I guess that what I was trying to say is that if I was going to use a small caliber rifle for deer hunting, say my .223, it would be right here at home in a not so legal way. Now I do not do that, I have never shot a deer with anything smaller than my 30-30 and I dont intend to. I dont doubt that a .223 or 22 Hornet would kill a deer, but why use it when I have a .270 or other appropriate power of gun around here to do the job more humanely. If a bow can kill an animal then even a .17 caliber rifle can, its all about shot placement anyways. Now to chime in on the main reason not to take ass shots, gut shots etc.? Because I hunt for the meat, plain and simple. I have taken head shots, my first 3 deer ever where head shots. The first two because I was young and didnt know better, the last one was because the deer was quite a distance from me and I couldnt tell for sure he even had horns. I had him sighted in making sure and he started to turn to run and I pulled the trigger. Boom, behind the ear and out the eye, dead on the spot and no more movement. Good eating deer too. Now I try to aim for just behind the shoulder, I dont mind losing a front quarter or some ribs, there isnt much there anyhow in a 120# deer anyways (which is about average around here) and its better than taking head shots. Now I am not saying that I would never take a head shot again, but not as long as I have a better shot. I remember when I was growing up my dad shot a big buck in the ass on the last day of the season. What a mess, that deer tasted like crap (literally) and we had to cut away a lot of bloodshot meat. I think about that everytime I have a deer turn and run from me.