Quote Originally Posted by GunTroll View Post
WHAT??? Think again. INTEND to shoot it where it counts on the animal and EXPECT it to die clean. Its not a war out there. Multiple shots should not be needed or wanted. I don't like wasting meat. Shoot it and track it if it runs. If it runs far then your shot placement sucked! And EXPECT to get your ass to the range and practice more before wounding game.
I'm at a gun range at least twice a week. My shooting skills are far from in question, and my reloads are better than anything off the shelf for accuracy and knock down.

There was nothing in my post about emptying a BAR or belt fed machine gun into an animal. There was nothing in my post about poor shot placement. My post is about the mentality of shooting one round and then sitting there gawking... If I can get a second round into the kill zone on an elk, I put another round into the kill zone of the elk, period. It's a faster kill, an easier track, and doesn't waste any meat. I've seen deer with no lungs run a mile. I've seen elk do the same. I've also seen elk drop on spot after being double lung shot. The point is, you just don't know. Being prepared to take a second shot on the elk and possibly doing so to ensure a faster kill SHOULD be part of the hunter's mind-set, not sitting there thinking about the first shot.

Many times a second shot is not necessary. Through observing the elks reaction you can usually tell if they are going far or not, but the hunter should still be ready for a follow up shot if at all possible.