204 



RECREA TION. 



THE SHOULDER LINE. 



serious so far as it affects the chances 

 which the animal has of escaping, than a 

 similar wound of the hind leg. If one 

 errs in a direction toward the animal's 

 head, he strikes the neck, with its many- 

 vulnerable points, — the great arteries 

 and veins ; the nerves, especially the 

 cervical portion of the spinal cord ; or 

 possibly, if high, the great ligament sup- 

 porting the head, which may impart a 

 sufficient jar to the brain or cord, under 

 some circumstances, to crease the 

 animal. If the bullet pass to the rear, 

 the heart, lungs and aorta are directly 

 in its path, so that such a shot is very 

 destructive. The forward part of the 

 lung, being better supplied with blood 

 vessels of considerable size, offers a more 

 vulnerable point of attack than the re- 

 mainder, yet the hemorrhage into the air 

 cells from even a small vessel is often 

 fatal in a short time, and especially if 

 the animal exerts himself in trying to 

 escape. 



If, however, one is so close as to be 

 certain of striking the neck, a much 

 smaller mark, the shot has the advantage 

 of not injuring the edible portions of 

 the animal, while being very effective. 

 The same remarks apply to the head, 

 and especially if using a small cartridge 

 as compared with the size of the 

 animal. I have known a man to kill an 

 elk with a long 22 cartridge, by shooting 

 it in the ear, as he suddenly came upon 

 it at close range when grouse shooting. 

 The shot could hardly have been fatal 

 anywhere else than immediately about 

 the head, owing to the depth of the vul- 

 nerable parts, and the small penetrative 

 power of the ball. 



In shooting dangerous game at close 

 quarters, if one were certain of his aim, 

 the head about the eye or ear, or the 

 neck, would be chosen ; but if any doubt 

 existed as to fairly accurate shooting, a 

 heavy rifle aimed at the shoulders would 

 be more certain to disable the animal, 



