Shot placement

[TruthWalleyes]

Truth,

Just curious, why do you slit the throat instead of pumping another bullet into them? Are they usually alive when you do this? yeesh!

AFter a neck shot the deer typically drops (always has in my case)...I hustle to the deer with the gun loaded incase she gets up, many times they're still kicking so i will cut the throat to end the job quick...Is it necessary, probably not, they would bleed out in due time, but i like to get the gut job done immediately and continue with the day.

I'm usually pretty careful when approaching the deer, i'd hate for the deer to kick my knife and cause me to harm myself - Keep a firm grip...Grab and ear and go for the throat.

[TruthWalleyes]

Yeah, if neck shot, what advantage is there to slit the throat? It's already pretty much a done deal isn't it?

Yeah it has done the deal, but may not have hit a main artery, so it ensures a quicker death. I can't think of where i'd put a second shot...certainly wouldn't be the head as that leaves a bloody mess all the way back to the garage.

[fishermatt]

If the deer is 75 yards or less, I'll go for the head or neck. If the deer is looking straight at me, I aim for the white throat patch just below the jaw. If it's close enough and broadside, I'll aim for an eye. I'm very careful about sighting in my rifle and confident I can make a good kill at close range.

For Longer shots, say over 150 yards, I like the "high shoulder" shot, where you aim right on the front shoulder (not just behind it) and high on the deer, so you break both shoulder blades and hopefully the spine. Placed correctly this will anchor the deer on the spot.

[Fever]

Matt, did you just say you are aiming for the eye? Now I've heard it all!!!! No offense intended towards you as an individual at all, but that might be the dumbest thing I've heard all day... Keep in mind I'm a highschool Biology teacher and deal with teenagers all day, so that's saying something. For the sake of the animal, DO NOT aim for the head or eye. You could miss by just 1-2 inches (no matter how good your rifle is sighted in) due to the wind or the movement of a tree or a small twitch by the animal, and horribly wound the animal and it could run for miles with no face! DO NOT aim for the head or eye. Neck I could see. Boiler room is the clear # one choice. Head shots are cool in video games ONLY! Not good for a humane kill because of lack of consistancy.

[fishermatt]

Fever, obviously I'm a lot better shot than you are. I take that shot when the deer is within 30 yards, and even on 3 the whole head is in the scope, so I know I'm making a clean humane kill. I haven't failed yet in several attempts, so you can take your advice and put it you know where.

[BobT]

My, aren't we defensive.

[Finlander]

OH OH, cat fight!

[Bear55]

Well technically the head/brain is a larger target then the spine/artery you need to hit in the neck. I don't really suggest either shot because I have seen bad things happen with both of them at all distances.

I kind of get the feeling the neck is so popular because people don't like tracking a deer.

[tracker x-2]

Fever is right an EYEBALL SHOT! Cmon Anne oakley would struggle to do this consitantly. I dont care how good you think you are. For the sake of the animal and the future of our sport any new to deer hunting guys please do not follow that procedure. Why aim for a kill zone the size of a baseball when you could just as well go for a basketball size kill zone that has been recomened by wildlife biologists.

If you can only get an eyeball shot you should just enjoy the deers company and hope for another oppertunity to get a shot.

[Fever]

Ok Matt, We'll agree to disagree. Even though I'm sure I'm clearly right here. In public forum I'd suggest to the "public" to take a shot that offers the highest degree of success probability. Maybe you are a sniper and just a gifted fantastic shot. I won't speculate on that as I've never met you or seen you shoot. BUT, for those people realatively new to the woods and deer hunting. Don't take head shots. It is a ridiculous peice of advice and will often only lead to wounding deer as your target is about the size of a softball vs a target the size of a men's basketball. Fairly clear comparison on this one. I've personally seen deer running with their jaw swinging left and right because of people that think they can take head shots. No need to fight over this. I just hope average people out there don't think they should or can take head shots because of a post like that. Go for the shoulder. If possible that is.

[Bear55]

I haven't failed yet in several attempts, so you can take your advice and put it you know where.

You know its only a matter of time right? At least on a poor neck shot the deer can live, but when you start shooting off other parts near the head things don't end well.

[NoWiser]

When I hunted the T-Zone in Wisconsin a few years back, my buddy and I would typically go for head/neck shots to eliminate any chance of wasting meat. We practiced at the range a lot and were good shots and figured it was the way to go, and were very successful with it for a couple years. Then it happened, something was off a little one day and my friend shot the upper jaw off of a deer. It dropped, and we finished it off very quickly, but it was a terrible thing to see. I still shiver thinking about it. From then on it was boiler room shots only for me. MAYBE a neck shot if it is within 40 or 50 yards and it is all that is offered. I don't ever want to have to go to bed at night knowing I shot the jaw or face off of a deer and its out there suffering. No Thanks.

