Neck shots?
 

I was reading another post and was curious of how many people don't like neck shots. I can understand some logic that on a big deer, you take a chance of not hitting the neck bone, but on a doe or a buck that isn't rutting..........

I guess I'll be opening the can of worms (so to speak), but I personally like a neck shot due to less meat damage and they do drop in their tracks.

RE: Neck shots?
 

lungs for me

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I pick the sweet spot behind the shoulder. Done it that way for 25 years. Don't see a need to change.

RE: Neck shots?
 

I have seen neck shot deer go down at the shot,then get up and run away.A shot near the vertebrae will stun them but may not provide a quck kill.Why take the chance when the lungs are so much bigger?

RE: Neck shots?
 

Ditto what smitty said. There's no doubt that neck shots can and do work, and some people swear by them. However, there is a chance that the neck shot can be off just a little resulting in a wounded animal rather than a quick kill. For me I'd rather shoot behind the shoulder. The kill zone is much larger, and chances are much better in the case that the shot is not exactly where you wanted it. As for meat loss, IMO thats no concern to me. A properly placed shot behind the shoulder nets almost zero meat loss.

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Yeah, what Smitty said, I only take head shots on turkey. ;) Bobby

RE: Neck shots?
 

i go with heart and lungs,lot bigger target

RE: Neck shots?
 

It is funny how I see this line (disclaimer) if you will from those who prefer a neck shot, b/c if your skilled enough to hit the neck (1-2") target and truly concerned about meat damage as your #1 reason for taking the neck shot then a lung shot rib in and rib out would waste less meat and also allow even the best shooters a good 5-6" buffer just in case. I think it should just say I want my deer to tip over in there tracks so I aim for the neck. If you truly think your saving meat with a neck over a rib shot (lungs) then you need some time with a butcher, b/c it simply ain't true.

I prefer the vitals for obvous reasons. I am not saying that neck shots won't work but having seen botched neck shots and having to track those animals has made it a no question situation for me...if no vitals no shot!

RE: Neck shots?
 

I butcher my own meat and process the ribs to be prepared the same as pork or beef ribs or cut the meat to be used for jerky and for stews. Also, if no meat is saved, why aren't slaughtered animals killed by sticking them through the heart or lungs? Just a thought.

RE: Neck shots?
 

My guess would be because sticking them through the heart or lungs may not kill the animal instantly, which with cows could become very dangerous.

My first deer (and only) was hit in the neck. It was drived to me along with two other does, and my second shot (buckshot) hit one of them in the neck. She dropped right away, but still sprawled around and tried to get up. I quickly ran up and finished her with a slug through the heart, which in turn took off a large portion of meat on the shoulder..

If I could choose a shot it would be behind the shoulder, but that day my pellet just happened to connect with neck.

RE: Neck shots?
 

The difference is point blank vs distant shot, the % of a miss is almost impossible with beef being slaughter..plus it is the head not neck.

I butcher as well, my point was simply a neck has a lot of meat as well and while the ribs have some the amount you'll lose will not be significant enough to support such an arguement. I am not talking about hitting the front shoulder, just ribs, you'll loose some rib meat and flank where as a neck you'll could loose a lot more in neck meat on a mature buck. I guess the idea of saving meat by shooting an animal in the neck doesn't make sense to me over a ribs hit.

PS a neck shot is one of the worst shots if you plan on doing a shoulder mount.

RE: Neck shots?
 

Neck for me..nothing else unless I have too..
So far.......I have never had a deer even take one step after hitting it in the neck. I convinced a good friend of mine to take a neck shot and since then he feels the same way. I guess the bottom line is you shoot where you feel you will make the cleanest kill.

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Outdoor-Just how many big game animals have you taken with neck shots?

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Gobbling buck,

Let me help you start a good one to go with your neck shots. Because the deer and hogs are so close here (swamp land) where I hunt, I probably have shot 90 % of them in the head. When I was younger I would pass up head shots because I didn't want to mess up racks and that was the only real clear shot I had. I haven't mounted any racks in the past 15 or so years, like to think of myself as a meat hunter first. However, the nice racks that I have taken are nailed up on my barn. I see nothing wrong with a neck shot if you are close enough and know your limitations.

dog1

RE: Neck shots?
 

