The key word there being "ATTEMPTED" because if they had hit it in the lungs it would not have run a mile. And consider this, your very seasoned hunters as you call them are managing to botch shots at the heart lung area as big as it is, and your solution to that problem is to have them aim at the head or neckinstead which is at least 3 times smaller and apt to move at any second without warning???? And you call me stupid????

It's a much smaller area that can move suddenly even if the deers body doesn't.

Wow, were to start with this. Heart/lung a higher risk??? Easier to pull a heart lung shot and hit a non lethal area?? What are you shooting at those midget DIK DIK deer from Africa or something? A whitetails whole neck is smaller than the kill zone behind his shoulder. Aim in the center of the heart/lung area and you can miss by at least 4 inches in any direction and still get a rapid kill. And for the 100th time a deers torso is a much more steady stable target than his head and neck.

CICK ON THE TAIL! CLICK ON THE HEART AND LUNGS!

Deer Kill Zone Killzone Whitetail Blacktail Mule Vital Area Mooses ...

Field & Stream - The Killing Zone

Never once have I said otherwise. I take those shots at times. I just take a lot of head and neck shots. Depends on many things. I have had a 6 pointer at a meer 70 yds and for the life of me could not pull it together (buck fever ) I knew I wasnt going to make the neck shot so I waited for a broadside shot and bagged him. For me it really depends on a lot.

Like if your using a cartridge actually designed to hunt big game!!

To think I getthe distinction ofbutthead ! What ever makes you feel better I guess. Yeah I am green with envy...got me!

Skeeter, we have at least two things in common now! We both like 7MM's and now we are in a famous picture together!
We would have to COMBINE B & B together, to have the sense to figure out that we need to use a smaller, high power cartridge in highly populated areas!

I can shoot pretty good, not half as good as my rifle with fire formed cases 52gr IMR4350 and a 165 pill, but still pretty good. I can kill a coke can every time. But when it comes to shots on deer, I am all about the heart/lungs. No reason to risk it. PlusI would rather brag about blood loss than "it went straight down"
When I am hunting smaller game I try for the headshot to keep from ruining the back. But as it as been pointed out, there is way more meat on the neck of a deer than on the ribs. There is nothing like making stew from a neck.
I have found that tracking well hit deer in thick stuff is sometimes easier. There are more things for the wound to brush against likeleaves, branches, briars, and weeds which leavemore visible evidenceand the fact that it is so thick requires you to take a slower approach.
My 2 cents.

If Im close enough I will take the neck shot, but never the head. I prefer the ribs above the shoulder and the neck because I dont really use that meat anyway.

I think that the head shot is too risky. Even though you can pattern 1-2-3 inches on the range, there are other factors while hunting that can make your shot slip. Poor footing, moving target, ext..


I say that you should only take the shots you think you can honestly say you can make for a quick kill.