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Head shot on does
How many people try for head shots on does so they can get the most meat out of their animal? I think it is a clean and ethical shot.
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RE: Head shot on does
Not for me. I will take a good double lung shot every time.
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RE: Head shot on does
I would never shoot a deer in the head. I usually shoot them in the neck or behind the shoulder
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RE: Head shot on does
No way,its not an ethical shot. Double lung for me.
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RE: Head shot on does
Theres no wasted meat on a double lung shot. Id never take a head shot. Just to much room for error. Id feel horrible to see a hit in the jaw or thru the eye and have her get away, Just not a respectful shot in my opinion.
Jay |
RE: Head shot on does
i'll try one if the time is right and the shot is right, a doe 30yds and in with a shotgun or muzzleloader with a clear shot at her head and i'll take the shot
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RE: Head shot on does
Im not talking 100 yard shots, Im talking about 30,40,50,60 yard shots. I have shot four does in the last eight years and they have all been clean head shots with no suffering.
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RE: Head shot on does
I have shot some deer in the neck ,
If you have a decent rest and your gun is accurate the deer will drop and there is no tracking job to do , I only shoot for the neck when I am 100 % confident I wont miss , Not all shots are a a decent vantage point or with a good rest .. Deer must be very calm and not nervous or constantly moving its head . |
RE: Head shot on does
Why not bucks as well???
Works on them as well...That's the shot I take with my .22... |
RE: Head shot on does
What is clean and ethical about a shot that, if it is not perfect , will cause a lost deer that will die a slow and painful death?
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RE: Head shot on does
A good double lung, broadside shot, will yield as much useable meat as a head shot!
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: Pass_Thru Theres no wasted meat on a double lung shot. Id never take a head shot. Just to much room for error. Id feel horrible to see a hit in the jaw or thru the eye and have her get away, Just not a respectful shot in my opinion. Jay |
RE: Head shot on does
A little bit high, a little bit low,a little to theleft or the right on a head shot will cause alot of suffering.
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RE: Head shot on does
With an accurate rifle or muzzleloader, if the range is short and the deer isn't moving, I think it's an okay shot. Most of the time you'll either kill the deer instantly, or miss completely. Yes there is a chance of wounding a deer, causing suffering, but that chance is still there for you "double lung" guys- if your aim is off, if the deer moves, etc, you can wind up gut-shooting them- also a lot of pain and suffering for the deer. Fact is, we're hunting deer and trying to kill them- and it doesn't always work out the way we want it to every time- there's always a chance of wounding a deer. Our job is to keep that chance as low as possible.
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: oldsmellhound With an accurate rifle or muzzleloader, if the range is short and the deer isn't moving, I think it's an okay shot. Most of the time you'll either kill the deer instantly, or miss completely. Yes there is a chance of wounding a deer, causing suffering, but that chance is still there for you "double lung" guys- if your aim is off, if the deer moves, etc, you can wind up gut-shooting them- also a lot of pain and suffering for the deer. Fact is, we're hunting deer and trying to kill them- and it doesn't always work out the way we want it to every time- there's always a chance of wounding a deer. Our job is to keep that chance as low as possible. |
RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: MOhunter46 ORIGINAL: oldsmellhound With an accurate rifle or muzzleloader, if the range is short and the deer isn't moving, I think it's an okay shot. Most of the time you'll either kill the deer instantly, or miss completely. Yes there is a chance of wounding a deer, causing suffering, but that chance is still there for you "double lung" guys- if your aim is off, if the deer moves, etc, you can wind up gut-shooting them- also a lot of pain and suffering for the deer. Fact is, we're hunting deer and trying to kill them- and it doesn't always work out the way we want it to every time- there's always a chance of wounding a deer. Our job is to keep that chance as low as possible. IMO a head shot will is just as good as any other. But its not the easiest sho, in the right circumstances it is an okay shot to take. |
RE: Head shot on does
I feel if you are confident in the head shot take it. Like me last year Iwas mad when I missed. I think it must have been too close. I should have used the iron sights. We all have to make the choice on where to place the shot and we have to have confidence in ourselves and our equipment in doing so.
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: WIbuckchaser I feel if you are confident in the head shot take it. Like me last year Iwas mad when I missed. I think it must have been too close. I should have used the iron sights. We all have to make the choice on where to place the shot and we have to have confidence in ourselves and our equipment in doing so. Nope, no head shots for me! |
RE: Head shot on does
The biggest problem with aiming for the head is that it is the part of the animal that could quickly move for any reason. A deer standing and eating, or even bedded may just want to look around, smell the wind, etc. and that head is going to move. Not so for the torso, it has to walk, duck, or jump for that. That movement takes longer for the deer, is less likely tohappen,and is easier to anticipate. If you're that close a double lung is much easier and ethical because the kill zone is much larger, less mobile, and a miss is going to hit the shoulder, liver, spine, etc and likely cause a kill. Head shots do not offer any of this, either a kill, a miss,or a disaster. Take the easy shot (lungs). It's the right one.
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RE: Head shot on does
LUNGS LUNGS LUNGS enough said.
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RE: Head shot on does
NO WAY NOT FOR ME.... My wife's little brother tried this once, the result was a clean, swift,
 from me. |
RE: Head shot on does
Last season we had a doe running around with a lower jaw missing and it took us 2 days to finally get her down. Some NYC "Vinny" from down state in the land next to ours was the culprit because a shot was heard on their side and a few minutes later she came running over to our side, ran under my buddy's stand with her jaw missing and blood going everywhere. This doe ran around for days in pain and for what? We took the deer and dumped it at the bottom of their road with a cardboard sign around it's neck. It read "Hey A$$*&#@ if we see this again around here there will be phone calls made to the NYSDEC" So hell no to head shots! A round into the engine room works every time. If you need a head shot to down a deer because either you are too lazy/incompetent to track if necessary then you probably shouldn't be out there anyway.
