shot placement

[Thomas]

What do people think of neck shot with a rifle? I always shot thru the shoulders, but the 30-06 bullet really destroys the area.

[GoBIG]

I noticed this same thing last year, for it was the first year we butchered our own deer. I actually hunted with a guy last year who shot through the neck. It seemed to work fine, for he shot two deer on only two shots. He was a straight meat hunter, thats why he took the neck shots. I am thinking of shooting for the neck this year. Anyone else have any ideas on this?

[tex22]

When I am rifle hunting, and it's not a buck I would consider mounting I also shoot for the neck. I use a .243 so it does not have the knock down power of some deer rifles. But one well placed shot your promised one kill with no tracking. On the other hand if I am slug hunting or I'm about to pull the trigger on a wall hanger, I'll shoot for the heart.

[Mark Christianson]

I guess to me, there isnt much meat to ruin if you make a well placed shot in the heart/lung area anyway. If you dont eat the ribs, there isnt any meat lost anyways.

And you have a MUCH better target area to shoot at versus a neck shot.

[Guest]

Neck shot is a poor choice of shots guys. If you dont take out vitals, that deer is getting away and going belly up 5 miles away... especially with smaller caliber rifles. One of my childhood friends got shot with a 44 caliber bullet in the neck and survived with minimal issues.. deer are tougher than us, and a much larger neck.

Shoot the deer in a way your bullet will pass through the ribs(not your neighbors).. you will at least take out the lungs and the deer will be done before long. Losing 6 oz of rib meat is no big deal. Trying to take a shot through the shoulders with a .243 is a bad choice. If you catch the bone dead center you will be watching a deer run away with a broken leg and thats about it.

If you are going to attempt a *spinal tap* shot on a deer(deer directly below you).. be sure your bullet will take out the vitals if you do miss the spine.

Good luck this coming season guys.. take well thought out shots and put the deer down quickly. Easier on us and the deer. I have no problem helping my party drag out deer.. but that doesnt mean I want to track one for hours and find it a mile away.. thats work!

[woodview]

Vitals. Much surer shot, little wasted meat - neck roasts have a lot of meat in comparison to ribs, avoids brain and spinal contact (cwd).

If you can hit the lungs or heart the deer is definately going down in short order. If you can't then you shouldn't be aming at the neck anyway.

I don't see much point in a shoulder shot on a deer - definately wastes meat and cripples too many deer.

However that spot a bit behind the shoulder...

Whatever shot you prefer here's hoping all our deer drop with ONE shot

[Gissert]

I don't care for neck shots. When I was 13, I was hunting deer for the first time, and a doe presented herself. I had seen a couple of deer shot prior to this with neck shots, so I decided that is what I would do too.

This doe was in a picked corn field, about 90 yards out. I took a good rest and shot. I hit low, missing the spine and hit the jugular. Killing shot, but this poor doe thrashed around and sprayed blood everywhere and made that terrible bleating noise that chills me to this day. This went on for over a minute, and if I ever see that again it'll be too soon. That nearly soured me for good on deer hunting. Thank God my dad was able to be really supportive and did not push me about it.

That was nearly thirty years ago, and I have never taken a neck shot since. Done properly, they will fold right up. If you are off just a bit....

Now I aim for that crease just behind the foreleg, about a third of the way up the body. That will catch both lungs, and perhaps part of the heart or aorta. If you have a broadside shot, this will miss the shoulder and leg bones. They might run 30 to 150 yards, but they are dead on their feet and leave a nice blood trail.

If the bullet just goes through the rib cage, there will be very little meat damage. As someone else mentioned, there is a lot of nice roast and grinding meat on the neck.

I also like this shot as there is a bigger margin for error. If the bullet strikes high, forward, or a bit aft of that aim point, the vitals will still be hit.

[JEV]

Heart/lung shot for me. Any damage to that area and the deer isn't going far. I've heard to many horror stories of people who have shot deer in the neck, the deer dropped, only to get up a minute later and run off. The neck shot has a very small kill zone compared to a lung shot.

JEV

[Stratosman]

The neck shot is a poor choice in my opinion, like some others have stated. As far as wasting meat, I don't aim for the shoulder either, about inches behind and your in business.

[Mr Special]

I mainly slug hunt and they make some mean holes. I still aim for the heart/lungs over a neck shot. I've hit some in the neck but man do they make some damage. I'd rather destroy the rib area then the neck meat.

I also use a .243 at times and never had a problem dropping a deer with a heart/lung shot. I use either Remi Core-Lokt 100gr or Nosler Partitions 100gr and they hold together very well even hitting a rib or two.

Come to think of it I've had deer run the least using my .243 or bow, then with my slug. Not sure why that is. But I think I'm more patient and wait for the best shot.

Thank's for the reading, it helps past the time till this weekend. ONLY 3 FULL DAYS LEFT NOW

Later and good luck everyone

[Rosalita]

I use a 30.06 as well. When I was younger, I shot a great deal more and hunted more and thought nothing about shooting for the neck or head within 40 yards. I shot many deer this way and wounded none. Now that I don't shoot as much, I am a lot more choosy about using this shot. I will still take the head or neck at 25 yards or closer. If you are going to shoot for the neck, aim for the white spot below the chin and make sure the deer is focused on something so they are not moving. The beauty of the neck/head shot is that they drop in their tracks, little to no wasted meat, and a much more tidy gut job. However, as said earlier, now more often than not I am aiming right behind the front shoulder.

