasn't teaching "Spray and Pray"; he was telling me to keep my head down on the stock and never expect the first one to do it.

When the laundry finally hit the line was when my self-appointed inquisitor trotted out his impressive stats: 15 years in the field, and only two deer lost. Mine were a bit better: 25 years, one deer lost to a Muzzleloader, three deer that took more than one shot before they went down. Neither side had any reason to cheer. It simply meant that:

1) Deer, shot well, usually go down after the first shot. Those that don't usually run a little ways and then pile up.
2) Being prepared for a follow-on shot is more mental-preparation than actual execution
3) One guy looks at 3 deer in 25 seasons as reason enough to be ready. Another holds that one shot not only should be enough but HAS to be enough, no matter what.
4) Folks tend to get their panties wadded up over the dangdest things when they're counting down the days until season starts.

Well, from the results of the poll, I see my fellow Hunters of Kentucky may share a somewhat similar idea, about all this. I feel better now. Thanks.

I agree with most of what you are saying but I feel that the first shot should be the only shot. Not that you shouldn't be prepared for a follow up, I totally agree, but I try to make the first one count and try my best not to make "marginal" shots. If I don't have a mortal shot I just simply don't take it.

[Hoosier5]

One shot is nice, but I'm always ready for a follow- on shot

[tex]

See bottom, it has always been my motto. I think the one shot/one kill mentality is more due to preparation than on-scene hunting. I practice till I have spent too much money on ammo, shooting from all positions. I have memorized where my bullets hit on the target, up to 200 yards, so I can make a clean kill. If I fail my first shot, then ethical it is my obligation to kill a wounded animal with a second. I don't own land and I don't have the luxury of hunting. When I get a chance to gun hunt, I mean to make it happen.
And yes, this motto has been on the bottom of my signature since I signed up.

[HornHunter]

I voted for one shot is all that it SHOULD take.....
In 16 years of deer hunting I've rarely ever taken a second shot.
That said, the last two years I started hunting with a single shot remington 30-06 and put the old 742 woodmaster in the gun cabinet.......

[bigpuddin43]

I only take the high percentage shots. but there is no such thing as a sure shot. mistakes happen deer suddenly jump lots of things can go wrong. If i shoot and know i hit the deer good i let it go i know it will die if i shoot and know i made a bad shot i will always be ready for a follow up shot(if im hunting with a rifle) if i know its a clean miss then i dont fire at a deer thats running. I usually hunt with a muzzleloader so this doesnt apply but every once in a while ill pick up the 243.

[DearDoctor]

One of the biggest bucks I have taken I shot after a 1/2 mile stalk. I was so pumped I missed from 80 yards. He didn't move and I smoked him with the next shot.:D

[120+]

This seems like a pointless survey to me. :confused: