Shot placement - Vital zones

A well-placed shot targeting the vital organs—specifically the heart, lungs, and major arteries—ensures a clean and swift kill. Unlike paper targets, hunting live animals requires a thorough understanding of their anatomy for precise shot placement.

The heart/lung area is the best target for hunters for several reasons:

Larger target area

This vital zone is approximately the size of a basketball in large game animals, providing some margin for error.

Effectiveness

A shot to this region is highly effective, often resulting in a quick and ethical kill due to the importance of these organs.

Rapid blood loss

Hitting this area leads to swift blood loss, resulting in a quicker death and easier tracking if the animal runs.

Accessibility

When the animal is broadside, this area is easily visible and accessible to the hunter.

Meat preservation

A well-placed shot minimizes damage to valuable meat, ensuring more of the animal can be used.