Deer & Bear anatomy pictures?

[JerryToth]

Hi all;

I know this is not specifically a "muzzleloading question", so I'll understand if the moderators throw it out. Sorry.

Since the early muzzleloader season is almost upon us here in Pennsylvania, and since I'm going to hunt with roundball this year, I'm feeling like studying a little bit...

Does anyone have any website addresses where they show detailed anatomy pictures for Whitetail deer (and maybe Black bear if I get real stupid!)

Regards to all,

Ironsights Jerry

 

[vanstg]

http://home.mn.rr.com/deerfever/Anatomy.html

http://www.whitetails.com/anatomy.html

http://www.science-art.com/image.asp?id=462&m=58

 

[roundball]

http://home.mn.rr.com/deerfever/Anatomy.html

 

[vanstg]

Black bear...

http://www.bowzone.ca/pdf/bearshotplacement.pdf

>> it might take a while to download...

 

[Stumpkiller]

What kind of Moderator would throw out a bona fide "where you hit 'em" question? It's all just preliminary chatter until the ball hits the vitals. :thumbsup:

 

[bob1961]

here's some to ponder..................bob

 

[RussB]

Ironsights....With the "heart / lung" area being the target of choice, the one observation I have made over the years is the fact that the heart lies a bit "lower, and just a bit more forward" in the chest, than most would point to if asked to point at it on a drawing.
Anatomy is a mighty fine question. :imo:


Russ

 

[JerryToth]

Thanks fellows. The posted pictures and the links will provide for some profitable study!

I'm still uncertain about one thing, and maybe it should be a separate subject?

I'll be hunting with 50 caliber roundball over either 70 or 80 grains of FFg. Most accurate load---two different rifles. Obviously not the heaviest of charges. What happens if the shoulder blade is hit on a quartering-towards-you shot?

Regards,

Jerry.

 

[bob1961]

I'll be hunting with 50 caliber roundball over either 70 or 80 grains of FFg. Most accurate load---two different rifles. Obviously not the heaviest of charges. What happens if the shoulder blade is hit on a quartering-towards-you shot?

Regards,

Jerry.

i hit a deer in that spot last year and it just broke the leg at that joint :no:....reloaded and followed up but she just stayed out of range and only lost maybe 1 or 2 oz of blood then there was no more blood dropping....but the leg was dangling by just the skin she was going to lose it for sure :cry:....followed her and the other one that was with her for bout 300 yards till they just were gone....but i saw her this spring with no leg and was moving like she never had it to start with and the wound looked good for what she had gone through....but for me it's still lies heavy with me that i done that to her so for me no more but a clean open broadside shot or they will walk....i don't know if anyone else has had that experience but it's not a good feeling....thats the reason i went to T/C's cheapshot sabots that have more weight to them....but when i build my long rifle it's going to be a .54 round baller for sure..............................bob

 

[Stumpkiller]

What happens if the shoulder blade is hit on a quartering-towards-you shot?

Depends on a LOT of variables. Distance, angle (tree stand or honerable :haha, what part of the shoulder-blade, exactly how "quartered", leg lifted or weight on it, etc. The shoulder blade will certainly not stop that load at reasonable distances, but it will deflect it. From a level shot, the shoulder blade is actually high in the vitals and only blocks a small amount of lung. (Neat deer fact - the scapula and foreleg leg are free floating in muscle on a deer - no direct joint connection to the spine. That just fascinates me). But there are always at least two ribs behind the widest upper fan of the scapula that can further deflect the ball. Even a deflected ball still has a good chance of smacking the spine and knocking the deer down. If it deflects downwards it will likely still find lungs. One of the mental exercises to help you choose a shot is to imagine where the ball will EXIT. You want to strike so that the ball passes through as much of the vital organs as possible.

Out to 80 yards or better there is no bone in the chest of a deer that will defeat a .50 cal ball pushed by 80 grains of powder (If you allow me that the spine is above the chest). Bold statement but I'll argue it as true. Deflect? Yes. The worst case is a very closed quartering strike that strikes leg or shoulder-bone and then rips along outside the ribs. But in that event you should have been aiming between the legs.

 

[cayugad]

Ironsights.. I am not sure if this will help, but when I am about to shoot at a deer a number of things go through my head. I look at the deer and the way the body is positioned to me. I then think of my bullet as a REAL LONG ARROW SHAFT and I picture in 3-D where the flight of that shaft will go through the animal depending on where it starts and ends. As already said, take into consideration the angle and the elevation you are in relation to the deer. I think in terms of where the bullet will start and where it should if all goes well end up.

I want that shaft to penetrate as much vital organ as possible and if there are some major bones in the process, break them down as well as a final result. The organs I like to take out are the lungs and heart of course. If the bullet can end in a shoulder.. all the better.

A lot of guys will tell you they shoot for the head or neck of an animal because that is an instant knock down. That is true, if your a great shot and the deer cooperates by not moving at the last second. Trouble with those shots are, I have seen deer running around with lower jaws hanging or chunks of the neck messed up. Go for the high percentage shots have always been my theory. The main organs and shoulders...

Good luck to you... biggest thing is don't get so excited you shoot trees instead of deer like my buddy does.

 

[RussB]

"I then think of my bullet as a REAL LONG ARROW SHAFT and I picture in 3-D where the flight of that shaft will go through the animal depending on where it starts and ends."


Very good point cayugad.....After reading, and thinking about what you said, I guess I do the same thing without ever thinking about it.
You're right on that head / neck shot! Leave it to the pro's. put the odds in your favor, go for the heart / lung with the same gusto you were practicing on the bulls eye targets...seems better for makin bacon IMO.
Russ