Shot placement?

[houndcrazy93]

Hey everyone I got a question. Where do you think Is the best place to shoot a lion. I think it would be in the head. Cuz it's a close shot. But I wanna here some of your opinions on this to. Thanks

[houndnem]

the best way to shoot a lion is with a camera, but the next best I have found is a shot in the neck from the side. it hits the neck bone paralizing them, fragments hit the jugular, and the fall usually finishes them off. I have rarely seen one even twitch after beeing shot in the neck. on the flip side a heart lung shot cat can go on and on ....... head shot wouldn't be bad but you risk damage to the mount or the scoal if it's a biggen. that's my experiance.

[TomJr]

The head is not the best place due to smallish brain to skull size, plus harder bone there if using smaller gun. And the damage to the skull which makes a nice trophy to remember the hunt by.

Neck shot is also not the best but can work... thing is its a lot smaller target than the heart/lung area so you better be close and sure of the shot.

I have found the heart/lung shot to be best. If shot there they usually just stay up the tree until they fall out. But here if the shooter hits a bone or leg as well they will jump and run. But usually not more than a few hundred yards... can get messy for the dogs if they are gritty ;(

The Absolute best I have found is shooting them in the heart/lung area but aiming up from below so the bullet also hits the spine.

Its not always possible to get the best shot due to branches ect in the way. So if you are worried about dogs tie them back before making the shot.

[houndnem]

good god man, what is the longest shot your gona make on a cat?even in the top of a pondy your 100 feet tops. better be able to aim if your gona hunt. they arent exactly a moving target. I do like that heart lung spine combo that you mentioned though. I've just had about a million vet bills from that side shot right behind the front shoulder. I finally started to tie all the older dogs back when they do that. even if ya don't get a vet bill you have to walk another 500 - 1000 yards or more to retrieve your wounded quary. but to each his own. I guess if your shooter can't hit a still target at 10-100 feet standing still with a dead rest then ya best aim for the bigger organs. calibre of gun, bullet, and load can also play into your shot choice. I had a kid last year insist on a behind the shoulder shot, he was shooting a 30 30 with ballistic bullets. he exploded the cat! took out the spine heart lungs shoulder etc. if he woulda took my neck shot he probably would have took the cats head clean off. so I guess there is a few variables to consider when choosing shot placement.

[horshur]

best bet is a raking lung shot preferably quartering away

[Rico]

Here is my two cents. Three calibers that I prefer are .357mag, 30-30 and the 22-250. As far as shot placement. Heads good if you don't want to keep the skull and I'm doing the shooting. Behind the front sholder is fine just be prepaired to track the cat for a little ways. If I want one dead I want him shot straight up between the front legs through the brisket, heart and the bullet lodges in the spine.

[Mike Leonard]

I have seen quite a few cats taken in my day. Seen some real nice deals and some real nasty ones as well. I pretty much use the camera or the walk off and smile methods these days other than depredation. I have seen the worst deals with lions happen when well meaning sportmen come hunt and bring their usual varmint gun a large scoped 22-250 or 243 and a hyper velocity hollow point at very short range and muff it.( Saw one guy shoot a tom 6 times with a 22-250 and still a dog man had to finish it with his 44. I have seen two international sportsmen that have killed just about everything worldwide look foolish when they would not listen . both times I ended up with dogs hurt and me finishing THEIR trophy with my sixshooter. Archers have proved to be more patient and terminal killers aiming for the heart lung at which ever angle ( imagine a small cantelope in the chest of the lion) , choose the angle and let drive!

[twist]

A well placed solid tip 22 if placed right behind the ear or dead center in the chest will do the job as good as any, also anyone that doesnt chain their hounds up on a lion kill is asking for trouble. Andy

[twist]

A well placed solid tip 22 if placed right behind the ear or dead center in the chest will do the job as good as any, also anyone that doesnt chain their hounds up on a lion kill is asking for trouble. Andy

[twist]

A well placed solid tip 22 if placed right behind the ear or dead center in the chest will do the job as good as any, also anyone that doesnt chain their hounds up on a lion kill is asking for trouble. Andy

[twist]

A well placed solid tip 22 if placed right behind the ear or dead center in the chest will do the job as good as any, also anyone that doesnt chain their hounds up on a lion kill is asking for trouble. Andy

[kiwi]

I always wondered about this and how you avoid damage to the skin
Personally if or when i get to hunt one , it will be take pictures at the tree and wander off, a happy man

[BIGBLUES]

Neck with a rifle and lungs with a bow. i suppose their is a few variations that work well. i have seen what i thought to be a great kill shot end up being a not so great shot. neck shots are my favorite. seems to end any animal almost instanly. Their is many variables that come into play when making shot through the chest from between the legs or side of the animal.

[dhostetler]

I agree with Andy on tieing dogs back. Anybody that has loose dogs at the tree and a 100lb+ cat falling from 30+ feet is asking to have a dog killed by the impact.