Well, I'm a shotgunner and I feel a well placed neck shot within say 60 or 70 yards are a sure shot to drop em. Provided you are using a 12 gauge (I do) if you hit the upper third of the neck the slug delivered may not actually contact the spine but the shock delivered (energy imparted) will certainly take the spine out of service. Whenever possible, this boy drops his crosshairs on the boiler room.

With a 20 gauge I'd have to say you'd have to be 50 yards and eithewr actually hit the spine or go right thru and past it to guarantee lethality.

Uncle Matt (in IL)

RE: Neck shots?
 

Joe_148 instead of shooting it in the heart and tearing off meat like you did why didnt u just shoot it in the head????

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I go by this philosophy: http://www.tnoutdoorsmen.com/killzone.htm#

RE: Neck shots?
 

Stubble ---
I can tell you when my first neck was >> 1982 on a 8 point that was chasing a doe...he stopped and only offered a neck shot (bow)...I thought about it and was confident I could hit the "white" ring just under his chin..very high in the neck. That buck dropped straight down much to my amazement and never even kicked..shot was close 40' +-...since then I have been hooked.
If I had to guess how many I would say 20? I shoot a buck a year "usually" (I hope) I can only think of one Texas shot I took and the results were the same.

RE: Neck shots?
 

Heart /lung shots for me! Neck shots are too low % shots, and the risk of wounded animals is also too great!
There is a lots of good eating meat in the neck too!
Heart/lungs, zero meat damage and large target too!

RE: Neck shots?
 

I shoot heart/lung or nothing. Although I have never had an oppurtunity where the neck was exposed and the lungs were obstructed so........ I don't know what I would do then but in general I will always take the double lung shot as my first option.

RE: Neck shots?
 

Most of the deer I have taken if I had a good shot it would be in the neck and even some in the head . I Have never had to track a deer I shot in the neck , but I have a couple that were shot in the chest . Personally I see nothing wrong with a neckshot if you know what your doing and have the ability to do it .

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I would just like to kill one. Through the neck the sholder what ever works. My deer hunting success has been slim this season. [:@]

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I did take a nice 6 point in the early 90's at about 200 yards through the neck and it looked like something snatched the legs out from under it. But thats the only time I have ever shot one in the neck and to tell you the truth I think it was a luck shot then. ;)

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I would take a neck shot if it was the best shot available in a second. Sometimes I just feel more comfortable taking a heart/lung shot.

RE: Neck shots?
 

if the deer is not moving, neck definetely

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Well, I was using slugs, and it was my first deer. I wanted it to have a head..
Plus, I just wanted to finish it quick and its head was moving around so the heart was easiest.

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I would never take a neck shot with my bow. I have however taken a neck shot a time or two with my rifle when no other shot presented itself. I prefer the heart/lungs any day.

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Depends on the situation presented me, but I shoot them in the neck/head frequently. Never lost one, never had one move. Many folks down here are neck shooters.

Shot two in the head and one 10-point in the neck this year alone. Understand I'm not bragging, merely supporting my post.

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A neck shot definitely damages a good neck roast and the cape(trophy hunter, sorry). A heart/lung shot may damage very little of the less desireable rib meat. The risk is not worth the reward on the neck shot. I have taken two of them because it was the best shot I had but I don't make a practice of it.

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normally i shoot 4 the shoulder but the only time i have ever shot a buck in the neck was when i shot him in the lungs and he dropped at 150yds and then i shot him in the neck once he raised his head because he kept staring at me. and everyone knows that staring is rude. lol. no.... i shot him in the neck to guaruntee that he stayed down. because one day i went hunting i i made a shot when i could barely see through my scope and i hit low on his leg just to where the bullet wouldnt hit his body(not intended to hit low). and i thought that i hit him good and apparently not. by the time i got to where he was, he was gone.[:'(] he was a MONSTER 8 or 10pointer.

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i have shot 2 deer in the neck , with my bow . the first went about 60 yards , and i think he left every bit ofthe blood he had in that 60 yards . what a trail !the second one i thought i missed he walked of unphased and went about 100 yards with a faint blood trail . i will take a double lung or heart shot any day but if need be will not hesitate a neck shot

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I have shot several deer in the neck and everyone I remember dropped like a ton of bricks. I prefer this, as I cut up my own meat myself. This is my preference as I do believe you don't waste as much meat shooting them in the neck.
For archery, I will only take behind shoulder shots, just believe in the double lung rule, on shots with a bow. ;)