Neck or Chest shots... Would you take them??

[BRULEDRIFTER]

So say the big thirdy-pointer is walking right down a trail towards your stand. And say he stops to sniff somthing above him or lifts his head to smell the air. And lets just say that is your one chance. There it is, wide open, that white patch on the chest or neck, would you go for the jugular, or the sternum? Seems like they present about the same size target that a broadside shot would. I understand the neck may get a little hairy if you dont nail the spine, but the chest should still get the goodies.

So what would ya do? Has anyone out there taken these shots and succeded?

I, at this point in my young bow hunting career, would probably pass, but man that chest shot sure would be tempting.

What do ya think?

[harvey lee]

I would pass on this shot. Too many things can go wrong with a shot like this. I would wait and see where he goes as you never know where they will walk and stop.

Even if that white patch is the same size as a target, ones a target and ones a trophy buck and your nerves will be rattled to some degree with the buck of a lifetime and not so with a target. Let him walk is what I would do. I have tried those iffy shots over the years and yes, sometimes they work but more often they dont.

I guess one can look at it this way, you would be very happy if you got it but, how upset would you be if you wounded it and never recovered it? Thats probably what your looking at. It's a tough one to let a big buck walk by.

[DRH1175]

I would deffinitly pass unless he turns. You may get antoher chance the next hunt. If you wound him and never find him a dead deer he will be and no chance tomorrow for a good and ethical shot. Why make him suffer. Your odds are about 10% at best. To me not good enough!

[pascooter94]

pass on that shot!! if he dont know your there wait he might give you a better shot.

[Cooter]

IMO - Only way would be if you were on the ground and he was close.....like 15 yrds or less and straight on - and you were 100% sure you could hit that chest dead center.

[Nightcrawler]

Quote:

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pass on that shot!! if he dont know your there wait he might give you a better shot. [/quot

been there, pass the shot

[Nate McVey]

Have to pass.......wait for the "money" shot.....no telling what your nerves will do to you in that situation. I still shake drawing on a doe.....the exilaration gets me every time!

[USPENAMC]

i know a group of hunters NOT ME but i do know some group of hunters. when they go out they only shoot at the head of course im talking rifles or slugs. They say they dont like to mess up the meat????

[Surface Tension]

The shot has to be directly head on or forget it, any angle at all and the shoulders will be in the way. I had that happen with a doe, close up and I was on the ground. Head on shot between the shoulders at the base of the neck. She was dead before she hit the ground. Penetration is the key. A turdy pointer is going to have more mass. I know my 30.06 180 gr will make it there.

So your scenario, I'm in a tree and have the head on shot and the deer stops. The buck it traveling into the wind and I'm about to be busted, I know my scope is dead on, its an easy shot. I either take the shot or kick myself for not taking the shot after the buck kicks up turf as it wheels around with a quick exit the same way it came.

[BLACKJACK]

Facing shot with a bow? 9 times out of 10 I would NOT take the shot, it doesn't matter if its a trophy or a small doe, too small of an area, no sense wounding and never finding the deer.

BUT once upon a time I did take that shot and the deer fell within my sight. I watched this small buck circle thru the wood lot, he was coming straight at me, I drew back when he was about 25 yards out, he kept coming, I was on a fairly low stand, about 8 foot off the ground, when he stopped about 10 feet away and looked up at me, I knew the gig was and shot him right in the middle of the chest. The arrow ended up going thru a lung and coming out right where one of the hind quarters connects to the body. It helped that the stand was low and he was so close I knew I could hit where I was aiming. I wouldn't take that shot at 20 yards from a higher stand.

[so haaad]

Yep, your chances of a quick, ethical shot are much greater if you pass on this shot and focus on the vitals area. I think you owe it to the deer to pass on this shot.

[chucker34]

From a treestand? No. On the ground in a blind at close range on deer who didn't know I was there and/or not alert. Maybe, if I knew my chances were almost certain I'd hit the spot and the arrow would penetrate deep into the body cavity. The situation has to be virtually perfect, though. So most of the time, no.

I read a good article once regarding this shot with Elk, which will give you a much larger "patch" or area to aim for and thus much greater chance of making a quick, ethical kill. The author, an outfitter with a great reputation, had clients practice this head on shot with a 3d target after so many passed up such a shot in the field. On elk, mind you, the subsequent shots clients took were almost always instantly lethal. Again, you're working on a much larger target with an elk.

[CanOCorn]

Click, click...BOOM!

[WaitForIt]

Boom? This is an archery forum No boom.

I'd pass. How awful would you feel if you miscalculated and wounded a magnificent deer like that? Not worth it (to me).

Thats a good measure of an ethical hunter - its hard to watch one walk, but it will give you reason to keep coming out there hoping to see him again.

[Surface Tension]

DOH! I was in the wrong forum too. LOL Archery, I wouldn't shoot.

[gurkster]

I would not take the shot. The risk is not worth it to me. I usually take broadside or quartering shots at 20 yards or less, and I have had decent opportunities, and taken several deer by bow that way. Best of luck to you this season.

[camdu7]

Never take a head on shot with a bow! Yes you could get the heart and kill the animal quickly, but you are more likely to punch one lung and not find that animal. Welcome to the great sport of bowhunting.

[CanOCorn]

Sorry bout that. With a bow, no I would not shoot. With a gun I probably would.