oldrank wrote:I believe most 1 lung shots are not one lung at all. I believe most are brisket, high back, shoulder, or just bad angles and running along the rib cage. Hunters use the one lung description to describe in reality a poorly hit deer. In my opinion if a deer is smoked through one lung it will die quickly. Having gutted literally hundreds of deer I have seen a ton of dead one lunged deer.
Now with that being said, as Lockdown stated. A high angle one lung that maybe catches the outside could possibly be an issue. I personally have never seen it. I have read about bucks with one lung being shot and the other lung was basically a ball of scar tissue.
If I shot a buck and knew he was one lunged 100% I would let him die. According to my readings if the chest cavity is punctured deaths is pretty much certain. That decision would mainly be based on the fact that I wouldn't want to push the deer off of the property I am hunting.
If weather was an issue I would get a dog in.
I agree! Most shots I make all look perfect In my head at the time of the shot. But come to find out after the recovery I was 8” from where I thought.
1 lung hit deer are still dead deer. But it sometimes takes skilled blood tracking, woodsmanship, patients, and a lil luck to ensure recovery. If I don’t see/hear a deer do the crappie flop I give them ample time. Only time I don’t is blistering heat or rain. In those cases I take up trail pretty quick.
For me, a high single lung hit is the hardest. It takes til blood fills up in lung to level of hole b4 u get any blood on the ground. Based on the speed the deer burns off at, it can be close to a 100 yards b4 u get a drop. But then it usually starts to pour.
Low single lung hit deer are an easier find as long as u give em time. Blood trail starts at the scene of the crime and they usually bed down pretty close if not pushed.
Also, I will add. If I get only one lung I like the angle going forward like a quartering away shot vs a quartering to shot.
Life is hard; It’s even harder if you are stupid.
-John Wayne-