The rib cage makes a nice big target. After decades of hunting, I've NEVER lost an animal that was well hit through the boiler room. I have, however, lost two that were shot in the neck. Everyone gets an opinion, and that's mine.
Neck shotting deer
- Thread starter stumo
- Start date
I have taken probably 12 animals with neck shots that I can recall. These were all relatively close and were all lights out. I was confident in my shooting.
My friend shot a mule deer doe in the neck and she went a long ways before she bled out. The shot never hit the spine. Poor placement.
Be honest about your abilities, as the margin for error is small when your target is as small as a deers neck.
My friend shot a mule deer doe in the neck and she went a long ways before she bled out. The shot never hit the spine. Poor placement.
Be honest about your abilities, as the margin for error is small when your target is as small as a deers neck.
Imo…it is not a question of if the shots such as neck or head will do the job because if all goes well with these shots, the result is pretty good.
Imo…it is a question of if these shots are high or low percentage shots…and the answer is…neck and head shots are low percentage shots compared to the lung area aka boiler room.
We all have seen deer or other animals in the field and how they behave. They are just about always on alert. When they eat they move their necks and heads constantly…a little flick of the neck here, a flick there and that is what makes these shots low percentage shots.
Lungs area aka boiler room usually stays in the same place, it is much larger target and that is what makes it a high percentage shot.
That is my take on this topic.
Cheers,
Imo…it is a question of if these shots are high or low percentage shots…and the answer is…neck and head shots are low percentage shots compared to the lung area aka boiler room.
We all have seen deer or other animals in the field and how they behave. They are just about always on alert. When they eat they move their necks and heads constantly…a little flick of the neck here, a flick there and that is what makes these shots low percentage shots.
Lungs area aka boiler room usually stays in the same place, it is much larger target and that is what makes it a high percentage shot.
That is my take on this topic.
Cheers,
I hadn’t previously, but both bucks this year were facing me head on. Both sub 20, I’d guess 16 yard, and 18-19 yard shots. It’s generally thick here. I was on the last available spruce tree 20’ up on the edge of a thicket, with mature poplar, and half dead white birch trees to my other side. The wind was blowing 40-50 km/h and I didn’t hear a damn thing until it was go time. Sometimes that’s the best setup an area can provide. It’s a 115m narrow long travel corridor between ponds. On the ground there’s too many tags to see anything, or provide a shooting opportunity. Both bucks dropped on the spot, didn’t have a clue, and it couldn’t have been anymore humane. Yes, there was some meat damage.
So... as usual... it seems to be that there are fellers that can consistently hit beer cans at their preferred hunting distances, and for those that can't, there is always volleyballs. Just sayin.
Do yourself a favour and practice shooting more often?
The money saved not shooting volleyballs can be put towards ammo? Canned goods of your choice? Equipment upgrades? The possibilities are endless.
R.
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Head on, 30 yds and looking like the buck does not like the look of the blob on the bush pile and hunting next to 300 acres of corn by myself last Friday evening. He took 195grns out of my Thompson Encore right at the base of the white spot on his neck. Did not even twitch once the smoke cleared. Not the first time and won't probably be the last but that gun is one that shoots where it is pointed. Close in and the only option, hammer is dropping
antiqueguy
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- windsor ontario
Hunting with a bow only for deer has tought me to pass a lot of iffy shots. Neck shots and head should always been avoided even when shooting with a rifle or muzzleloader.
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I just had a terrible experience and am not sure what to make of it. I was in the thick bush, on the side of a hill, a buck appears about 15 yards away or less, looking at me straight on. He gave me plenty of time to raise my rifle and pick my spot. I shot him in the front of the neck. After waiting, I walked foward and found the spot he was standing. Three little tuffs of hair, white hair, not a drop of blood, no buck. I spent hours combing through the area, no blood, no buck. Either I missed, which is highly unlikely, or the bullet (165 grain 300wsm) went straight into his body and never exited, never hit anything that dropped him, and he is dead, 500 yards away. The bush is really thick there, I know he didn't run towards me, so he must have turned and run. I walked increasing radiuses from where he was, I walked every trail for a couple of hundred yards, and gave up. I feel really bad about this. I shot another buck the same way years back, same gun, same ammo, and he dropped right on the spot. Bullet never exited him either, but I remember blood came from his lungs out his nostrels. But not a ton of blood, as he died where he stood.
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
Go back with a dog. If the deer is dead the dog will find it.
I shot a nice little buck on Saturday from my blind at 35 yrds. He was rear end to me so it was either a Texas heart shot ( that I would never take ) or back of the head he DRT. Not a neck but very effective. Taken from a solid rest.
What's puzzling were the three tufts of white fur. That corresponds to the white patch on the throat where I aimed.
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did this exact same thing a decade ago , pretty much spot on the exact same scenario except I was using 180gr .303 brit , aiming at the throat patch from 30 yards or less. Some vegetation in the mix but it was a dead on shot and the rifle was not the problem. I walked over to where I fully expected to find the deer and there was no sign of it. In my case, not even hair and i did not see or hear that deer run away , which is pretty impossible in itself. I was absolutely baffled but was sure there was a dead deer somewhere.
After searching for 2 or 3 hours , I went back to camp and got my dog. Took him about 1/2 hour to find it and it was such a surprise when we did because i had walked right passed it several times and it blended into the ground and surrounding terrain so well it didn't even look like a deer laying there. It had made it nearly 200 yards from where i shot it and had probably ran straight away from me and then a hard left uphill. I hit it right where i aimed but because i was shooting slightly uphill, the trajectory was at an angle. The bullet was lodged in the base of the skull below the back of the jawbone. Not much of an entry wound and no broken neck but major trauma to arteries and windpipe.
I would not have found that deer without the dog, that I know for sure.
Licensed to kill
CGN Regular
- Location
- Peace Country Alberta
BIG difference between shooting the back of the head vs the side. Also, a head shot at 35 yards from a rest SHOULD be no problem for any but those that suffer severe buck fever. Also not the same as a head shot from the side at >100 yards off hand.
Yes it was not a hard shot , but when taking a life I think you still need to think about it.
Hand Skills
CGN Regular
- Location
- In the 'heartland', southern SK
I'm not a fan of neck shots unless it's on Grouse.
With deer, I've had them drop on the spot with neck shot but still breathing when I walk up to them.
Not really a fan of looking em in the eye as I poke a drain hole in the carotid.
Better to send bullet through lungs and let them bleed themselves out in my experience.
Not only that, cutting throats can be risky - as the shooter I have no way of knowing if paralysis is temporary or permanent.
I'd feel real bad if it got up and runoft - I'd feel even worse if it turned on me. Wild animals are stronger than they look, and can behave unpredictability....
With deer, I've had them drop on the spot with neck shot but still breathing when I walk up to them.
Not really a fan of looking em in the eye as I poke a drain hole in the carotid.
Better to send bullet through lungs and let them bleed themselves out in my experience.
Not only that, cutting throats can be risky - as the shooter I have no way of knowing if paralysis is temporary or permanent.
I'd feel real bad if it got up and runoft - I'd feel even worse if it turned on me. Wild animals are stronger than they look, and can behave unpredictability....
