Neck Shots.....

[35 Whelen]

This obsession with head and neck shots is silly to me. The best chance you have for a DRT in the real world is a shot through the heart and lungs. No meat is lost, and the shot is nearly 100% effective even if your shot placement isn't.

Neck and high shoulder shots mess up a ridiculous amount of meat.

Head shots will fail you at some point. Heads move around too much.

Why does the most effective and traditional way of doing anything need to be disputed to death?

Next we will be discussing TNT bullets out of varmint rifles.... again

Thank you. I've heard all the "I never miss, I never lose game, my rifle is the most accurate in the world, I know exactly where the spine is, blah, blah, blah" and I'm still not convinced. I've never passed up a lung shot and I still don't eat lung soup.

35W

 

[natman]

This is why it makes sense:


Now I would fully agree that if you think "minute of deer" accuracy or "being able to keep all shots within an 8 inch pie plate at 100 yards" accuracy is sufficient, the I would agree that you should not take neck shots and should go for the biggest lethal target there is.

For me neck shots have proven to be high percentage shots and they're DRT with no tracking.

It must be tough dragging a bench and bags around when you hunt. I suppose the deer can sense the presence of such a crack shot and don't move, just for you.

A classic example of "I'm such a good shot, sensible practices don't apply to me" along with a healthy portion of "I get to insult the marksmanship of anyone whose opinion differs from mine.".

 

[interlock]

It must be tough dragging a bench and bags around when you hunt. I suppose the deer can sense the presence of such a crack shot and don't move, just for you.

A classic example of "I'm such a good shot, sensible practices don't apply to me" along with a healthy portion of "I get to insult the marksmanship of anyone whose opinion differs from mine.".

sometimes on this forum we discuss the levels of accuracy we expect from our hunting gear. I read people talking about 6 inch groups... minute of pie plate.... 4 inch groups. I read about people not practising much... the same box of rifle rounds for several years. 500 yard free hand shots...

The reason i practise a lot, both with .22 and centrefire, I expect MOA accuracy become confident and competent with my rifles shoot off sticks etc. is so that i know i can take the neck shot if required. My rifle deer season is all year long. I shoot lots and lots of deer. I dont shoot runners, i don't neck shoot walking deer often.

I believe we need to work within our own limits. Clearly my limits, with my equipment and skills set are different than some of the minute of pie plate hunters. So i dont need to drag a lead sled and sandbags around the field - and i don't expect everyone to be the same standard.

I am sure we will agree to differ.

 

[Grumulkin]

It must be tough dragging a bench and bags around when you hunt. I suppose the deer can sense the presence of such a crack shot and don't move, just for you.

A classic example of "I'm such a good shot, sensible practices don't apply to me" along with a healthy portion of "I get to insult the marksmanship of anyone whose opinion differs from mine.".

As someone used to say, "if you've got it, flaunt it..."

You have the choice of being picky about how your rifle shoots or accepting the "minute of deer" mentality. In looking at load books, I found that several years ago I was satisfied with 1 inch 100 yard groups out of a rifle but not any longer.



You may also be very surprised to learn you don't need a bench with you to make an accurate shot. The above crow was taken at 311 yards using the prone position with me half in and half out of my front door; it was a neck shot. The prone position is very steady as are shooting sticks from the sitting position once you're used to using them.

I'm also with interlock in that I don't shoot runners and I wouldn't take a neck shot on a walking deer since I'm not that good of a crack shot. I also don't shoot anything offhand if I can help it and then only at much shorter ranges.

So, in conclusion, if you're satisfied with "minute of deer" more power to you and you shouldn't take neck shots but that doesn't mean that someone else who has better skills than you is not being sensible or ethical if a neck shot is chosen.

OK, I lied about the crow. It wasn't a neck shot.

 

[natman]

Let me clear something up: I'm NOT advocating "minute of pie plate" accuracy. The fact that several people keep harping on it shows a lack of understanding of the actual issue.

I'm a big advocate of good shooting. I think you should spend the time, money and effort to shoot well.

However, I also advocate shooting at a high percentage target. If you're such a good shot, you can put your bullet in the exact center of the heart just to avoid the chance (theoretical for you, naturally) that the bullet might land an inch or two away from where you intended and still result in a clean kill.

 

[GTS Dean]

My experience:

When the bullet placement is mid-neck, just ahead of the shoulder, the deer crumple in thier tracks, and never twitch. Heart/lung shots have about a 40% chance of running a short distance before dropping.

 

[rodger1950]

I always use neck shots on standing deer if they are within my comfortable bulls eye range. The target would be where the head and the neck meet and in the middle , but i only do it with my H and R ultra slug gun and remington buck hammers. One hole groups at 50 yards. Not bragging, its just a perfect tool. Have shot 18 deer this way and not one has gone more than a foot. Just make sure you can hit that spot.

 

[Sav .250]

Liver shot? neck shot....if that`s all the shot you may have.
Stick with the just behind the shoulder shot. Your job as a hunter is to kill as humanely as possible.
You start getting fancy and the end result might be wounded deer. J s/n.

 

[sKunkT]

For me, I do not limit myself to one type of shot. I primarily shoot for lungs or shoulder blades. If a neck shot is what I've got, it's what I take. I do not do head shots. They are too ugly for me, and I have seen two different deer during hunting season with missing lower jaws before. I have shot quite a few deer with a bow and firearms in the lungs or heart. They have all died, but never within 30 yards. Scapulas and spinal neck shots with a rifle knock them down before they know they are hit. Broadside lung shots ruin the least meat. I say take whatever shot you are comfortable with that will kill the deer quickly. You don't need to be a sub MOA shooter to bust a spine. I'm not, and I've killed plenty of deer- not as many as some, but I've done my fair share.

 

[Zeke/PA]

MOST of the rifle deer kills that I had over the years were in fact neck shots.
It was my Dad's way and it's the way I was taught.
For the most part I hunt sitting on my butt against a tree,rifle across knees.
When a deer appears, knees come up and act as a rest.
The PA big woods deer are usually 75 yards away or less and if you do your part, the animal is unaware of your presence.
Dad's words were, "Wait for your shot and take him in the neck".
The deer goes down as if poleaxed.
The Maryland beanfield shots are a bit more tricky however but neck shots are still possible with extreme care and caution , shooting an accurate rifle