head shots? is there anything wrong with them? - Page 2

Hawg · January 3, 2009, 11:16 PM

I take heart and lung shots with a 30-06. They almost never go anywhere. When they do it's not far, usually 50 ft. or less. If you ever see a deer with his jaw shot off you'll give up head shots. It's an ugly, long dying.

armedtotheteeth · January 4, 2009, 12:59 PM

Thats why you shoot them from behind, they dont see no stinkin muzzle flash. No Jaw to blow off either. It takes a little patience, But , just wait until they look over to the side or behind them.

Daryl · January 4, 2009, 02:29 PM

I'm not so stuck on one shot that it's all I'll take.

If an animal is broadside, I'll take a heart/lung shot; pretty much every time. If I'm offered a head on shot, or a tail end shot, I'll take a neck shot.

You just have to know the vital areas, and take what's offered. A nice heart/lund shot behind the shoulder with a well constructed bullet ruins very little meat. Just make it a point to miss the shoulder blade, which is certainly no more tricky than waiting for a head shot.

Daryl

HOGGHEAD · January 4, 2009, 04:05 PM

A good hunter will consider the situation he is in. And then he will shoot accordingly. I have seen times when a head shot was the only reasonable killing shot. However I will admit that I do not like taking head shots.

IMO if you want the most reliable "drop them in their tracks" shot. Then you should shoot 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up the front shoulder. You have the largest margin of error with this shot. And the high shoulder shot will definitely drop them dead on the spot.

You may have a little meat loss. However someone said earlier that the front shoulders have 15 pounds of meat in them. I have never shot a deer with that much meat on the front shoulders, and a large deer here in WV runs about 125-150#. You are lucky if you get 5# of meat from the front shoulders on a 125# deer. Tom.

Hawg · January 4, 2009, 08:39 PM

Hogghead they must be weighing the bones too.

I don't usually go through the shoulder but it will most definitely take out the lungs. I rarely use shoulder meat myself. More trouble than it's worth. I usually give the front shoulders and ribs away to someone that wouldn't have any deer meat otherwise.

MeekAndMild · January 4, 2009, 10:15 PM

deermaster, rereading the thread, don't let us rifle hunters throw you off. Even though I hunt 90% of the time with a rifle I've hunted with a shotgun enough to know that your method is a good one. If you can hit a dove or a quail at 25 yards you can hit a deer head. And it sounds like you've proven your technique with experience.

publius · January 4, 2009, 10:54 PM

Nothing at all wrong with head shots if you are shooting at a calm animal and know it won't move at the moment of truth. I used head shots for does for years but switched to a very high neck shot for does and cull bucks. Same lethal results with a little bigger target area and doesn't ruin the antlers on the bucks.

jaymag · January 6, 2009, 07:51 AM

I do like to eat the heart and the inners.Im just saying deer can be very tough to bring down,even when good shots are made.Im outside to down my game.Not take chances on making a perfect brain shot.I'll it takes is one branch to throw a bullet or a arrow off.But you do what you want.It's just my 2 cents.

jamaica · January 6, 2009, 07:28 PM

Head shots? Yes, of course. That is my favorite shot on deer, in fact, I insist on it. Why spoil the meat? Why chase a wounded deer? A bullet in the brain drops the animal like a wet dishcloth.

armedtotheteeth · January 12, 2009, 10:48 PM

indeed.. wet dishcloth. Very good analogy. There is almost always some flopping and twitching going on. I have even had deer run in circles for a minute like "Curly" from the " Three Stooges"
Meat loss sucks.
Losing a wounded animal sucks even more
Tracking deer in this part of the world aint easy. Every damn plant here is genetically designed to KILL YOU! I have a special hatred for the dreaded "Waitaminute!" bush. It will stop you in your tracks.
Cactus, mesquites, yucca, waitaminute, rocks and rattlesnakes make tracking deer damned near impossible

L_Killkenny · January 13, 2009, 12:15 PM

When using a "rifle", I find head shots on game to be irresponsible most of the time. Rabbits, squirrel and treed game being the exceptions. The brain on critters is very small compared to the size of the head and wounding shots are very likely. The worst example of this is when people recommend head shots on coyotes with a rimfire. Nothing worse than leaving a critter with a lower jaw blown off or a bad wound on the head/neck that will cause a very slow and painful death. A head/neck wound is far worse than "gut shots".

