i dont see the fuss about neck shots...i asked one question about exactly where to hit and got something like 74 posts on that thread and only a few had any info in it...the rest were all saying not to do it....if you know your shooting and know where to hit why not? why chance the deer running 100yds with a lung shot(sure most dont make it that far but some do even with a good hit) and loosing the trail and loosing it when you can drop it where it stands with a good neck shot? hitting 3 inches at my normal 30yd shot is nothing...i could put all my rounds there out of a box easily....i just dont know the kill zone there STILL except when they are walking away....so for me its head or lungs...one day i will find that magic spot in the neck...the head you got atleast a 3 inch cirlce again...as long as its standing broadside i feel confident...but most of my shots these days seem to be walking or running from other hunters because of the way we hunt...i took my doe this year on a dead run at atleast 40 yds...blew her right out of the air into the snow with a well placed lung shot..she never took another breath....i felt confident..and took the shot...i got the deer....many people bashed me for that shoot to...ill do what i feel confident doing and your no less of a man not taking them shots because you simply think its too hard...thats fine.....i agree the second shot was agood idea....normal neck shots are to hit the spine and kill the animal instantly...you must missed the spine....congrats on the deer.....