[Fever]

NoWiser,

Well said. That is my point exactly. I hope a few people learn from this thread. Head shots are for video games only. The reward isn't worth the risk.

[Meat-Run]

I'm a neck guy and have been succesful the last 5 years with this BUT only if the deer is stand still and not moving will I take the shot.

mr

[Wobbler]

Shoot it in the front shoulder! Bigger target, bigger area for error, humane shot, deer will do down within 50 yards or so. With a head shot you have a smaller target, little to no margin for error, not a humane shot, if deer does not go down kiss it goodbye and you get to live with the thought you shot the jaw off a deer! I think I am a better than average shooter (Robin Hood lol) and no head shots for me. I will take a neck shot if under 50 yards and the deer is not moving and I do not have a shoulder shot. Please if you are not an experienced shooter or hunter take a good clean shot in the front shoulder you don't want to be one of "those guys" on your way back to camp having to explain to your party "I took a head shot to save meat and all I found was the jaw laying there"! Seen it, heard it, and you will never live it down!

[fishinfey8]

NoWiser hit the nail on the head. I too have seen the horrific sight of a half-faced deer that someone in our party shot. It was worse than watching house of 1000 corps at age 13!

[bogwalker]

I think out of respect for the animal, a head shot is just not right. I won't try to explain why. Either you understand or you don't.

[Finlander]

Go for the antlers! See if you can make a field goal!

Head shot! C'mon!

[WalleyeGod]

Boiler room or shoulder. Depends on which stand I am in. Most stands I will do boiler room as then it seems to run 30-70 yards on me before piling up on our land.

Shoulders if on a stand close to the neighbors as sure enough the deer will want to run over to the neighbors who then shoot it again and claim it. Take out the shoulders then it doesn't make it to the neighbors normally.

I like the comment of shooting for the exit wound. I have had to, because of circumstances, shoot a couple deer in the neck. It worked out but it is not my preference. I don't get the head shot thing.

Shoot straight,

WG

[brassman]

I never realized neck shots were so popular.

Me too!

My first deer was a neck shot by accident, got deflected and tore up the chest cavity. Got lucky, she didn't go 5 yards. Otherwise I shoot for the heart. Needless to say that I have never needed to track one of my rifle kills. (8 deer total) Ironically my first bow deer went the least amount, 2' to the ground with a accidental neck shot when she ducked the string. When I shoot with my rifle I tuck the aiming point on the bottom third of the deer's chest and close to the leg. The same principle that applies to most bow shots is to aim for the opposite sides leg. Any kind of familiarity with the anatomy of a whitetail will show that a rifle within 75 yards can take a deer down with a heart shot very easily.

Last year I shot my deer at about 140 yards so when I aimed it was more in the middle of the chest but still tucked in close to the leg allows a better margin of error at longer ranges.

My habit is to look at the deer and its angle and kind of x-ray the chest in order to find the heart and it has worked for me because I am comfortable with my abilities and considering that 80% of my previous deer were at 50-60 yards with most being 20 yards or under and a scoped .308, my odds are really really good.

[Double D]

Nobody mentioned the Texas heart shot yet? I accidentally did it that way one time. Good way to save a cape for mounting.

DD

[TruthWalleyes]

Sounds like you've got an old student of yours on the forum Fever

The eye shot sounded dumb to me also, but Fishermatt knows it is a lethal shot when he takes it.

I accidently shot the jaw off of a doe late afternoon on the last day going for a neck shot on a running deer, and lead it too much (probably 14-15yrs old).....I won't be doing that again. That deer ran for miles, and was never harvested.

[TruthWalleyes]

Nobody mentioned the Texas heart shot yet? I accidentally did it that way one time. Good way to save a cape for mounting.

DD

This is new to me, Explain??

[fr0sty]

A texas heart shot is one that goes straight up the ol' dirt road, so to speak...

[Steve Foss]

Where do you aim when shooting deer ?

I haven't read any of the replies except for the last couple.

In order of preference:

1. Heart/lung

2. Neck

3. Spinal column

4. Shoulder

5. Center chest (from the front)

58. All the way up the alimentary canal (from the rear). MESSY CLEANING!

In the end, if I'm in pretty heavy brush/trees, I'll take the first of any of these shots that present themselves. In that environment, if you're confident you can hit a vital spot take whichever vital spot finds an opening first.

Just the way I do it.

Good luck out there, everyone!