HUNTING Bison

[AfricaHunting.com]

Bison Hunting Shot Placement

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Hunting Bison

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Hunting Bison

Anyone has the right to share, copy, distribute and transmit this image/work (but not to adapt it, or use it for commercial use).

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Here are some comments that I received on Bison shot placement which I wanted to share...

"The large hump on the top of the shoulders of American Bison tends to make people shoot too high, as shown the heart lies very low in
the chest and the spine is quite low as well... The Alaska game managers for the Bison herd at Delta Jct. tell everyone that if you can get a perfect broadside look at a Bison when they step forward there is a small patch of bare skin right behind the elbow joint. This patch shows up real easy and from a perfect side on shot a bullet placed into that light colored patch will blow the heart to bits. The one I shot made one faltering half step after the shot and folded up stone dead with a two inch hole right through the heart. This doesn't work as well on moose as they don't have the bare skin patch. If you can see the elbow joint it still makes a really good aiming point."

 

[AfricaHunting.com]

Bison Shot Placement

Bison Shot Placement

Here in image...

Anyone has the right to share, copy, distribute and transmit this image/work (but not to adapt it, or use it for commercial use).

Anyone has the right to share, copy, distribute and transmit this image/work (but not to adapt it, or use it for commercial use).

 

[1strongg]

Bison Shot Placement

Here in image...

Anyone has the right to share, copy, distribute and transmit this image/work (but not to adapt it, or use it for commercial use).

Anyone has the right to share, copy, distribute and transmit this image/work (but not to adapt it, or use it for commercial use).

Thanks for posting this...I just booked my first bison hunt. Since bison are so large, can you give an idea on how big of an area that heart is?

Thanks!

 

[BRICKBURN]

Or, put one right in the ear flap and you'll be fine to.

 

[bluey]

is the ear in front or behind the horn on them big buggars brick ?

 

[BRICKBURN]

is the ear in front or behind the horn on them big buggars brick ?

This is the best way I can show you.
The ear tag says it all.

They have to be square to you when you use the ear at the target for the side shot.

 

[bluey]

im not getting it mate

 

[BRICKBURN]

im not getting it mate

This should do it.

 

[bluey]

thanks brick pretty easy to cover any damage to that fluffy cape if you slip one in there
i wouldnt have had a clue where the ear was if it wasnt marked out in the pic.

 

[BRICKBURN]

thanks brick pretty easy to cover any damage to that fluffy cape if you slip one in there
i wouldnt have had a clue where the ear was if it wasnt marked out in the pic.

If you hit these guys in the wrong place in the head it is just like an elephant. They will suck it up and walk away.
I have witnessed a 180 grain 300WM shot at 30 yards hit square in the head (to high) Bison rocked backward and trotted away.

130 gn .270 on that X and down it goes. Like everything, shot placement is the deal.

No cape damage for sure. We are lucky to have the long hair to hide mistakes.

 

[flat8]

Bison Heart

 

[scoober78]

Brickburn speaks truth here gentlemen. While I've not yet been to Africa, I have shot two Bison. They are remarkably tough critters, but if the conditions present the shot, the head/neck junction will provide you the most ethical and quick kill with a great bleed for meat quality. No need for a monster caliber either. A quailty deer rifle (.270 etc...) with a quality bullet will get it done.

The guide I used suggested one hand down and one hand back from the actual ear hole. It's a small-ish target 3-4", but highly recommended. Both fell in their tracks (literally) and never moved again. Poleaxed. To give you a sense of how robust these critters are, the heart beat for approximately 5 minutes from the shot with the butchering showing that the spinal cord and neck were completely severed. Food for thought.

 

[grand veneur]

Theoretically that's an acceptable shot and that with many game species.

Practically you cannot make a mistake and you need an absolute accurate shot , otherwise you have to expect bad non lethal wounds. Always something can go wrong and that is why it is generally not advisable to shoot in this way a bison or a buffalo , and also other game species.

 

[scoober78]

Practically you cannot make a mistake and you need an absolute accurate shot , otherwise you have to expect bad non lethal wounds. Always something can go wrong and that is why it is generally not advisable to shoot in this way a bison or a buffalo , and also other game species.

It certainly can go wrong, as can any shot, and a missed shot at any vital area will lead to bad, non-lethal wounds. We all know the consequence for the "too high" lung shot in no man's land below the spine. Is the margin for this shot smaller than for a heart/lung? Yes. However, given the herd dynamics, lack of meat damage, and lack of fear of man, this is a practical, makeable shot for an experienced marksman. Should it always be chosen? No. Should it be discussed? I think so.

 

[grand veneur]

It certainly can go wrong, as can any shot, and a missed shot at any vital area will lead to bad, non-lethal wounds. We all know the consequence for the "too high" lung shot in no man's land below the spine. Is the margin for this shot smaller than for a heart/lung? Yes. However, given the herd dynamics, lack of meat damage, and lack of fear of man, this is a practical, makeable shot for an experienced marksman. Should it always be chosen? No. Should it be discussed? I think so.

Bad injuries mean jaw or throat injuries.

We know that from the driven hunts. The animals need weeks to die when you cannot found it before. Therefore one should avoid intentionally shots where there is a risk of such injuries.

 

[RS71]

Bison heart

That bull just did not want to die.

 

[Diegomd]

I have shot 2 bison. One bull went down with a heart shot at about 50 yards with a 338 Lapua. It walked away for about 20 yards and then died. The other a bison cow I shot with a 416 in the head. She just went down no damage to skin or meat. Im still eating that one!

 

[John Wasmuth]

Right where the head and neck come together and they drop like a rock.

 

[RTG]

Amazing animals.

There are several types of Bison hunts. For a cow from a herd or a young bull recently pushed out of a herd, sure ear shots probably work great.

If you want a giant trophy bull howerver, don’t bother practicing for an ear shot. You better bring enough gun! The smart, wild, old timers don’t want to be found, or shot. This guy moved fast and was very elusive, no chance for ear shots. Hours of stalking and miles of hiking, finally got close enough.

Shot him on a full run, three times from 60-125 yards. His lungs and heart sucked up .375 cal 300gr A-Frames like a sponge. No exit wounds. Bullets never made it out of the organs and the old bull never flinched. Eventually took three more to knock him down. None exited. None hit the other side of the ribs. Penetration was 12-18”. Big old bulls are dense. Bigger, heavier is better. Though given the shots I brought the right gun. Low magnification optic helped my suddenly aging eyes.