RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

I think he just "took his ball and went home."

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

Well I will jump in here and take my lik'in also.
Would I shoot and elk in the neck,yes.Have I yes, if thet is all he or she offerd me (less than 100 yds).Now I'm not saying that is the only shot I would take,if it offered me with a chest shot I would take that over any other.
I have hunted with a gun in my hand for 18 yrs and have killed 14 elk,now I know somebody out there will disagree with my decisions and my shooting ethics,I know when I put my sights on a elk I know I will kill it,and humanly.
There are far less ethical shots I know of(Raking,or Texas Heart shot)and I don't care for them or anyone who uses them.
As for using stick and string and tring to poke one in the neck,that is a diffrent story.There are alot of if,ands,but to it so I think I would have to wait for a good broadside or a 1/4 away shot.
BBJ

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

As Outdoor stated originally I believe we are talking about using a gun, not a bow.

To that end, I still don't recommend neck shots for 99% of the hunters out there. Most are not proficient with their guns and can't bank on accuracy of their rifles. I, too, have neck shot game but the only time was a huge whitetail running past me at 40 yards and I missed my first shot at the lungs and thought I hadn't lead him enough so I aimed at the neck and got EXTREMELY lucky (see my sig. for picture).

If I was in a situation where there was an animal I really wanted and it was close enough and the only shot I was sure would be a neck shot and I had a good rest and I knew my rifle was on, blah, blah, blah...

I would take a neck shot if I really thought it was ethical and the best option for the situation. However, I won't take neck shots if there is any chance of getting a better shot at the heart/lungs. I NEVER go into the woods thinking I'll shoot my prey in the neck. It mostly depends on the situation presented and the conditions. Way too risky a shot and very few times most hunters should attempt it without VERY good reason (not ruining meat is not one of them). I know for years many old times would only shoot in the neck for a multitude of reasons but those seldom apply any longer. I believe it's not ethical to try for that shot MOST of the time for ANYONE. It's just not humane. I've heard of way too many stories of deer and elk running around with their lower jaws blown off, holes in their esophogas, etc. to think I'm going to take a neck shot without some strong reason behind it.

Best bet is to just shoot for heart/lungs and plan on that shot.

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

Outdoor,

It's been nice chatting with you also. If I have offended you, it was not my intentions, I apologize, we all come here to learn and share each others views as we all are hunters. But you will always have interesting reviews of the do nots and should you topics, and I guess it just boils down to your own disgression, when it comes right down to that choice--when put in that situation--and just hopefully you try to make that right decision... I know that there is'nt a perfect hunter out there, but we as hunters have the ability to always improve and learn from our own mistakes, or even other hunters mistakes they have shared with us and also teach our young fellow hunters, the rights and wrongs as we have been taught either by our dad, friend, instructor, or a mentor or even ourself...
I tip my hat to you for starting a very interesting thread as it can be a very debatable subject...I know it started out about rifle loads into an elk neck, but when you finished up on the summary you stated about a neck shot on a deer with bow. I will just say if you make the shot, you have to live with that shot, wether it be good or bad...

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

I didn't read into outdoors post that he was trying to convince anyone let alone younger hunters to use the neck shot. He clearly said that anyone with the confidence to take a neck shot would use it. Thats the way with me. I am a patient hunter, when I take a shot, that animal is going in a pile and 99 percent of the time it drops in its tracks. I will take what I feel it the best shot to accomplish that. It may be a neck shot, a shoulder shot or a lung/heart shot. Hiting your target is what builds confidence.

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

When I am looking to fill the freezer in open country, it is a middle lung shot, preferably, about 1/3 of the way up from the brisket line. Otherwise, I prefer taking out both shoulders (I shoot a 340wby w/ partitions so penetration is never an issue, even at 400+ yds). I've never had an elk shot through both shoulders even take a step. I like to do "my hunting" before I pull the trigger, not afterwards and I've never got real concerned over loosing a couple of shoulder roasts anyway. Quartering shots have also been effective although an elk will occaisionally take a couple steps before flopping over. I've never lost a game animal shot in the neck but I've seen quite a few that were merely stunned get up and run and have to be shot again or tracked. As a result, I avoid neck shots--to many variables under hunting conditions to risk it.

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

Robin Hood,
No you did not offend me.. I like the input I just felt input was becoming finger pointing so I thought it was time to leave.
I will be Very careful what I write from this point on...Just not into the junk, know what I mean?

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

I found a site that shows how little there is to shoot at in the neck of an Elk. If you look at the anatomy photos you will see there isn't much in the way of vitals to hit. Thus most shot placements in the neck will not result in fatal injury.

Here is the link to a site with good anatomy photos.

http://www.nbef.org/elk_java.html

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

Archer,
Very true! and even smaller target on a whitetail.

A missed shot is a missed shot ANYWHERE on that animal, nobody gets any credit if you (or me) miss a lung either..
Bottom line is we all want the quickest human kill we can make as individuals

RE: Elk: neck shot?
 

I Agree!!