32 CENTRAL AFRICAN GAME AND ITS SPOOR. 



the larger species such as roan, sable, waterbuck ; or kudu, but even these ought 

 to be shot in the body, for the neck is a very unsatisfactory mark to aim at, and 

 we advise the young sportsman to take the body shot when it offers. 



The best spot to aim at is the shoulder, for if the heart is not struck the 

 lungs may be, or the shoulders broken and the buck unable to run off, or the big 

 arteries round the heart may be damaged. 



A facing shot is more difficult ; the base of the neck should be aimed at, so that 

 the bullet will rake the vital organs from front to rear. 



When this has been thoroughly mastered, the neck shot may be attempted in a 

 shot which often offers itself, when the animal faces you, having just been disturbed 

 in thick grass, which may be hiding his body all but the head and neck. 



Shots over 200 yards should seldom be tried, for if the sportsman cannot 

 get to within this distance he should leave the animal alone until a better opportunity 

 offers. 



Sometimes in flat, coverless dambos one is tempted to fire long shots, but even 

 in these places 200 yards should be the limit. 



Occasionally when following a wounded animal it gets up and rushes off, then 

 one should fire a raking shot at its stern, high up, as the bullet will have fallen a 

 little before reaching the lungs and heart. 



Some of the buck are most difficult to kill, such as waterbuck, puku, hartebeest, 

 and sassaby, and it is extraordinary what wounds some of the smaller kind can 

 carry off, for we have known a duiker trying to get away with half its entrails out. 



The first is the all-important shot, and an animal is much more easily killed 

 by it than any subsequent shot. 



If this is not delivered in a vital place, once the animal has recovered from 

 its shock it will generally take several more shots to finish it. 



An animal hit vitally will, as a rule, either collapse instantly or gather itself 

 together as if for a buck jump, dash off in a wild gallop for 50 to 200 yards and 

 then fall dead. 



If, on firing, an animal falls over it is generally not hit vitally, and if it lies on 

 the ground it should be instantly finished with another shot, for if it is given time to 

 rise again you may not get another chance at it. 



On following a wounded animal if it is found lying on its side, it is probably 

 dead or dying, but if sitting up it will probably get up or attempt to do so on being 

 approached. 



Care should therefore be taken with dangerous game not to approach too 

 closely if they are seen to be sitting up. 



