RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

I'm sure I will catch a lot of heat, but I have shot many(20 or so) meat deer in the neck. Before everyone gets in an uproar all these were shot under 100 yards with basically a sandbagged rest. I aim where the neck joins the skull. Every deer dropped like a stone. I wouldn't take this shot unless it was under perfect shooting conditions. Only take this shot with my target rifle(real half inch groups @ 100). In fact I shot a doe last year with my normal rifle behind the front shoulders at about 125 yards; I just didn't feel comfortable with any other shot. I am not advising anyone to take this shot. Everyone should know their limitations as far as accuracy and shooting. I feel I do. Flame away if you want but just my opinion.

Later
Gone_Huntin

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

Gone huntin,

Why would you be flamed, you explained you only take this shot when all conditions are perfect and know your abilities. Everybody takes questionable shots and more often than not the outcome is good. I took a head shot on a nice doe and the bullet went right where I aimed....but had the perfect lane, no wind and a rock solid rest. Would I do it again, probably not! The reason was the last 2 years I have found apparent missed head/neck shot deer and it sickened me. Before then I would still hope for the lungs, but now I wait for the lungs...if the shot isn't their, always next time.

I think most guys responded to the fact don't take a neck over the lungs...imo if you do this your foolish. Meat waste is minimal on a true lung shot. I would also say to those who say take out his wheels (both shoulders), this is just as risky, if your not toting a big caliber. I pulled one on a buck with my 270 that caught him square in the shoulder, I managed to bust up one side and get some vitals damage but I tracked him for quite some time and eventually had to leave him until the next day. Result was a long sleepless night for both myself and the deer. Not a quick, humane kill and again I was sickened by the suffering I caused.

I now preach to think about the quarry we are chasing and the need to put a quick, clean & humane kill shot. Finding poor shot deer, is not good for all of us and gives anti groups more ammo on our beloved sport.

Shoot straight and aim for the boiler room. Best of luck to all and a safe season.

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

Thanks guys. You are all true sportsmen, even those of you who confessed to taking neck shots. While I have the confidence, skill and good sense to know when to take a neck shot, I was not sure about where to place the shot and I figured just any old neck shot would not do. I am convinced, now, that there is no reason for me to attempt a neck shot. If the kill zone is as small as you have described, it is more risky than it is worth. I enjoy the neck meat as well. I have never felt good about shooting a deer although I enjoy eating them and being out on the hunt. If I did damage an animal as some of you have described, it would tear me up. I'll stick with my shots behind the shoulder. Nothing I have ever shot in that area has gone more than fifty rards. Why ruin a perfect record? Thanks again. One last question. If a deer is facing you straight on, can you place a shot where the neck meets the withers... in the chest cavity... or is this not advisable?

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

Not advised and I'll leave it at that!

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

If you can hit a little red dot at 100yards you should be able to make a neck shot.But dont take one if you dont think you can make it.I have shot about 10 in the neck and drop all of them.I have also shot them in the lungs and had them run off.It all depends on the situation and how good of a shot you are.

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

The topic is pretty well covered, so on that note the only shot that I will take is the boiler room (bow or gun), I want the meat I shoot at!!

The best of luck in all your hunting endeavors!!!

God Bless,
Dave

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

I have seen deer shot just about everwhere you could shoot one in all my years of hunting . Believe me all the deer hit in the head weren't bad neck shots just very poor shooting .One time I tracked a deer for a couple hunter that had wounded a buck but couldn't find it . I got them on the deer two different times and they both missed it at about 50 yards the third time I jumped the deer I shot it in the back of the neck running straight away .They both got mad at me for shooting thier deer .This poor thing was shot in the horns ,through one ear ,burned the top of the ham about 4" long and a high shot through the ribs . Now assuming that this deer had two shots in the head area were they neck shooting . LOL I have shot a lot of deer in the neck and have yet to lose one in over fifty years of hunting . I think a lot of people need to shoot more . If your get a chance watch the deer going through a game check station sometimes and see what the real world is like . There are a lot of people that hit deer all over the place and aren't just shooting for the neck .

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

halcon, how true. You know I hear guys all who say they don't sight in their guns before hunting....ridiculous. My buddy never had to make an adjustment on his 7 mag, but still sights in faithfully, last year he was 2" high and 4 to the right at 100. So you never know. Then their are those who get panicked and just can't shoot.

My only thought is when you aim for a smaller target, your margin of error increases. So really why chance it! Even guys who can shoot the lights out at a range make a mistake in the field, right!

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

halcon, how true. You know I hear guys all who say they don't sight in their guns before hunting....ridiculous. My buddy never had to make an adjustment on his 7 mag, but still sights in faithfully, last year he was 2" high and 4 to the right at 100. So you never know. Then their are those who get panicked and just can't shoot.

My only thought is when you aim for a smaller target, your margin of error increases. So really why chance it! Even guys who can shoot the lights out at a range can make a mistake in the field, no!

RE: Neck Shots on Deer Always Drop Them Cold?
 

Halcon - good point about the peoples shooting. Personally I enjoy shooting so I spend a good bit of time at the range. A guy on our lease has me or my father sight in his rifle every year(basically because he doesn't shoot well enough to do it). The fact that he respects our shooting enough to ask us to do it is great, but there is a chance that rifle is not going to shoot to the same point of impact for him as it does for me. Besides if you don't trust your shooting enough to sight your own rifle in not sure how you would pull the trigger on a deer. Over the years I've had to trail a few deer for him, usually gut shot. Our theory is he jerks the trigger or flinches and pulls everything to the right. Deer facing left = gut shot; facing right - through front shoulders or miss. Long story short - everyone should know there gun and be able to shoot it.

Later
Gone_Huntin