Has anyone intentionally taken a high spinal shot on an Eland ? What did you use and how effective was it ?

Yes, from the front because brush just in front of me prevented me from bringing the POA down.

At the time, I figured if the bullet was too high for the plumbing above the heart it would spine the eland. It spined him and he dropped in his tracks. He was dead when we got to him a minute or so later.

Range was about 75yds, iirc, 375H&H shooting 300gr Trophy Bonded Bearclaws. Bullet looked fine when recovered.

JPK

I shot an eland at about 150 yards with a 375 and 300 grain Bear Claw bullet also. He was quartering toward me so the only shot available was at base of the neck. The bull went down as if hit by lightning but required a finishing shot as he was down but not out. When we retrieved the bullet we found it flattened on the spine like a 50 cent piece. The animal could not move but the spine was not broken. I would like to see how a Swift would perform under similar circumstances. This bullet was back in the days when Trophy Bonded had not changed hands so it was a "good" bullet.

Well not a true spine, a high shoulder which also spined the animal.

Tough shot. I made a poor shot that was an inch high. We heard the hit, the bull staggered and went into some thick brush. Follow up found a lot of blood but no eland.

We tracked him for over 4 hours. Finely got a follow up shot at 300 plus yards to finish the deal.

Any decent bullet will get the job done. Many hunters shoot high because they over estimate distance...they think the animal is two hundred yards away but he's actually only 110.

Many Africa rifles are sighted in at distances too long anyway. That combined with under- estimating distance causes high shot...PH often yells "Great Shot" as animal drops in his tracks. That was not a "Great Shot". It was nearly a missed shot! Not quite high enough though, bullet didn't sail over the animal. Just clipped the spinal ridge resulting in a one-shot kill. You see it on the deer hunting shows everyday too.

Shaking on sticks, flinching, not staying in your gun and tendency to place crosshairs above vital zone also contribute to high/spinal shots. When you miss completely, you often miss high.

Point being, I'm not a fan of high spinal shots on larger African game. Neither are PH's. I've executed my fair share of them, believe me. But it's kinda like the bank shot in basketball. Did you mean to do that? Was that intended? NOT! Result is good, but that's probably not where you were trying to place the bullet. The only time they count is when you "call em" before you pull the trigger. Jerry West and Bill Russell would have been good "spinal shot" hunters.

Bwana Moja

quote:

Jerry West and Bill Russell would have been good "spinal shot" hunters.

quote:

Originally posted by SoulonIce:
I cannot imagine taking a shot at a 3 inch target (spine) if a 24 inch target (lungs) is available. To do so would be an irresponsible attempt at showing off, like on some of those tacky Perfect Shot videos.

quote:

Originally posted by SableTrail: The only time they count is when you "call em" before you pull the trigger. Jerry West and Bill Russell would have been good "spinal shot" hunters.

Bwana Moja

Practice, practice, practice,--

Two other good examples--

How many golf balls each day did Jack or Tiger hit in getting to the top?

I thought we were always supposed to call our shots---At least that is how I was taught.

For years and years the "Neck" shot has been criticized the "high shoulder" is now taking some of that heat.
(thank God times do change )

Anatomically, the high shoulder on most plains game is a fairly high percentage drop as compared to the neck shot. (even in an Eland's shoulder)

The advantage when placed properly is immobilization, DRT, if low as the majority of most shots are"pulled" as to the vertical axis, is a shot in the lungs.

Don't watch TV much, this place has taken its place .

I do find AR interesting in the amount of critique of in particular --longer range hunting and DRT immobilizing shots-- than I anticipated.

Beginners should in general use the heart/lung combo shot, I have no problem with that.

As experience grows and precision and coolness at the trigger grow, why criticize those of us that choose a DRT shot.

Is that not what a Croc or Ele PH wants, DRT precision. like the bow brain shot posted recently.

BTW--

Hmmm-- so why then not use the same approach in other static situations, --IF, you know the anatomy of your target.

Running game (ala Eland) would probably be a wise situation not to choose the high shoulder, honestly I cant think of many others.

I have used "THE" shot since being taught it as a pre-teen, though most of the old heads here in Tejas used the "neck" shot.

My father was actually a head shot hunter, caring nothing for antlers, he thought my technique an "unnecessary waste of meat" and so informed me.
"Aim small, miss small" first time I heard it, I wasn't watching "Patriot".
So when I hunted with him, I would head shoot in deference to him.

BTW, the Eland in my case was a dusk ,over 400 yards, the last day ,tired etc--
so. go ahead tell me again how bad my ethics are,----

to me it was perhaps my finest hunt, --
OH, and yes, I called the shot.