But in your case when using a shotgun with buck shot, I think a head/neck shot makes a lot of sense. You patterned your gun and know it's capabilities. Don't be tempted by shots that are beyond the distances you are speaking of and you should do fine.

texfar · January 13, 2009, 02:33 PM

Guess I outa get one point straight. I shoot head neck shots on 98% of the an animals I shoot, but as above posts, point out the different aspect of the shot. I wait for the right shot period. In my hunting days from 2000 I was pretty much retired and just plain waited for my shot. That is the latitude I had and still have. I was hunting every single day of the season and could AFFORD, my shot. That is not the same for the guy that only gets to hunt 4 days out of the entire season.
Ken

Para Bellum · January 17, 2009, 03:19 AM

What about the neck? Bigger critical area. Drops it instantly. For me it sounds strange to use a shotgun on deeer, but that's maybe my european attitude. We use rifles against deer.

DiscoRacing · January 17, 2009, 09:41 AM

i shoot for the head if possible... why i use 150 grain full metal jackets.... small hole....instant drop... guaranteed... nice deal in my book.

Jimbow1965 · January 17, 2009, 11:30 AM

Take the shot.....if you don't want pictures.....or antlers....and you can MAKE the shot.
Saves meat too.

jaymag · January 17, 2009, 02:56 PM

Know need?You will here me laughing when you pull a shot one inch over it's head with your dream buck standing there?Waiting 8 hours a day,All week.It would be a little differant with a 10-15 yrd shot with a shotgun or scoped rifle.Where I hunt in hardwoods and thick cedar groves with lots of branches,it's just not worth it.The lungs work just fine!

Art Eatman · January 17, 2009, 07:43 PM

Aw, now, jaymag, one inch over its head means you're off target by some four inches, roughly. Being off that far can cause trouble no matter what part of a deer you're intending to hit.

tblt44 · January 17, 2009, 08:41 PM

If your a good shot and the deer is not moving not a problem

armedtotheteeth · January 17, 2009, 10:40 PM

I would not like to track a lung shot deer in thick cover. Killing it and losing it is way way way worse than missing it. If you miss you can just tell your buddies something like you dropped your gun. I dont have to track the deer I shoot.

kmrcstintn · January 21, 2009, 10:23 PM

Quote:

head shots? is there anything wrong with them?

yep...even when a deer's feet ain't moving their heads bop up-n-down and side-to-side; very damned hard to make a deer stand absolutely still (especially their head) to get a clean and lethal shot; too small a target with too much movement

addendum...

for example... http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=329444

the pictures of the deer in this thread are a good example of WHY a head shot is not the best idea; seems that a different hunter FUBAR'ed a head shot and the deer got away before the hunter with enough sense to take a clean and lethal shot put it down;

T-Ray · January 22, 2009, 07:21 PM

if you don't care about the head (if its a buck) or carnage, they're pretty handy. Most people prefer heart, lung, shoulder shots, especially if it's long range b/c it's a much bigger and a lot more stationary target

PaddyWhacked · January 22, 2009, 09:35 PM

Aside from ruining trophy bucks there's one problem I have with head shots (aside from the issue of constantly bobbing heads and long distance rifle shots). If you tan your own hides, brains are important. Liquefying said brains means a trip to the butcher shop to buy a bucket of them. What gets me is all these people suggesting neck shots for the sake of not wasting meat. Neck meat is just as edible as shoulder meat. The nine pointer I brought home this year had about five pounds of meat on the neck. That's about three pounds of jerky num nums. You all have some small deer up in MA. The aforementioned buck weighed in at about 220lbs gutted. I ended up bringing home about 90lbs of meat (including heart and liver... big ol' heart on that monster too), and I lost some due to not being able to get it all stored and cut in time.

Todd1700 · January 24, 2009, 05:02 AM

Quote:

yep...even when a deer's feet ain't moving their heads bop up-n-down and side-to-side; very damned hard to make a deer stand absolutely still (especially their head) to get a clean and lethal shot; too small a target with too much movement

I agree. Never liked head shots. Heart lung area is a lot bigger target, 100% lethal and being a part of the deers torso tends to stay still for much longer periods than a deers head. The "wastes no meat argument" is a wash for taking head shots as well. A bullet through the lungs damages nothing but ribs, lungs and maybe heart. I don't know of anyone who eats those parts of a whitetail. If they do then they are some seriously hungry SOB's.

PaddyWhacked · January 24, 2009, 05:53 AM

Heart is awesome. Don't knock it 'till you try it.

KEN K · January 24, 2009, 09:37 AM

Yea I like the heart meat too. You can't limit yourself to any one shot, I see nothing wrong with a head shot as long as it's within your comfort rang. I personally like the high neck or high shoulder to drop them in their tracks and if you hunt on a small plot you need to get them down as soon as possible. A man has got to know his limitations ( Clint Eastwood) anything over 150 yds. and I go for the high shoulder or heart long area. Any time you totally disrupt the central nerves of an animal it is dead on it's feet. It's better to loase a little meat than the whole deer so pick your shot according to the moment.

