How to Make the Perfect Follow-Up Shot with a Rifle

In a perfect world, we would only need a single rifle shot to kill a wild animal. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Sometimes we must take follow-up shots due to a clean miss or the animal needing a second or third shot to quickly bring it down. Many hunters neglect to practice this skill, but it is crucial.

Mastering the skill of follow-up shooting is challenging as it requires placing accurate shots on alert or fleeing animals. Moreover, these shots are often taken from less-than-optimal positions and under the influence of adrenaline. You have only a few moments to fire a second round in a fluid situation that demands skill, calmness, and cognitive calculation. How can you make the most effective and ethical follow-up shot?

Staying Calm is Key

Flexible marksmanship is undoubtedly important for a precise follow-up shot, but staying calm is paramount. Once, I witnessed a hunter uncertain if he hit a Dall ram. He proceeded to fire several more rounds in the ram’s direction as it ran over 800 yards away. Mindlessly shooting without accuracy will not bring down the animal, but it will likely make the situation worse. You might make another inaccurate shot that wounds but does not kill the animal. Alternatively, you could accidentally shoot a neighboring animal, which is both unethical and potentially illegal.

For example, I once missed a blacktail buck while shooting offhand. The buck ran behind trees and was followed by another buck. When they reappeared, I shot, successfully killing the deer. However, upon inspection, I realized it was a different deer that I hadn’t seen before. In this case, I had multiple tags and could legally shoot does or bucks. However, such situations can have severe consequences, and it is often better not to shoot. You must be able to assess the situation and make the right decision.

Furthermore, achieving a balance between speed and calculation is vital. Rather than hastily shooting, take a moment to evaluate the unfolding situation. This will promote calmness and increase your chances of success.

Keep Ranging Your Target

If you require a follow-up shot, two key factors to consider are range and wind conditions. I once missed a ram five times due to my failure to account for the steep angle I was shooting at. Although I was not shooting carelessly, I neglected to adjust my aim point accordingly. Similarly, there have been instances where hunters made a successful first shot, but failed to monitor the distance and adjust appropriately when the animal moved, resulting in repeated misses.

Estimating the yardage accurately is crucial, despite it taking extra time. Whether you make manual adjustments or use Kentucky windage, accounting for the distance you will be shooting is essential. Just as you wouldn’t attempt to hit steel targets at various yardages without adjusting your scope, the same principle applies to shooting an animal. Therefore, use a rangefinder to determine the yardage and calculate the appropriate holdover or turret adjustment.

Get More Comfortable with Long-Range Shots

In addition to staying calm and analytical, practice is essential. Improving your shooting ability involves practicing improvised positions, shooting at moving targets, quickly finding long-range aiming solutions, and shooting from a wide range of distances. Shooting wild game at long ranges is challenging, and not every hunter excels in this area.

However, you should practice longer shots at the shooting range. By doing so, you will be better prepared when a follow-up shot becomes necessary in the field. You will be more familiar with your aimpoint and able to make the second shot quickly without panicking. Additionally, you may encounter situations where a clear second shot is not immediately available or the animal keeps running. In such cases, being ready to shoot at a distance will be beneficial.

Knowing When Not to Shoot

One essential aspect of recovering a wounded animal or avoiding injuries from a missed shot is knowing when NOT to take a follow-up shot. Sometimes, the best decision is to refrain from immediately taking another shot if you know you missed or wounded the animal. Each situation is unique, and there is no clear right or wrong decision for follow-up shots. However, the purpose of any follow-up shot should be to resolve the situation rather than exacerbate it.

Occasionally, you may have to push your comfort zone. However, if the animal is running away, and you lack confidence in making a good hit, it is often wiser to wait for a better opportunity rather than making it harder to recover the animal. Sometimes, it is better to wait and check for blood before proceeding, even if it means potentially losing the animal you missed. Taking a risky follow-up shot after wounding an animal, which misses, can result in the animal running for miles, making it nearly impossible to find.

In summary, every hunting situation is unique, and making follow-up shot decisions can be challenging. However, if you have sharp shooting skills, remain composed, and make wise decisions, you will have the best chance of a successful connection when it truly matters.