Neck shots for whitetails?
 

Looking for input on this method of shot placement on whitetails. I don't use it myself unless it is the only shot available, however the one time I did it worked like the hammer of Thor on a nice buck, so am considering it.

I know several people that use it exclusively and swear by it.

I have also heard horror stories from people, one fellow I hunted with who shot a buck with a neck shot, had it go down, was on it's back with legs kicking up in the air, only to have it run off before he could walk over to it never to be recovered.

Looking for input from those that use it frequently as well as any who have used it without good effect.

it works well but the kill zone is only 2" wide, if the neck is straight horizontal than the kill zone is 2"x2" to hit the neck bone, I'll take a shoulder/lung shot over it anyday
RR

The neck is usually moving around more than the chest. A shot in the chest is deadly and a bigger target. The neck shot ruins more meat. Unless it's my only option, I go for the option with a higher percentage of success and less meat damage.

The neck shot is very effective if done right but it can also lead to wounding if done wrong. The chest is a bigger and better target in my opinion. I've done some neck shots but only when I was absolutely certain I could do it right. Such circumstances don't come around often.

If the neck was the only shot I had at a deer, the deer would walk. Not going to take the chance of wounding a nice deer.

:D Al

X2 I don't think I would take a neck shot.

Ive shot em straight on in the neck and they drop in their tracks. Ive also had friends barely nick the edge of their neck and they dropped where they stood. In all the years Ive been hunting Neither me, Nor any of my buddies have lost a neck shot deer. In fact, every one of em dropped where they stood. I'm always gonna take the Lung shot if Ive got it, But I'm never afraid to take a neck shot if its the best one Ive got.

I doubt seriously that those friends that "barely nicked the neck" didn't have to make a killing shot after the deer went down unless they cut the jugular! I learned that a long time ago when that was the only shot I had on a doe and I wacked her with my 06 at about 40 yards and just as I shot she turned her head a little. She dropped like she was hit over the head with a sledge hammer and started what I thought was her "death kick". I got my stuff together in the tree stand and when I looked up she was on her feet and walking wobbily straight away and not offering any kind of a shot. I got down, went back to the cabin because it was almost dark and got a gas lantern to track her. There were only a few little spots of blood on the light snow the first fifty yards and I followed her tracks for 1/2 mile with no sign that she was even hit. That, I can guarantee, was from one of those "barely nicked the neck" shots and the only deer I've ever shot at and lost, but I'm convinced she walked off just shaken up and I've never taken that shot again. At least the OP didn't talk head shots, as that would have really got me started, LOL!

Yea I see what your saying. I was with these buddies in their stand when they nicked the neck. I guess it just happened to grab enough of something vital to knock em over. Its not a shot I really want to take, I'd take a shoulder/chest shot over a neck any day. But if the neck is all Ive got, And at a reasonable distance, I will take it.

Dont even get me started on head shots. There are dome fools around here that buy .308's, 25/06 Etc so they have the accuracy just to take head shots.:eek2: That burns me up something awful!!!:nonono2:

As others have said; I will take a neck shot if that is all I have and the deer is 50 yards or less and I have a steady rest.

I too shot one in the neck and he went right down.

As I was gathering my gear, the deer sat up like he was bedded - I shot him a second time in the neck and he bled out right there.

I don't want to repeat that experience again if I can avoid it !!!

doesnt hurt to practice them. I have used a neck shot twice in the last 4 years. Deer just refused to go broadside and it was getting dark. They are very easy if the Deer is facing you and has their head down feeding.

I have taken two deer with other than a boiler room shot out of about 40. Both times it was a if it doesn't happen now it isn't going to happen situation and I had a good solid rest both times and I knew where my gun would shoot. One in the neck with my 45-70, which completeyl severed the carotid and windpipe, looked like somone opened a firehose filled with blood and the other was a doe laying down, chewing its cud I saw because of an ear flicker, last day of the season and late in the day. I had a good rest she was cacing away from me and all I could see ws about 6 inches of neck and her head. I put the crosshairs on the back of her head just above the neck, between the ears and when the .308 went off her head went right down. She still had her legs folded under her when I walked up on her. This is not a common thing for me to do but if the conditions are right, I am confident I can do it and not flub it up.

Over the years I shot 3 deer in the neck as this was the only clear area available at the time. Shot with 12g sabot slugs at a range of 20, 95 & 105 yards, all 3 never took a step and dropped dead in their tracks.
If I have a chest shot instead I take it, the neck if it is the only option.

I prefer to not neck shoot. Too many things can go wrong. Behind the shoulder works for me.