Thanks, Dad

Duggaboye,

Two things,

1.) Sable Trails is one of the most experienced hunters you will ever have the pleasure of criticizing, he is also a beyond excellent shot.

2.) Because of the elands hump, many miss high.

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:
Duggaboye,

Two things,

1.) Sable Trails is one of the most experienced hunters you will ever have the pleasure of criticizing, he is also a beyond excellent shot.

2.) Because of the elands hump, many miss high.

JPK

Pardon me, twas not I that criticized.
I posed questions.

I discussed the anatomy.
I discussed experience.
I have not doubt in Sable Trail's hunting knowledge,experience, nor ability.
(and am aware of his history.)

Perhaps,I confused the issue between the high spine shot and the high shoulder shot.

Perhaps it seemed to you, my query was a bit antagonistic, but I still maintain my opinion and will maintain my approach.

Yes,have shot much game in the standard heart/lung area, I still prefer an immobilizing DRT whenever the situation present itself as an appropriate opportunity in my or if discussed my PH's judgment.

quote:

Originally posted by SableTrail:
Any decent bullet will get the job done. Many hunters shoot high because they over estimate distance...they think the animal is two hundred yards away but he's actually only 110.

Many Africa rifles are sighted in at distances too long anyway. That combined with under- estimating distance causes high shot...PH often yells "Great Shot" as animal drops in his tracks. That was not a "Great Shot". It was nearly a missed shot! Not quite high enough though, bullet didn't sail over the animal. Just clipped the spinal ridge resulting in a one-shot kill. You see it on the deer hunting shows everyday too.

Shaking on sticks, flinching, not staying in your gun and tendency to place crosshairs above vital zone also contribute to high/spinal shots. When you miss completely, you often miss high.

Point being, I'm not a fan of high spinal shots on larger African game. Neither are PH's. I've executed my fair share of them, believe me. But it's kinda like the bank shot in basketball. Did you mean to do that? Was that intended? NOT! Result is good, but that's probably not where you were trying to place the bullet. The only time they count is when you "call em" before you pull the trigger. Jerry West and Bill Russell would have been good "spinal shot" hunters.

Bwana Moja

Agree 100%.

I have never met a PH who recommended that shot, for a first shot. As one of the other posters so logically put it, why take a shot at a small target zone when you have a large one................

I took my Cape Eland with a lung shot, but he was running........but only another 150 yards, after taking a 250XFB, from a 358STA.

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Perhaps,I confused the issue between the high spine shot and the high shoulder shot.

No doubt you were confused.

With quotes like this, "Beginners should in general use the heart/lung combo shot, I have no problem with that.

As experience grows and precision and coolness at the trigger grow, why criticize those of us that choose a DRT shot." I gotta ask just how many eland have you pole axed?

JPK

quote:

Originally posted by SoulonIce:
To do so would be an irresponsible attempt at showing off, like on some of those tacky Perfect Shot videos.

At least those videos are better than the Okra Winfree show.

BTT

quote:

Originally posted by JPK:

quote:

Originally posted by DuggaBoye:
Perhaps,I confused the issue between the high spine shot and the high shoulder shot.

No doubt you were confused.

With quotes like this, "Beginners should in general use the heart/lung combo shot, I have no problem with that.

As experience grows and precision and coolness at the trigger grow, why criticize those of us that choose a DRT shot." I gotta ask just how many eland have you pole axed?

JPK

Though I do not see the relevance of your "body count" hypothesis other than school yard competitiveness: The number is 3 (three).
I do not have unlimited funds, nor time, nor the desire to simply accumulate .

The joy for me is in the hunt itself.

Perhaps one of the reasons my last Eland is the most prominent in my memory:

The days and miles leading up to the shot are of greater import than shot itself.

I did not originally pose the question for a bragging rights conversation, if that ,as it appears to me ,was your assumption.

The question was posed in earnest.

Perhaps I should rephrase----Why(in my estimation)is there palpable distain for DRT type shots and the presumptive "bad ethics" of employing such shots by knowledgeable, skilled and accomplished sportsmen, here on AR? (not just you ,or SableTrail)

I can only think ,that you or others believe we "lead astray" the novice by discussing this technique; or that in some way these shots are (as implied elsewhere in the forums) "stunts" in the same vein as deliberately provoking a charge for some sensational filming.

I noticed your, BTT-----

FYI--- I was practicing this weekend, on the bench, off-hand and on the sticks, in the rain on Saturday and the sun on Sunday.