January 4, 2009, 04:05 PM	#29
HOGGHEAD Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2008 Location: Rivesville, WV Posts: 637	Shots A good hunter will consider the situation he is in. And then he will shoot accordingly. I have seen times when a head shot was the only reasonable killing shot. However I will admit that I do not like taking head shots. IMO if you want the most reliable "drop them in their tracks" shot. Then you should shoot 1/2 to 2/3 of the way up the front shoulder. You have the largest margin of error with this shot. And the high shoulder shot will definitely drop them dead on the spot. You may have a little meat loss. However someone said earlier that the front shoulders have 15 pounds of meat in them. I have never shot a deer with that much meat on the front shoulders, and a large deer here in WV runs about 125-150#. You are lucky if you get 5# of meat from the front shoulders on a 125# deer. Tom.

January 4, 2009, 10:15 PM	#31
MeekAndMild Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2001 Posts: 4,988	deermaster, rereading the thread, don't let us rifle hunters throw you off. Even though I hunt 90% of the time with a rifle I've hunted with a shotgun enough to know that your method is a good one. If you can hit a dove or a quail at 25 yards you can hit a deer head. And it sounds like you've proven your technique with experience. __________________ In a few years when the dust finally clears and people start counting their change there is a pretty good chance that President Obama may become known as The Great Absquatulator. You heard it first here on TFL.

January 4, 2009, 10:54 PM	#32
publius Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2005 Location: Mississippi/Texas Posts: 2,505	Nothing at all wrong with head shots if you are shooting at a calm animal and know it won't move at the moment of truth. I used head shots for does for years but switched to a very high neck shot for does and cull bucks. Same lethal results with a little bigger target area and doesn't ruin the antlers on the bucks. __________________ "Suppose you were an idiot, and suppose you were a member of Congress, but I repeat myself." Mark Twain

January 6, 2009, 07:51 AM	#33
jaymag Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2005 Location: springfield,MA Posts: 239	swampghost I do like to eat the heart and the inners.Im just saying deer can be very tough to bring down,even when good shots are made.Im outside to down my game.Not take chances on making a perfect brain shot.I'll it takes is one branch to throw a bullet or a arrow off.But you do what you want.It's just my 2 cents.

January 17, 2009, 03:19 AM	#38
Para Bellum Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2005 Location: right there Posts: 1,882	Neck What about the neck? Bigger critical area. Drops it instantly. For me it sounds strange to use a shotgun on deeer, but that's maybe my european attitude. We use rifles against deer. __________________ Si vis pacem - para bellum If you want peace - prepare for war

January 3, 2009, 11:16 PM	#26
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	I take heart and lung shots with a 30-06. They almost never go anywhere. When they do it's not far, usually 50 ft. or less. If you ever see a deer with his jaw shot off you'll give up head shots. It's an ugly, long dying.

January 4, 2009, 12:59 PM	#27
armedtotheteeth Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: podunk, Texas Posts: 1,610	Thats why you shoot them from behind, they dont see no stinkin muzzle flash. No Jaw to blow off either. It takes a little patience, But , just wait until they look over to the side or behind them.

January 4, 2009, 02:29 PM	#28
Daryl Senior Member Join Date: July 11, 2008 Posts: 2,350	I'm not so stuck on one shot that it's all I'll take. If an animal is broadside, I'll take a heart/lung shot; pretty much every time. If I'm offered a head on shot, or a tail end shot, I'll take a neck shot. You just have to know the vital areas, and take what's offered. A nice heart/lund shot behind the shoulder with a well constructed bullet ruins very little meat. Just make it a point to miss the shoulder blade, which is certainly no more tricky than waiting for a head shot. Daryl

January 4, 2009, 08:39 PM	#30
Hawg Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: Mississippi Posts: 16,189	Hogghead they must be weighing the bones too. I don't usually go through the shoulder but it will most definitely take out the lungs. I rarely use shoulder meat myself. More trouble than it's worth. I usually give the front shoulders and ribs away to someone that wouldn't have any deer meat otherwise.

January 6, 2009, 07:28 PM	#34
jamaica Senior Member Join Date: March 24, 2006 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 705	Head shots? Yes, of course. That is my favorite shot on deer, in fact, I insist on it. Why spoil the meat? Why chase a wounded deer? A bullet in the brain drops the animal like a wet dishcloth.

