Talking to a buddy this morning about a guy shooting at the club. He was shooting a new Stevens rifle. It was shooting what I consider patterns instead of groups. He was keeping them in a bull but the bull was maybe 8" diameter. He said not very good but good enough to hunt with. Being the rifle chairman at my club I'm out there a lot and see this a lot also. Just made me think, between new shooters with new rifles and shooter that settle for 8" groups, I wonder how many animals are wounded in the course of a year? We all make mistakes. If you hunt enough its going to happen. I'm not going to say its never happened to me but I will say I have helped track more wounded critters than I have ever wounded or lost myself. I would prefer to completely miss a critter than wound it. I spend enough time with my rifles that if I make a bad shot, its on me, not my rifle.
Some will think and say, coyotes gotta eat. Yes they do.. But even a coyote with a hole blown through him and his guts on fire from a bad shot deserves better. I'm not trying to pass judgement on anyone and think I'm better than but I practice and practice a lot. Like I said if I make a bad shot I want to be sure it was me and not my equipment. Maybe my attitude is because I hate hate hate tracking a wounded animal. I also feel we owe the critters we hunt a quick clean kill. Spend some time with your firearms. Make them and yourself a better hunter. Make humane shots on game animals. Don't take shots beyond your capabilities. It will reward you in the long run...........and be safe!!!
Ramblings of an old fart.