Evaluate your own abilities and make up your own mind about the issue.

Good Luck

[subzero]

The neck shot is risky at best, the way a deer is moving and looking in every direction. The vital area is small and a close miss will still leave a wounded deer running around the woods. I totally belive that a good rifle will shoot better than most of the people squeezing the trigger of it. The real waste of meat is the meat that is never recovered.

[bigbucks]

Given the option I shoot for the vitals, but will take the head or neck shot if it's the only one there & it's close enough where I'm sure of it. I've shot a couple of deer on the in the head before that weren't intentional...

[FOOT]

Subzero, you are right. When I use to hunt SE MN a few years ago one of the guys hunting with us hit a nice buck in the neck w/ a 12ga slug but nothing vital.

2 guys trailed that buck for almost three hours before it came back to within 100 yards of where it was first shot.

Thank goodness we were smart enough to leave someone by the original spot so they could put it down, otherwise we might still be chasing that buck.

Every 30 - 50 feet we'd see a small amount of blood. If we hadn't of had a snow 2 days prior I don't know that we would have been able to trail him all that way.

Go for the vitals.

[Thomas]

Thanks, 3 of my last deer was at less than 25 yds, pretty confident that I could hit what I aim at, but I will go for the ribs.

[thewalleyeguy]

I am 13 and last yaer got an 8 with a spinal shot. I was not very happy because i blew away half of the back straps which I think is the best meat. Vitals are the way to go.

[Mikinaak]

the neck shot is my favorite if everything is right!

The vitals shot is not a shoulder shot!

just my 2 cents worth.

[buzzsaw]

Quote:

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Neck shot is a poor choice of shots guys. If you dont take out vitals, that deer is getting away and going belly up 5 miles away.

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I agree IF your using a shotgun/slug or if you are a long ways away from the deer. I disagree if you are using a sighted in rifle and it's within 50 yards... I have knoocked down my last two deer with neck shots and they dropped right there. If it's a long shot I always shoot at the vitals. I guess it depends on the situation and what your comfortable with. Thats gotta make sense right guys?

[Guest]

buzz.. yes, that makes a lot of sense.

It is a big difference making a critical shot to an area about the size of a tennis ball at 50 yards or less.. tennis ball looks pretty substancial when close(easy to hit).. that same tennis ball looks more like the *head of a nail* at 100 yards... most shooters experienced or can hit a tennis ball(if the target is still) at close range with confidence... it takes a skilled shooter to make that same shot on a long range target.. and only if the deer is motionless.

One move of the deer at just the wrong time and its gone.. your shot will miss and the deer will run away.

The ribcage however.. we are talking about a guaranteed kill shooting at an area the size of a basketball.. thats a huge target.. if the deer takes a step, who cares.. that usually mean you got a 2 lung shot vs a heart shot.

I wouldnt recommend anyone taking a neck shot. If you do, be 110% sure your shot is going to hit exactly where you want it.

I hope this thread doesnt encourage some to take a neck shot where they normally wouldnt. A deer dropping in its tracks sure sounds nice, but they will do that with a perfect heart shot also. If the shot is poor on the neck, you will have a long day, or night ahead of you tracking a deer.. in the end, I hope its recovered.

Dont try anything beyond your ability is all I am saying I guess. Its much easier to make perfect, consistant shots at the shooting range off a benchrest than it is in the woods.

Good luck everyone.

[Gadgetman]

Standing still at 100yds or less with my .270 neck shot every time. If they are moving vital shot is the route to go. Fortunatley for me most the deer I have shot over the years are just happily walking and browsing when they meet their demise. My rifle shoots 1.5" groups at 150yds and my stand offers me rock steady support. Never had a neck shot deer do anything but drop instantly. Shot gun shooting is a whole different story...

[buzzsaw]

Gadget, I've got the Browning gold medallion A- bolt hunter 270 WSM and the bullets fly so true, the drop is very minimal compared to the 30-06 I used to use... how do you like yours? T minus20 hours... tick tock

[Gadgetman]

Winchester model 70 w/ Leupold 2-7 scope. Love it, best money I ever spent. I really enjoy pinpoint accuracy

[Whelen35]

Neck shot=bad. Heart lung=much better. Go for the percentage shot. Weather bow or gun, the lung/heart area is the best area to shoot at. I have neverlost a deer to date, and prefer to take a shure thing rather than risk a bad shot and a slow death to any animal.

[Mr Special]

This weekend proved again the Vital shot is best for me. 3 shot 3 deer and not one took another step. The only down side was my doe went about 175lbs and shot her at the bottom of a ravine.

Later and good luck

[MikeYager - Suzuki]

Heart/lung has always been my go-to shot but they always run a ways. This could be a problem on heavily hunted public land especially if it's a trophy. 30-06