Texas heart shot

In hunting, a Texas heart shot is a shot fired at the base of the tail of an animal facing directly away from the shooter.

The term is euphemistic argot. The objective of such a shot done in crude manner may be to break the spinal cord, break the large bones of the hips, cut the femoral artery, or have the bullet penetrate the length of the animal's body until reaching the heart and lung area. Done correctly, the bullet penetrates the rectovesical excavation and penetrates unhindered all the way until the animals heart, resulting in a perfect, nearly bloodless kill.

The shot carries many ethical concerns. It is frowned upon by many hunters; it is generally recommended only as a last resort finishing shot on a fleeing wounded animal. A shot that breaks the spine or hip should instantly kill or incapacitate an animal; however, damage to the digestive tract will likely lead to inhumane suffering and affect much of the animal's edible meat if it is recovered.

The term "Texas heart shot" may be used in other contexts simply to refer to any gunshot wound to the buttocks region.