Shot Placement?

[HB]

The question is simple.... What is your preferred shot placement on white-tail deer when using a firearm?

I ask because the deer I shot this year dropped on the spot with a neck shot and last year's deer ran 25 yards with a frontal chest shot (incidentally expiring 3 feet from my stand). Both were shot under 30 yards with a 30-30

HB

 

[john1911]

I prefer the heart/lung shot. It's a bigger area, gives you more room for error.

There's no hard and fast rules about how a deer will react to being shot in a particular area. I've shot a lot of deer and the only consistent thing I've noticed is that there is no consistent rule.

Shoot'em where they're the biggest.

 

[Mark K. C.]

A heart/lung has always been the most efficient shot in my experience. Took these shots at 75-125 yds.

 

[Shawnee]

In a hunting context (as opposed to a "cropping" venture) and with a rifle, I try to disrupt the neck/spine so the deer drops on the spot. The most versatile way to do so is to place the shot per the pic below. Works from any angle and any elevation - and, depending on angle, it often does substantial lung damage and sometimes zaps the heart too.
It happens I hunt during the deer season with a Ruger Super Blackhawk revolver. I can still use the placement in the pic for shots at 50-60yds. but would switch to a "behind the shoulder" shot at anything farther. I limit my shots to 80 yds or so anyway.
When shooting deer on crop damage permits I usually go for a head shot or the neck where it joins the head - but then I'm using a .243 or .22 centerfire and rarely have to shoot more than 175yds. or so. Probably 90% of these shots are within 125yds.

 

[koja48]

Heart/lung always worked for me.

 

[Legionnaire]

Heart/lung, whether hunting with a firearm or bow and arrow.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

The liver....

Its the biggest target and it has a large percentage of the blood in it at all times...they bleed out fast, and die quick.

 

[mlw332]

i prefer a high front shoulder shot. this shot allows you to get lungs and most of the time breaks both shoulders stopping them from running off.

 

[frogomatic]

I shoot for whatever vital organ the deer best presents to me, head, neck, spine, heart, whatever...

 

[HunterGirl]

Heart/Lung - I try not to waste ANY meat if I can help it...

 

[Husker1911]

i prefer a high front shoulder shot. this shot allows you to get lungs and most of the time breaks both shoulders stopping them from running off.

I tend to agree. I find a shoulder shot anchors the animal quite effectively, and, more often than not, also destroys the lungs. It's not always one can take out both shoulders, however.

 

[HB]

Thanks for the replies. Here's a little breakdown of my thoughts....

1. Heart/Lung--- Most room for error, mostly likely to kill, maybe not drop on the spot
2. Neck--- Drops them on the spot IF you clip the spine, which may be difficult
3. High Spine--- Same as neck but if your high you miss, if your low, your in the lungs
4. Shoulder--- Usually drops the deer, you might miss, but also could hit lungs
5. Other--- I'm not convinced these work, especially head shots

I'm taking a first-time deer hunter out this fall so it would be nice if he knew where to shoot and not have to chase a deer all over Knox County, Missouri. I think Heart/Lung is our best bet.

Thanks,
HB

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Depends on how far away it is. If it's under 60 yards or so, I go for the smaller yet more effective target, the neck. Not only do they drop right there, there is no meat damaged.

Buf if OTOH, it's more than 60-70 yards, I give myself more room for error by going for the vitals (unless only thing presented is the neck).

 

[Funderb]

I shoot wildly about until the foe or game animal dies from fear.

 

[Triple S]

I am a bowhunter and fully understand the effectiveness of the heart/lung (behind the shoulder) shot. However, when I am gun hunting and want to bring an animal down, I try and take out the opposite side shoulder. I am a firm believer in "breaking an animal down" and keeping it from running off. On deer size game, in most situations a shoulder shot is going to take out the lungs plus break it down. On a related subject, this is why I am a fan of controlled expansion bullets. They will travel through bone and hit the vitals!

 

[wheelgunslinger]

I haven't shot a deer with a rifle in a longtime since I'm strictly a bowhunter, so my answer strictly applies to bowhunting.
Heart/Lung seems to work best for me, though I understand arguments for other means.

 

[Art Eatman]

My old daddy told me, "Son (sometimes he didn't add the other three words), if you shoot 'em in the white spot, they don't go anywhere."

Sounded good to me. I know how to track, but as lazy as I am, I don't want to walk any more than I have to.

I guess about 3/4 of my bucks have been neck shots; beyond 200 yards or so, I prefer a cross-body high-heart shot.

 

[T.R.]

This drawing is helpful to understand where organs and bones are located. The cross shows where I aim my carbine.

TR