Double Naught Spy
New member
I saw this video a few years ago and was reminded of it recently after having a similar experience. That is, being surprised at how much the trajectory of a bullet can change when passing through an animal. The concern is that animal animal, not anywhere near the original target trajectory, may be wounded or killed as a result. You can skip to about 3:30 and the shot comes at 3:45. Note how the bullet impacts the dirt well up and to the right of the hog by the juniper tree.
Michael May's video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-94O8o0X-6s
I had a similar experience as well. In both cases, we were shooting at hog and from well elevated position where the expected result of a pass-thru is a round impacting the dirt behind the hog. I can't comment on Michael May's video above in terms of there being a change of elevation, but the windage deflection was significant. In my case, the defection was both in elevation and windage.
My hog was located approximate 18' below my shooting position. I was in a tower blind and shooting down hill. There is a berm behind the hog to catch water that runs down the hill. The hog is near the low spot between the hill and the berm and the bullet impact up on the side of the berm and well to the right of the hog.
My video:
https://youtu.be/htJmdTvp9vA
The shot hit the hog at the base of the ear, clipped the rear of the skull, and penetrated the neck vertebrae before exiting lower and further back on the neck on the other side, but at least part of the bullet deflected high and right, impacting the berm.
For me and doing hog control efforts on client/host properties, hunting around livestock isn't uncommon. It seems to be getting more common as the hog population grows and as the hogs take refuge in cattle herds (and not just for me). I don't have a problem with hunting near or through cattle, but it is important that the targeted hog be chosen wisely, especially given the potential for deflection.
Some folks don't hunt around livestock, and I get that, but this isn't just relevant to those of us who do. This is also relevant to those who hunt wildlife where there are strict tag/bag limits, and an accidental pass-thru, even an indirect deflection resulting in the killing of a second animal is frowned upon by game officials.
Hopefully, this information will be helpful to other hunters when it comes time to pull the trigger.
Michael May's video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-94O8o0X-6s
I had a similar experience as well. In both cases, we were shooting at hog and from well elevated position where the expected result of a pass-thru is a round impacting the dirt behind the hog. I can't comment on Michael May's video above in terms of there being a change of elevation, but the windage deflection was significant. In my case, the defection was both in elevation and windage.
My hog was located approximate 18' below my shooting position. I was in a tower blind and shooting down hill. There is a berm behind the hog to catch water that runs down the hill. The hog is near the low spot between the hill and the berm and the bullet impact up on the side of the berm and well to the right of the hog.
My video:
https://youtu.be/htJmdTvp9vA
The shot hit the hog at the base of the ear, clipped the rear of the skull, and penetrated the neck vertebrae before exiting lower and further back on the neck on the other side, but at least part of the bullet deflected high and right, impacting the berm.
For me and doing hog control efforts on client/host properties, hunting around livestock isn't uncommon. It seems to be getting more common as the hog population grows and as the hogs take refuge in cattle herds (and not just for me). I don't have a problem with hunting near or through cattle, but it is important that the targeted hog be chosen wisely, especially given the potential for deflection.
Some folks don't hunt around livestock, and I get that, but this isn't just relevant to those of us who do. This is also relevant to those who hunt wildlife where there are strict tag/bag limits, and an accidental pass-thru, even an indirect deflection resulting in the killing of a second animal is frowned upon by game officials.
Hopefully, this information will be helpful to other hunters when it comes time to pull the trigger.