I will take a lung shot over any if at all possible, unless its a long distance shot, then I hold center shoulder. I do this mainly so the deer bleeds out, you shoot one in the heart/lungs they do not immediately die, they bleed out inside, head/neck shots kills instantly but then its a bloody mess to clean up.
shot one in the head this summer on damage permits, I had 2 big mature does that I wanted to take and they saw my buddy who was with me, one would not turn broadside so I took them both out but one was shot in the nose looking straight on, cleaning them up there was a notable difference in how much blood was still in the meat.
I can hit them wherever I want if they offer a shot, I once shot one in the head at 611 yards, because she was wounded and I did not want her to suffer. but the absolute best shot is the double lung shot without a doubt.
RR

Boiler room for me 95% of the time, and that is my preferred shot.

Trailed a nice buck that a buddy shot in the neck with a .30-06 long time ago, never found it. He dropped it like a brick, and as he was climbing down it got up and ran off. Laid there a good 5 minutes before getting up. Decent blood, just ran out after about 1/2 mile.

If you want the deer to drop quickly, the safest shot is high shoulder. (4-6" below the spine). Bullet hits the bone and really causes some damage. Even the big ones usually don't make it off the field.

That's exactly where a lot of these deer that drop at the shot on TV shows are being shot.

the high shoulder shot hits the spine, that's the main reason they are DRT, center shoulder works well if the bullet is not still screaming (extreme velocity)
RR

Can't go anywhere without wheels............... short blood trail ?!?!

Yep, the high shoulder is DRT. Like RR said, its because it hits the spine. Spine drops way down where it comes into the shoulders and neck. I take that shot if I need one to not run at all. Always fun to watch em drop on the spot.

You'd take it
 

...if you knew where the spinal cord was and could hit it with a shot.

For some, the spinal cord is purely academic or unknown.

Ideally, I want to be high enough to take out the shoulder blades, but low enough so if I miss a little high I get spine.

"DRT"?

DRT= dead right there
RR

DRT=Dead right there!

I've never taken a neck shot because of the small kill zone. I probably would though, if it was the only shot I had and close enough to make sure it would kill - say within 20 yards.

Dang, you need to practice!!! :)

No offence to anyone on this thread.....however, if I cannot hit in the "boiler box", will not take the shot. I believe in one shot , one kill and my son has been trained the same way prior to my being disabled. I have being honest hit one in the neck in my life, it went down where it stood. I still did not like it. It is what it is at times...and non of us can predict that from year to year......we are only human after all and not perfect.......

I will always avoid neck shots for the simple fact a heart/lung shot is fatal and a double shoulder shot will drop them in their tracks. I personally won't risk a neck shot.

I won't take one. Bow or gun. No.

Only time I use a neck shot is if I am dispatching a buck on a bad shot I made. I also won't aim for high shoulder. One example a shot a 6 point yesterday evening at 202 yards and hit him high in the shoulder. He dropped in his tracks and what I though was DRT wasn't he was still alive crawling to the ditch on his front hooves. I went to shoot a second time but he rolled in the ditch. Of course had to get down run down there and shot him in the back of the neck with my .270. On that deer I hit high shoulder and spine.

Time to get an 06 and that wouldn't happen :biggrin:

Let's just say that neck or head shots are not the best shots to take! If someone can't connect on shoulder or boiler room shots, neck shots would be completely out of the question!

Had a 30-06 got rid of it because I wanted a flatter shooting rifle.... Did the same thing because I was told a high shoulder shot is the best shot to use on deer so they don't run. Well the one with the 30-06 was on purpose and after that never tried another high shoulder shot. Last night was me making a bad shot. I rushed the shot. Caliber won't make up for a bad shot.

.011" of bullet diameter won't make any difference, why give up the accuracy potential and flatter trajectory of the 270 for an '06
the 270's .046" longer neck better stabilizes the heavier big game bullets and starts them into the lands straighter, its why I don't own an '06
RR

Oh well, I guess the fact the 06 is considered the best all around ever made for any big game on the North American continent doesn't count with you, but it does to many millions of others that know how good and versatile it is!

Jack of all Trades, master of none....

One reason the '06 was so popular in the last century is because so many carried them in WW-II, there is nothing magical about it...

I'll second that! Never have and never will need a Jack of all Trades cartridge!

Knew a hunter...
 

who successfully made the neck shot. Of course, he studied deer anatomy and knew the best places to make the shot; was an excellent shot who hit what he aimed at; performed animal autopsies before he did the butchering.
The animal autopsy determined without guessing, why the deer instantly collapsed. No guesswork for him. How do you know where you hit, if you take the whole deer, less guts, to the processor.

whats that tell ya? Is it ever gonna dawn on you that everyone knows that 99.9% of your posts are for the soul purpose of increasing your post count whether you know what your talking about or not?
RR