Vital Shots

An ethical hunter always wants to inflict a minimal amount of suffering. Knowing game habitat and anatomy is essential to placing a shot for a clean kill. Understanding your quarry will also enhance your hunting experience.

Where to Shoot

The most effective shots are delivered to an animal’s vital organs—heart and lungs. In large game animals, these organs lie in the chest cavity behind the front shoulder. A lung shot is the most effective shot for big game.

The area of the vital organs also contains major blood vessels and arteries. A shot in this area causes considerable bleeding. If the animal doesn’t die immediately and tries to flee, it will leave a blood trail that’s easy to track.

Aside from being a good marksman, the key to a clean kill is patience. Hunters should limit shots to the vital organs only. If you do not have clear shot to the vital organs, wait until the animal presents the best possible shot.

It’s difficult to hit a vital area on an animal that is running or moving straight away from you. Rather than risk crippling the animal or ruining meat, wait for a better shot.