January 12, 2009, 10:48 PM	#35
armedtotheteeth Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: podunk, Texas Posts: 1,610	indeed.. wet dishcloth. Very good analogy. There is almost always some flopping and twitching going on. I have even had deer run in circles for a minute like "Curly" from the " Three Stooges" Meat loss sucks. Losing a wounded animal sucks even more Tracking deer in this part of the world aint easy. Every damn plant here is genetically designed to KILL YOU! I have a special hatred for the dreaded "Waitaminute!" bush. It will stop you in your tracks. Cactus, mesquites, yucca, waitaminute, rocks and rattlesnakes make tracking deer damned near impossible

January 13, 2009, 12:15 PM	#36
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	When using a "rifle", I find head shots on game to be irresponsible most of the time. Rabbits, squirrel and treed game being the exceptions. The brain on critters is very small compared to the size of the head and wounding shots are very likely. The worst example of this is when people recommend head shots on coyotes with a rimfire. Nothing worse than leaving a critter with a lower jaw blown off or a bad wound on the head/neck that will cause a very slow and painful death. A head/neck wound is far worse than "gut shots". But in your case when using a shotgun with buck shot, I think a head/neck shot makes a lot of sense. You patterned your gun and know it's capabilities. Don't be tempted by shots that are beyond the distances you are speaking of and you should do fine.

January 13, 2009, 02:33 PM	#37
texfar Senior Member Join Date: November 27, 2004 Location: TEXAS Posts: 404	Guess I outa get one point straight. I shoot head neck shots on 98% of the an animals I shoot, but as above posts, point out the different aspect of the shot. I wait for the right shot period. In my hunting days from 2000 I was pretty much retired and just plain waited for my shot. That is the latitude I had and still have. I was hunting every single day of the season and could AFFORD, my shot. That is not the same for the guy that only gets to hunt 4 days out of the entire season. Ken

January 17, 2009, 09:41 AM	#39
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	i shoot for the head if possible... why i use 150 grain full metal jackets.... small hole....instant drop... guaranteed... nice deal in my book.

January 17, 2009, 11:30 AM	#40
Jimbow1965 Member Join Date: January 13, 2009 Posts: 30	Take the shot.....if you don't want pictures.....or antlers....and you can MAKE the shot. Saves meat too.

January 17, 2009, 02:56 PM	#41
jaymag Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2005 Location: springfield,MA Posts: 239	Heads shots stupid !! Know need?You will here me laughing when you pull a shot one inch over it's head with your dream buck standing there?Waiting 8 hours a day,All week.It would be a little differant with a 10-15 yrd shot with a shotgun or scoped rifle.Where I hunt in hardwoods and thick cedar groves with lots of branches,it's just not worth it.The lungs work just fine!

January 17, 2009, 07:43 PM	#42
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Aw, now, jaymag, one inch over its head means you're off target by some four inches, roughly. Being off that far can cause trouble no matter what part of a deer you're intending to hit.

January 17, 2009, 08:41 PM	#43
tblt44 Senior Member Join Date: January 17, 2009 Posts: 164	If your a good shot and the deer is not moving not a problem

January 17, 2009, 10:40 PM	#44
armedtotheteeth Senior Member Join Date: October 3, 2005 Location: podunk, Texas Posts: 1,610	I would not like to track a lung shot deer in thick cover. Killing it and losing it is way way way worse than missing it. If you miss you can just tell your buddies something like you dropped your gun. I dont have to track the deer I shoot.

January 22, 2009, 07:21 PM	#46
T-Ray Senior Member Join Date: August 26, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 288	if you don't care about the head (if its a buck) or carnage, they're pretty handy. Most people prefer heart, lung, shoulder shots, especially if it's long range b/c it's a much bigger and a lot more stationary target __________________ In God We Trust. www.texasguntalk.com/forums

January 22, 2009, 09:35 PM	#47
PaddyWhacked Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Mentor, KY Posts: 78	Aside from ruining trophy bucks there's one problem I have with head shots (aside from the issue of constantly bobbing heads and long distance rifle shots). If you tan your own hides, brains are important. Liquefying said brains means a trip to the butcher shop to buy a bucket of them. What gets me is all these people suggesting neck shots for the sake of not wasting meat. Neck meat is just as edible as shoulder meat. The nine pointer I brought home this year had about five pounds of meat on the neck. That's about three pounds of jerky num nums. You all have some small deer up in MA. The aforementioned buck weighed in at about 220lbs gutted. I ended up bringing home about 90lbs of meat (including heart and liver... big ol' heart on that monster too), and I lost some due to not being able to get it all stored and cut in time.

January 24, 2009, 05:53 AM	#49
PaddyWhacked Member Join Date: January 21, 2009 Location: Mentor, KY Posts: 78	Heart is awesome. Don't knock it 'till you try it.

January 24, 2009, 09:37 AM	#50
KEN K Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2006 Location: mid west Georgia Posts: 102	Yea I like the heart meat too. You can't limit yourself to any one shot, I see nothing wrong with a head shot as long as it's within your comfort rang. I personally like the high neck or high shoulder to drop them in their tracks and if you hunt on a small plot you need to get them down as soon as possible. A man has got to know his limitations ( Clint Eastwood) anything over 150 yds. and I go for the high shoulder or heart long area. Any time you totally disrupt the central nerves of an animal it is dead on it's feet. It's better to loase a little meat than the whole deer so pick your shot according to the moment.