Deer Hunting: Headshots

5440fight said:
I can do 5 1" 1 shot groups all day with my sks, offhand, prone, even drinking. We use apples for targets, and shoot the bees they attract. I always aim for the bees head, so I don't spoil the wing meat. Hornets usually take two shots to drop them, unless we use soft points for better expansion, but I once had to finish one off with a hatchet when he started fluttering as I approached to field dress him. The memory haunts me.
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You were lucky to make it out alive! Good on ya for not wastin the wing meat, them buggers are tough to field dress.
 
The problem with making a successful head shot is not one of rifle accuracy, nor is it even one of marksmanship. The problem is that the target tends to be in motion, and the moment and direction of that movement is unpredictable. Thus while our internet hero (who has probably never seen a wild deer) might make a perfect shot, from what ever position and range he claims, the target is not there by the time the bullet arrives. And simply hitting the head is not enough. The bullet must bisect the center of the head, regardless of target angle, otherwise the brain or the spine is missed, and you're faced with a wounded animal whose ability to cover distance is not compromised. Its amazing how many people screw up a head shot when applying a finisher to a downed animal from a few feet away, never mind one that is unwounded and at range. If the opportunity ever arrises, take your rifle and dry fire at a deer out in a field sometime, and see how often the head remains in position when you hear the striker fall. That should be enough to end the controversy, yet it continues.
 
track said:
Ooooooooooooooh it's going to be a long winter.
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X 2

How anyone could care so much about how another guy can shoot is beyond me. 3/4 of what we read on the internet is BS anyways, so why bother attacking this guy if you already know he's full of it?

Me thinks you guys need more shooting time and less internet commando time :D
 
Trophies? Plaques?? Let's see em.


JJ-65 said:
Thanks for bringing the topic up. I have won every class of EVERY silhouette match that i have shot in over a six year period, and it's not by chance that i don't mind headshots. I will leave the ass, gut and leg shots to those that are doing the best they can with what they have.
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MDR said:
You were lucky to make it out alive! Good on ya for not wastin the wing meat, them buggers are tough to field dress.
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They are tough to field dress. I use tweezers, nail clippers, a razor blade, dental floss to hang them by their feet, and a monocle. Classiest insect hunter you've ever seen.

monocle-large.jpg
 
canadian hunter312 said:
X 2

How anyone could care so much about how another guy can shoot is beyond me. 3/4 of what we read on the internet is BS anyways, so why bother attacking this guy if you already know he's full of it?

Me thinks you guys need more shooting time and less internet commando time :D
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Some of us have a short fuse for bull$hit, you have your things you argue as well; as you just have. Those of us "calling" this that I'm familiar with, such as Eagleye, have a lot more time hunting and in the bush than on the keyboard. That makes us rather familiar with what is plausible, and what is completely impossible.
 
Ardent said:
Some of us have a short fuse for bull$hit, you have your things you argue as well; as you just have. Those of us "calling" this that I'm familiar with, such as Eagleye, have a lot more time hunting and in the bush than on the keyboard. That makes us rather familiar with what is plausible, and what is completely impossible.
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it just seems pointless wasting so much time and energy ousting this guy. seeing as he apparently posted another pic in spite, would it not suggest that the term "hook, line, and sinker" would apply to this? ;)

just sayin...
 
Finish shot

A shot in the ear is the cleanist way to finish a deer at 5 yds when they are down but not dead. Keeps the eyes from buggin out on ya and you don't waste any meat. As far as a head shot on a moving deer not sure I would risk it if it had a nice rack. I heard a story about a guy shooting a running deer in the eye heard the same story from two guys that knew him. Story is a Story is a Story...... bla bla bal......
 
An elderly gentleman friend of mine who has shot numerous Commonwealth Target Rifle matches in Ontario and Abroad (representing Canada), who also hunts simply laughed when I showed him this thread. I agreed with him, it is a joke.
 
5440fight said:
I can do 5 1" 1 shot groups all day with my sks, offhand, prone, even drinking. We use apples for targets, and shoot the bees they attract. I always aim for the bees head, so I don't spoil the wing meat. Hornets usually take two shots to drop them, unless we use soft points for better expansion, but I once had to finish one off with a hatchet when he started fluttering as I approached to field dress him. The memory haunts me.
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ha: I lost it when I got to "wing meat," well done sir.
 
Boomer said:
The problem with making a successful head shot is not one of rifle accuracy, nor is it even one of marksmanship. The problem is that the target tends to be in motion, and the moment and direction of that movement is unpredictable. Thus while our internet hero (who has probably never seen a wild deer) might make a perfect shot, from what ever position and range he claims, the target is not there by the time the bullet arrives. And simply hitting the head is not enough. The bullet must bisect the center of the head, regardless of target angle, otherwise the brain or the spine is missed, and you're faced with a wounded animal whose ability to cover distance is not compromised. Its amazing how many people screw up a head shot when applying a finisher to a downed animal from a few feet away, never mind one that is unwounded and at range. If the opportunity ever arrises, take your rifle and dry fire at a deer out in a field sometime, and see how often the head remains in position when you hear the striker fall. That should be enough to end the controversy, yet it continues.
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Just about the most perfect post I have seen on this subject.
And I admit to having missed finishing shots from close range.

I would wager most "hunters" could not accurately identify the area of a deers head that if transected would intersect the brain, even on a mount.

And there are way too many of us seeing gunshot wounded deer.
 
stuckon308 said:
There were no outrageous claims that I am the best shooter that ever lived. But I know for a fact that 6" offhand at 100 yards is not difficult. 3-4" is the norm. Stop blowing things out of proportion.
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If it is truly "not difficult", this will be very easy to affirm. First, produce a video with no stops or editing for the 6 inch group at 100 yd........

Good, now do it again for the "norm" 3-4 inch group.

It's really quite simple to prove.

Ted
 
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Why not? said:
If it is truly "not difficult", this will be very easy to affirm. First, produce a video with no stops or editing for the 6 inch group at 100 yd........

Good, now do it again for the "norm" 3-4 inch group.

It's really quite simple to prove.

Ted
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Looking forward to the video myself, and curious how many tries it'll take. I'll have respect for the "Wow, harder than I thought" reponse honestly. People in your profession Ted have seen a lot of offhand shooting no doubt, the good the bad and the ugly I'm sure. :)

PS, your new signature line is pure gold.
 
I've shot a few animals in the head when I was younger, a doe, an elk and a moose but I quit doing it after I missed a standing cow moose at 40 yards. I try and avoid the low percentage shots now and would not recommend them.
 
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