Mack |
RE: Head shot on does
my ol man and ishoot deer in the head all the time. bucks or does. especially whenwe catch them in their bed. i could post some pics if ya want[&:]
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RE: Head shot on does
A round into the engine room works every time. If you need a head shot to down a deer because either you are too lazy/incompetent to track if necessary then you probably shouldn't be out there anyway. |
RE: Head shot on does
double lung for me...no head shot...
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RE: Head shot on does
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RE: Head shot on does
under the right circumstances iwill shoot a deer in the head. i'vekilled several does this way.butas others have said you have to have utmost confidence in your shooting ability and your equipment to pull it off. i usually try for a lung shot though, depends on the situation.
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: Otsdawa_Game_Hunter Last season we had a doe running around with a lower jaw missing and it took us 2 days to finally get her down. Some NYC "Vinny" from down state in the land next to ours was the culprit because a shot was heard on their side and a few minutes later she came running over to our side, ran under my buddy's stand with her jaw missing and blood going everywhere. This doe ran around for days in pain and for what? We took the deer and dumped it at the bottom of their road with a cardboard sign around it's neck. phone calls made to tIt read "Hey A$$*&#@ if we see this again around here there will be he NYSDEC" So hell no to head shots! A round into the engine room works every time. If you need a head shot to down a deer because either you are too lazy/incompetent to track if necessary then you probably shouldn't be out there anyway. Mack |
RE: Head shot on does
Thisis one of those threads that just raises it's ugly head once in a while and all it does is get all us deer hunters at each others throat. I shoot for behind the shoulder, if you disagree so be it. We're adults (I think), to each his own...........I wish this subject would never come up again.
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RE: Head shot on does
Easy now. children please get along this a place for opinions and we all know how they are. (everyone has one.);)
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RE: Head shot on does
No head shots and no .22 for deer. My neighbor shots deer with .22 off season and then he brags about it. He is such a “good shot” that he picks them off at 100 yards with head shots! I can imagine how many good deer he just crippled and let them die miserable death.
I would not call DEM on him, but it really goes on my nerve. But we do not call cops on neighbors… |
RE: Head shot on does
I would seriously thing about turning in a poaching neighbor.
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RE: Head shot on does
Well he can get as mad as he wants. Must be the truth hurts or he wouldn't be making a big deal out of it. So much for coming on here and posting opinions. My advice is if you are going to come on here and ask unethical questions, expect answers that you won't necessarily enjoy. Especially in the company of the ethical and professional folks in here. I have been on this board for a while now and it has been very helpful and I enjoy everyone in here. I'm not one to start conflict but I'm sure not going to let this individual walk all over everyone's opinions unchecked. If you want to shoot deer in the head thats fine. It's your tag, property, gun and life. Just don't come in here expecting everyone to appreciate it. Maybe some do like to head shoot, maybe some don't but it's our right to come in here and agree or disagree with members. And just a little side note: Nice bad language on the board but you might want to use an exciting new invention called spell check, it works wonders for some people. Trust me...you will appear to be less ignorant than we know you are. And there will be no need to retort my friend....because everything you post in here from now on will sound as if a toilet were flushing to me and I'm sure to everyone else.
Tootles, :D |
RE: Head shot on does
i dont shoot deer in the head there is no point u get just as much meat with a behind the shoulder shot its just to gory and just kinda stupid if u ask me
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: Otsdawa_Game_Hunter Well he can get as mad as he wants. Must be the truth hurts or he wouldn't be making a big deal out of it. So much for coming on here and posting opinions. My advice is if you are going to come on here and ask unethical questions, expect answers that you won't necessarily enjoy. Especially in the company of the ethical and professional folks in here. I have been on this board for a while now and it has been very helpful and I enjoy everyone in here. I'm not one to start conflict but I'm sure not going to let this individual walk all over everyone's opinions unchecked. If you want to shoot deer in the head thats fine. It's your tag, property, gun and life. Just don't come in here expecting everyone to appreciate it. Maybe some do like to head shoot, maybe some don't but it's our right to come in here and agree or disagree with members. And just a little side note: Nice bad language on the board but you might want to use an exciting new invention called spell check, it works wonders for some people. Trust me...you will appear to be less ignorant than we know you are. And there will be no need to retort my friend....because everything you post in here from now on will sound as if a toilet were flushing to me and I'm sure to everyone else. Tootles, :D  |
RE: Head shot on does
If you can shoot em in the head, you can shoot em in the lungs. MUCH higher percentage shot, and little chance of suffering by being off a tad.
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: bayou_buckslayer i dont shoot deer in the head there is no point u get just as much meat with a behind the shoulder shot its just to gory and just kinda stupid if u ask me |
RE: Head shot on does
I say behind the shoulder for me. I will never take a head shot. I believe a moderator should lock this post before tempers get out of hand.
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RE: Head shot on does
ORIGINAL: Arrowmaster I say behind the shoulder for me. I will never take a head shot. I believe a moderator should lock this post before tempers get out of hand. |
RE: Head shot on does
I've taken the shot before, it's always worked for me. It's not for everyone or every situation by a long shot, but it is effective.
I've got no problem with people saying it's wrong or unethical. If you don't like the shot, don't take it. |
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