Risks of Taking a Headshot?

Yet there are several gut-shot deer every year, and many of them are poorly hit by experienced hunters. I wonder how many "eye-shot" deer run off every year, to carry on with life with only 1 eye...
 
Yet there are several gut-shot deer every year, and many of them are poorly hit by experienced hunters. I wonder how many "eye-shot" deer run off every year, to carry on with life with only 1 eye...
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Many of those gut shots are caused by poor shots that never practice,or by people that take running shots and have no idea as to the lead required,or by people that simply have no clue as to where their gun is actually shooting.Many of those people don't even pick a specific target on the deer.The fact is,that the heart/ lung area,is the largest vital zone on a game animal.and therefore it offers the highest odds of a clean kill.Unfortunately,some people's shooting ability,or shooting knowledge,aren't good enough to even hit the target with the greatest odds for a clean kill.
 
I completely agree with you, and that's precisely my point. Not all riflemen are created equal. If you know that you're not good enough to make a killing head-shot with 99% surety, DON'T try. If you KNOW that you can (because you've put bullet to steel and paper enough times to know), then feel free. For myself, I know that I can hit the head of a deer under the right conditions out to a certain, self-limited range. I've stated my reasons for taking head shots, but under most conditions I, too, will opt for the chest shot.
 
It doesn't matter who you are,or how skilled you are as a shooter,the largest vital zone,with the least chance of a lost or wounded animal,is the heart lung area.
 
Most of us experienced hunters all know this, It's really common sense, but I don't believe we will get that point across to the hunters until they wound and have to track an animal. Even with taking the best percentage shot things can and will go wrong, I just don't understand why people want to make things harder on themselves.




stubblejumper said:
It doesn't matter who you are,or how skilled you are as a shooter,the largest vital zone,with the least chance of a lost or wounded animal,is the heart lung area.
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Or easier if it means that you don't have to haul a moose out of a lake, or drive an hour to get permission to track a deer that ran onto private land after the shot?

There is no disputing that the chest is the largest vital zone. The point of this debate is one of ethics. Is it more ethical for a highly-skilled marksman to shoot a deer in the head at 150 yards, or for a once-a-year hunter that fires no more than a box of ammo a year to fire at a deer running by him at 50 yards, after being flushed out of the bush by his hunting party running a deer drive?

If I see a deer laying in the bush at 15 yards, unaware of my presence, should I force myself to shoot the chest "because it's the highest percentage kill shot", even if hitting the head is a gimme?

There's more than one way to skin a cat- just make sure you choose a way that you can successfully pull off with confidence.

BTW, I've killed my fair share of animals, and then some, and I've tracked others for clients, friends, and family, so I'm no spring chicken when it comes to bullet placement.
 
Jordan: I don't know about this head shot business. I have killed a lot of deer and never once did I have a problem recovering an animal shot in the vitals. I remember one year my bud shot a big 5 point buck with his .303 Brit and it ran to the edge of a clearing, we waited and I followed it and he was standing at the edge of the treeline looking like nothing happened to him. I immediately shot him with my .308 Win and he ran into the woods. We both stood there looking at each other wondering if we had shot the Terminator Buck from Judgement Day. We moved into the woods and found it 25m in folded up. When we opened him up my bullet had destroyed his lungs and my bud's had shredded his heart. I wish I had taken pics of the autopsy but you will have to take my word for it... Anyway, even though this buck ran off after being shot twice and it was a hassle to drag him out of the woods, I still wouldn't have aimed for his head. It was an easy shot less then 40m for me but in my view the head is very risky, the animal's head even stationary is moving around. Yeah you can sometimes predict when it will move but the target area is smaller and the trade off is not worth the shot. You can talk about nicked ears but I think it is very likely that you would miss and hit the jaw or nose.

BTW I am not trying to tell you that YOU shouldn't headshoot an animal, I am only talking in generalities. I see a lot of hunters that only shoot 5-10 rds per year and 3 of them are sighters and the rest are at animals so I think as a general rule of thumb vitals are what should be advocated - the problem with forums like this is you have young new hunters coming on here who don't have the means or time to practice shooting so they read a post and think that is the way the "experienced" hunters do it, the experienced hunters aren't the ones reading this and taking it in they should know their own limitations and shoot accordingly... Just my 2 cents.
 
Worse is a pile of teeth left in the snow and a deer left to starve.A buddy was sitting at his shooting bench in North/Western AB [December]about to work out some new loads and having a coffee with a neighbor.When a cow elk materialized down the fence line wearing what appeared to be a necktie.Turns out she was unable to make the fence and was wandering aimlessly with her lower jaw and tongue hanging down.Sad sight so she was put down and towed to the far end of the field for the scavengers to clean up.Victim of an attempted headshot.......................Harold
 
mbogo3 said:
Worse is a pile of teeth left in the snow and a deer left to starve.A buddy was sitting at his shooting bench in North/Western AB [December]about to work out some new loads and having a coffee with a neighbor.When a cow elk materialized down the fence line wearing what appeared to be a necktie.Turns out she was unable to make the fence and was wandering aimlessly with her lower jaw and tongue hanging down.Sad sight so she was put down and towed to the far end of the field for the scavengers to clean up.Victim of an attempted headshot.......................Harold
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Never seen what you describe but I have seen plenty of deer that have been gut shot or had a leg blown off from attempted heart/lung shots. I don't find what you describe to be any more or less tragic than what I've seen. A ####ty shot is a ####ty shot whether it is at the head or chest.

