Sure everyone knows the sweet spot to place bullets on a deer, just behind the shoulder. But lets say one could be taking a shot absolutly no further than 30 yards with a 300 mag. Couple people told me neck shot couple people say head shot. Not a fan of the head shot. But if it is a neck shot where about in the neck, middle, top half or does it not really matter. Does it depend on what angle the deer is at or again who cares. Thnx.
Where should I aim??
- Thread starter Cletus
- Start date
Neck or head shot is a low percentage shot and just because the deer is up close doesn't change that fact, an experienced hunter avoids these shots most of the time. :idea:
Don't make me call Captain Deadly. :roll:
Don't make me call Captain Deadly. :roll:
I always shoot behind the shoulder. I just wish they would drop or bleed profusely in order to aid tracking. I have lost 3 or 4 deer over the last few years. With there not being snow on the ground I have a hard time tracking. Little blood loss is no help either.
Like this fall I shot a moose wuartering towards me at 100 yards with my 338 win mag. NO BLOOD at all. He only went 20 yards, but most of the deer I shoot go 5o yards or so. In heavy bush at night they are impossible to find, unless you are a coyote!(which usually find them quick)
Like this fall I shot a moose wuartering towards me at 100 yards with my 338 win mag. NO BLOOD at all. He only went 20 yards, but most of the deer I shoot go 5o yards or so. In heavy bush at night they are impossible to find, unless you are a coyote!(which usually find them quick)
ILoveBigRacks
Regular
- Location
- Beaumont, AB
Neck shot isn't high percentage. Especially at close range with a magnum rifle - unless you hit an artery, spine or wind pipe area you're just going to have a through-and-through on muscle and he's gonna run forever. Vitals is always touted as best shot for the very reason that a shot in that dinner plate sized area is going to hit vitals - really tough to not go through a vital organ in that part of the body. At that range with a 300 WM you're still going to get a through shot but the damage will be done and you'll also have more shock as it'll probably take out at least one, if not two ribs. Hitting a rib on the exit side creates a hole like you've never seen with a magnum rifle at short range :shock: .
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
Buddy, you need help BIG TIME :shock: Get someone with experience to show you the ropes on tracking wounded game BEFORE you shoot again. Animals leave sign and it's up to you to learn to read it. Hunting isn't just about finding an animal to shoot at. The skills needed to recover your game are all part and parcel of our sport. Now go and get help...KF
Republic of Alberta
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- ,location, location
Neck shots are not always the best idea. BUT I am trying to think of one instance where someone shot a deer in the neck and it got away. Can't think of one time I have seen it happen. With the average rapid expanding bullet even if you miss the spine the dear always seems to drop :!: :?:
I have scoured the areas when I have shot deer. Most of the time no blood is visible. We have no snow until late in the year. Although all of the deer I have lost have been during muzzleloader season. And I am sure all of the shots have been in the boiler room.
Only had one deer drop dead and that was with a shot from my 338 @ 25 yards.
Only had one deer drop dead and that was with a shot from my 338 @ 25 yards.
BC Bigbore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- BC's Peace Country
It can be really tough to locate blood at times. Mark the spot you fired from, where the critter was when you shot and where you last saw your prey. Sometimes all you get is some hair and a scuff mark. The hair can indicate where your bullet hit. You follow in the direction of flight, virtually nose to the ground looking for anything out of place, bent grass, turned stone or leaf, broken twig and the list goes on (A dog can be very handy for finding downed game)...KF
Under 50 yds my first consideration would be a head or neck shot. From 50-100 yds I have taken a few in the head and neck. After 100 yds I always go behind the front shoulder. I have never wounded an animal I have attempted a head or neck shot on, they all anchored where they stood.
Having said that, for one to attempt a head or neck shot they better make bloody sure of their shooting ability.
The one shot I avoid like the plague is the running shot. It is the highest risk to wound and responsible for the vast majority of wounded, gutshot and unretrieved animals. :idea:
Having said that, for one to attempt a head or neck shot they better make bloody sure of their shooting ability.
The one shot I avoid like the plague is the running shot. It is the highest risk to wound and responsible for the vast majority of wounded, gutshot and unretrieved animals. :idea:
Behind the shoulder=highest percentage kil shot hands down. It allows for the largest room for error. As for losing 3 or 4 deer......Keep looking and always wait as long as possible before you start looking. I think I might have lost one once because I didn't look hard enough. Try to remember everything the deer did after the shot, did it tuck-up=gutshot, did it kick at its side=definite hit, did it ...you get the picture. we owe it to the animals to make EVERY effort to find hit or wounded game. By the way the deer I might have lost was running and pumped with adreniline when I shot. It didn't stop running but it threw its head back. Since then I have given up on shots at running deer.
I have seen three deer drop at the shot then get back up after taking neck shots.One was found dead after a long tracking job and the other two had to be shot again.Shots near the spine often stun the animal but are not always fatal.
