Game: vital points of the wild and the effects of the bullet

Studying the anatomy of the wild and identifying vital points means knowing where to hit the prey. In particular, in hunting ungulates this preparation should be a fundamental rule that every hunter should know, for precise shots that will not make the animal suffer unnecessarily.

Knowing the vital points of the game corresponds to precise shots, with which it is mainly avoided that the game suffers too much.
Every hunter should know the anatomy of the game he wishes to hunt, in order to make exact and ... unique shots, ie the "one shot" rule.

This rule is described in the splendid film "The Hunter" directed by Michael Cimino, based on the novel of the same name by EM Corder, starring Robert De Niro.
Let's see in sequence the main reactions to the act of firing which, of course, differ according to the anatomical areas hit by the bullet.
Let's start with the blow to the shoulder, considered deadly. In all likelihood, the wild will collapse to the ground, but in some cases it may leap forward, with a subsequent short escape using its hind legs. This occurs when the blow has affected both humeri. On the spot where the wild lies, we will find traces of bright red blood mixed with foamy blood, with pieces of lung and, in some circumstances, even small splinters of bone.

The second vital point concerns the shot in the box, which is also fatal. Hit at this point, the game makes a leap especially if the ball has affected the cardio-pulmonary area; on the contrary, if the shot is further back, but still in the box, the game could rear up on its hind legs and start a quick run with very low head and body. On the site of the discovery of the game, we will find the same traces produced by the blow to the shoulder.

Shot to the spine, obviously fatal. If the bullet hit the first third of the vertebral column, instant death will be instantaneous, but if the vertebral apophysis area is hit, the game will suddenly collapse and as soon as it recovers from the shock it will rise again as if nothing had happened; on the contrary, if the ball has hit the remaining part of the spine, it will cause paralysis of the back. Around the wild we will find a lot of hair, bone fragments and even shreds of skin.

Another extremely vital point is the blow to the neck, with consequent collapse of the game and instant death, provided that the spinal column has been hit; if, on the other hand, the bullet hit the trachea, esophagus or jaw, the animal will suffer the blow in a very evident way, even falling to the ground and then getting up and starting at full speed. Blood mixed with saliva, teeth or fragments of these bone splinters will be the traces that we will find on the place where the animal lies.
If the liver is affected, the animal generally kicks with its hind legs, or hunches down with its head down and moving very slowly. If the ball hits only the stomach, no obvious markings will be observed, with the exception of the animal's discard on the shot. On the place where the animal has taken the last steps we will find dark red blood, possible liver fragments and / or the contents of the rumen or esophagus.

The blow to the intestine is also fatal and is usually marked very clearly by the game that kicks with the rear and starts very fast. Faecal residues, minimal traces of blood and cut hair is what we will find at the place of the discovery.
The last type of fatal blows is the one that affects the kidneys. The game hit in this point lowers on the hind, usually emitting a cry, trying to escape and get away. Abundant dark blood, cut hair and traces of urine will be the traces we will find.

Finally, the part of the body of the non-mortal game corresponds to the limb: if hit in this point, the game clearly loses its balance, with the possibility that it falls on the side of the affected limb, and then begins to run quickly. The wild hit in a limb will lose little red blood, shreds of skin, traces of cut hair and certainly more or less large splinters of bone.
Ultimately, as already mentioned at the beginning, having a basic knowledge on the anatomy of the prey you want to hunt, in particular the ungulates, will enable the hunter to make precise and lethal shots.
The study always pays.

Post comments 1

Aldo Romei says:

4 years ago

I would have been more satisfied if the explanation had been accompanied by figures or other with the various points we are talking about; I have been practicing selection hunting from stalking for several years and I generally shoot next to the front shoulder near the spinal column with excellent results up to 200-250 meters; my weapon is a Wincester 308 and I fire 150gr Hornady SST bullets.