I' m still trying to get into bow-hunting - so take this from a rifle hunter: I' ve always heard that the best shots to take are heart, head, and neck. Maybe it' s different with rifles than it is with a bow.

I' ve never gone for a neck shot, but that doesn' t mean I haven' t ruled it out. Personally I' ve always aimed for the heart area, simply because it presents the largest target area. I think the margin of error is less with a rifle, so perhaps that' s why I received the advice I did.

Over the years I' ve only seen 2 or 3 cases of someone missing the intended target area, and that was always a gut shot when aiming for the heart area. IMO, a gut shot is just as painful as a misplaced neck shot.

With a bow, I think I' d never take a neck shot simply because it' s not a large enough target area, not because it' s not an " ethical" shot. I' ve shot deer in my youth and misplaced heart shots, mind you only 2 or 3 out of 30+ deer taken. One shot was a gut shot, one broke the spine of the animal...both were not great experiences for me or for the deer. I' ve improved upon my aim since then, and it' s still a heart-breaking experience everytime a deer survives longer than a few seconds. Obviously if a hunter cannot place a bullet within 2 inches of where they are shooting, they shouldn' t take a shot AT ALL...not at the neck, or chest. That' s being an " ethical" hunter. There is no such thing as an " ethical" shot area IMO.

Just my two cents...

Don' t get me wrong, I hate to see any animal suffer...especially deer. I' ve developed a fondness and respect for the whitetail. I just believe if a hunter can make his shot count, then why not go for a neck shot? Again this is all from a rifle hunter...

Congrats to your brother!!! Hopefully the first of many. I would lay off the neck shots in most circumstances, much more ' margin for error' in the chest area.

bogobble...did you read this thread??? You can see who would, who wouldn' t, and who has. Good or bad...you are not alone.

http://forum.hunting.net/asppg/tm.as...key=&language=

Bogobble,

There are several " Levels" of Hunters, on a scale from 1-5. You are obviously a " ONE" . That is.....someone that just wants to kill something and/or make something bleed! This is something that you learn when you attend a Hunters Safety Course. Something that I would highly recommend to you.

I PERSONALLY do not think you have the right to sit there and tell " ALL" of us that " WE" are spineless and unhonest!!!!!!

I would never take a low percentage on a " record book buck" . If you' ve been in the woods for very long and/or shot many arrows at deer then you would know how fast a deer can duck out of the way. A " lethal" neck shot would be a low percentage shot for even the BEST archer. Not to mention that I work way to hard on setting up on Big Bucks just to blow it by scaring the Hell out of him with a low percentage shot. Wait a few more minutes or another hunt to put one in the boiler room!!!

An intentianal neck shot with archery gear is totally assinine, IMO. And that is my honest and/or " hollier than thou" opinion.

NO, I think many here are being 100% honest - Neck shot? never have and never will - honest

100% wrong - we have every right to tell anyone anything we want - whether or not you listen - well thats up to you.

Sure is - always has and always will - Making a decision is easy - Making the right one is sometimes a little harder.

Neck shots are very low percentage shots, no matter what. Wait for a better shot to present itself, or IMO you have no ethical shot.

For me ANY neck shot is bad! I don' t condone neck shots with guns! Neck shots with a bow are downright disgusting! Bo, I' m with Bigbulls and others here!
Your " guts" and " honesty" may put you one step above a poacher! As someone said you are be a " 1" on the hunters scale!
Again, for the record I am totally against neck shots, and if it is a " BAD" shot on a doe or spike, it would be a " BAD" shot at a world class trophy too!

well, guys, I' m gonna rap my postin up by sayin this is the very reason I don' t post on this board much anymore. to many self-rightous holier than thou attitudes.
again, you can advise till your blue in the face, but I still say you don' t have the right to tell another hunter when where or how to shoot his deer. it' s his choice.
I know there are several here that beleive the same way, but for some reason or another their too chicken to say so. so along with the self rightous-holier-than-thou, there' s some hipocrits to boot. ya' ll have a good season, and remember, no matter how big the buck, or how excited you get, don' t take any marginal shots. HA HA!