Thud!

[NTSOG]

G'day,

Recently I was out one evening thoroughly bored with the lack of foxes until finally one came across the paddock in front of me about 200 yards out. I gave a couple squeaks and it looked my way but kept going moving further out. After several more squeaks by me it did stop, turned and sat looking at me. I ranged it at 287 yards through my ATN 4K scope. Being somewhat frustrated I took what the Yanks call a 'Hail Mary' shot aiming at its nose. There being no wind I couldn't see what happened due the smoke hanging in front of me. The fox took off but I could see it with the thermal viewer. It acted like I might have hit it, but it disappeared behind some trees, and I marked it as a 'possible'. Viewing the video at home I was no wiser though it was clear that I held steady on target immediately before and after the shot.

I couple of weeks later I had a look at the video again, but this time the sound on the computer happened to be turned up. This time I heard the shot followed immediately by a softer dull 'thud'. An acquaintance had told me some time ago that the sound of the bullet hitting game makes a noise that is recognisable depending on whether the strike is on bone or soft tissue but I had not noted such a noise due to my ear protection. I checked some more of my videos, both certain kills and other 'possibles', and realised that a number of shots on foxes I had considered 'possibles' were actually hits though the foxes were 'runners' and I never found them. The 'thud' was evident on those clips too.

Jim

[on_one_wheel]

It would take quite some work but with today's technology it would be possible for someone skilled enough to create a program that could determine where a shot hits based upon acoustics. Perfect for blind and vision impaired hunters.
A program like that could also be used in reverse to determine where to place a shot for a particular note, you could literally play a tune.

[Die Judicii]

Jim,,,,,,,,,
A simple question, but why didn't you just go and investigate on the day ?
It may well have been dead right where it disappeared from sight,,,, or, it may have been laying injured nearby.

Ethics.

[Oldbloke]

Yeh, I would have gone for a looky see.

[NTSOG]

G'day DJ,

That's a fair point. I do chase down wounded foxes if I can and finish them. On the night I thought I had probably missed it.

Jim

[Die Judicii]

G'day DJ,

That's a fair point. I do chase down wounded foxes if I can and finish them. On the night I thought I had probably missed it.

Jim