Yes the chest is a bigger target but a suprising number of hunters still miss it. Those poor shooters probably would be better off shooting at the head since it would mean a better chance of a clean miss.

For the record I believe that head shots are a valid target when circumstances are perfect. I have taken them at close range and when I could shoot from a firm rest -- usually when I have the kids with me and don't want to be following a blood trail with them in low light.
 
Not to cause a fuss but its best to shoot for the vitals, heart and lungs, to ensure a kill. Always worked for me. Aim just behind the front shoulder and you should'nt have any worries. Cheers.
 
Glock4ever,

I agree completely.

I should just clarify, though, that 99.9% of the shots that I take at game animals are chest/shoulder/spine shots.

I'm ONLY supportive of head shots if the animal is facing directly to, or directly away from me. That way if I hit the jaw or nose, the bullet goes through the C1 vertebrae and it's lights out either way.

I certainly wouldn't suggest this type of shot for new or beginning hunters, or for those that don't have the means or time to put in the time practicing and becoming extremely proficient with their rifle. Heck, I don't even use the head shot unless I feel the need to drop the animal RIGHT NOW.

It's been a good discussion, and believe it or not, I have come away with a greater understanding of the topic at hand.

Have a great day everyone.
 
I have personally witnessed a bullet bouncing off an elk's head. It was a 50 yard shot on an elk ranch with a 44mag lever action rifle. We were helping to cull and process a few elk cows.

Straight on shot, just above the eyes, bounced off and the cow stumbled around like it had been hit with a hammer. Never went down. I looked though my binos and saw a patch of hair missing where the bullet hit. Needless to say we moved to the side and put one through the heart. Dropped right there and didn't move an inch.

Not judging anyone that does it, just my story to add to the debate.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
Most of us experienced hunters all know this, It's really common sense, but I don't believe we will get that point across to the hunters until they wound and have to track an animal. Even with taking the best percentage shot things can and will go wrong, I just don't understand why people want to make things harder on themselves.
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That's the long and short of it right there.
 
sjemac said:
Never seen what you describe but I have seen plenty of deer that have been gut shot or had a leg blown off from attempted heart/lung shots.
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I'd put money on the fact that these were not heart/lung shots, but hail mary's at running animals. These could very well have been 200 yard, head shot attempts by a guy that could shoot ping pong balls at 500 yards while at the range.

There are way too many variables when hunting to say anything's a gimme. A relaxed animal, standing in front of you is only going to give you a 16" stationary target behind the shoulder, so why would you want to aim for the 3" one that's moving around looking all over the place at every noise, sight or scent? If you tell me it's so you don't have to track it then, I'd hate to say it, but you need a good :HR: A deer that has been double lunged is dead on it's feet anyways, most times only going <80 yards.
 
casterpollox said:
I have personally witnessed a bullet bouncing off an elk's head. It was a 50 yard shot on an elk ranch with a 44mag lever action rifle. We were helping to cull and process a few elk cows.

Straight on shot, just above the eyes, bounced off and the cow stumbled around like it had been hit with a hammer. Never went down. I looked though my binos and saw a patch of hair missing where the bullet hit. Needless to say we moved to the side and put one through the heart. Dropped right there and didn't move an inch.

Not judging anyone that does it, just my story to add to the debate.
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Head shot is not a percentage shot. Use it when you have no other alternatives.

It was early in the 2000, I shot at an injured buck laying behind trees (175 yards). The 150 gr Partition from my 270 bounced off its head as we later confirmed with the recovered deer. Yes, bullet can bounce off skulls.
 
Courtntan said:
I'd put money on the fact that these were not heart/lung shots, but hail mary's at running animals. These could very well have been 200 yard, head shot attempts by a guy that could shoot ping pong balls at 500 yards while at the range.
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They could be but many are undoubtedly people taking the shots at the big target and screwing it up. I shoot most of my antlerless deer in the head but I pass on a whole lot of opportunities to make sure I get the perfect shot. I prefer to work with the cleanest meat possible. But hey, YOU can shoot YOUR deer anyplace you like.

Courtntan said:
There are way too many variables when hunting to say anything's a gimme. A relaxed animal, standing in front of you is only going to give you a 16" stationary target behind the shoulder, so why would you want to aim for the 3" one that's moving around looking all over the place at every noise, sight or scent? If you tell me it's so you don't have to track it then, I'd hate to say it, but you need a good A deer that has been double lunged is dead on it's feet anyways, most times only going <80 yards.
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I wouldn't aim at that one. I'll aim at the one that is stationary because it has focused its attention on something. Sometimes I even make sure that their attention is focused on me.

When the deer's 80 yard horizontal run might result in a 200 ft vertical drop, you get a different perspective on tracking.
 
the only time i would ever attempt a head shot is with a .22lr.... and thats after many days with out food and the family was starving. IMHO there is always a better option, if not wait for the next deer
 
I have made succesful headshots on antlerless deer. never a problem. And when there is no other option on a deer facing you in heavy brush, i dont see a problem. Last Sunday when my girlfriend got her first mule deer buck, that was the case. I told her to take careful aim between the eyes and it was slightly angled, not directly head on. She shoots a 243 with 100 grn bullets. Here is the outcome.

Lornasdeer032.jpg


Bullet entered just left of the eye and exited out the opposite ear. It was a hundred yard shot which the rifle is sighted in for. If you are confident in your shooting ability and your rifle, I say go for it if there is no better option. misses can happen to anyone but they can happen aiming for the vitals too. And this head shot made for one happy lady

Lornasdeer023.jpg
 
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