Finishing Animals.

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Well, we're shotgun only for deer hunting around here. I never liked the idea of a "finishing" shot with buckshot, so I always carred a couple of loads of No 8 birdshot with me. At point blank range, it would turn their lights out.

Speaking of Bayonet's. I sent an E-mail to the game comission not long ago asking if an SKS would be legal for deer hunting in rifle areas, in particular the magazine capacity, and the bayonet. I was told there is no magazine limit in Virginia (for rifles) and as long as I kept the bayonet folded, and didn't use it, it was no problem. So I guess a banzi charge at a deer is out of the question. :D
 
I carry either my .357 or a .45 while hunting with a rifle.

Although, I sometimes hunt with my .44 mag, so I guess it would be that then. :D
 
Just a little experience. I had a friend who shot a nice buck last year let it sit for awhile when he went up to it the deer stood up and came toward him I dont think it was intentional just trying to get away by the time the dear got away he friend looked like he had been in a fight with a roll of barbed wire. I think I will be more carefull from here on out.
 
knife AND fork

I usually finish mine with a knife and fork! :rolleyes: Well ... OK ... sometimes I knaw a little off the bones... but not in public. :D
 
IIRC "finishing off" any game animal during black powder or archery season is illegal in my state. I know that doesn't exactly relate to the thread but it does illustrate the importance of knowing the hunting laws where you hunt.
 
Just a little experience. I had a friend who shot a nice buck last year let it sit for awhile when he went up to it the deer stood up and came toward him I dont think it was intentional just trying to get away by the time the dear got away he friend looked like he had been in a fight with a roll of barbed wire. I think I will be more carefull from here on out.
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Yeah. I ran into a guy with a doe tag who did the same. Thing seemed to be down for the count, but when he approached, it jumped from the brush, right at him. He had an opportunity to find out firsthand that a scoped .308 doesn't make a great close-quarters weapon. His last round was lucky -- a neck shot. The rest went all over the place.

The point is, even if you're thinking it's just a mortally wounded animal that needs to be finished off with a .22, it might spring at you. Larger caliber can be helpful.
 
While I often carry a handgun while rifle hunting deer (legal here), any finishing shot I make is with the rifle I initially shot the deer with. It seems like the most humane thing to do, although it rarely happens.

I often carry the handgun (.44 SW Mountain Gun) in case a really unaware deer comes close enough for a clean kill. Of the 73 deer I have bagged, 2 nice does were taken this way (both at about 12 yards).
 
a knife

Not a good idea, IMHO. Shoot them with whatever you shot them with the first time, or use a handgun more potent than a .22. Even spindly-legged deer are quite powerful (don't ask me how I know, but accept the fact that it was exciting there for a bit . . .).
 
Bad Idea

You'd be amazed at the hoof accuracy of a whitetail with eyes closed presumably in its last minutes of life when that knife tip hits its neck and the difficulty of getting it out of the woods, one handed. ;)
 
For deer I've had good results with .40, 9mm, .45ACP and .45 Colt. Neither has ever taken more than one finishing shot when I've walked up on a deer that was still kicking. I had to finish one with a knife once. Wasn't pretty, took awhile even though I got the pipes all the way around. I prefer another bullet if it's necessary.
 
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