Deer neck shots and varmint rounds

[Pumpkin]

But…what if said animal moves and doesn’t present a perfect target?
Maybe you really need the meat, maybe it’s a trophy buck?
Would you still take the shot?

[Brian Pfleuger]

Originally Posted by Pumpkin

But…what if said animal moves and doesn’t present a perfect target?
Maybe you really need the meat, maybe it’s a trophy buck?
Would you still take the shot?

There are so many variables and caveats.

Every shot at every animal has to be carefully analyzed and decisions made.

Any hunter with much experience at all will have probably seen multiple instances of something that they would say they wouldn't believe if they hadn't seen it with their own eyes.

I have many examples of "perfect shots" gone bad, and many examples of terrible shots gone perfect.

One time, I had a broadside doe at about 30 feet who was nervous and "jumped the string". I was dirt poor at the time and using garbage Walmart expandable broadheads. The arrow hit her just in front of the left hip at a pretty sharp angle toward the back. Arrow only penetrated about 8 or 10 inches and the broadhead didn't even open, but it severed her femoral artery, and she went about 15 yards and dropped stone dead.

Another time, I had a perfect broadside shot at about 25 yards, from a seated position with my elbows resting on my knees. Deer was perfectly calm, totally unaware. 12ga shotgun with slugs. I squeezed off the shot, deer whirled and ran.
Dead deer, right?
We found one chunk of flesh, about 20 yards of blood trail, and gone.
No idea what happened.

Deer don't stand there whipping their heads around like it's a snake on the end of their bodies.
They have mannerisms and body language that is (reasonably) predictable.

A decent hunter has got to understand what they're seeing and decide what shot makes sense at the moment, or maybe no shot makes sense.
Sometimes, the shot will make sense and still go wrong. Sometimes it won't make sense and we'll take the shot anyway (we're all human and we've all done it) and it all goes right when it shouldn't.

All in all, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a deer in the neck. It's a kill shot, and I know it. The situation at the moment might change my mind... might even make me choose a neck shot when I otherwise wouldn't... or not when I otherwise would... but the lethality of it is not a concern in the least.

[Pumpkin]

“There are so many variables and caveats.“

All the more reason to bring enough gun.
When using a caliber that relies on almost perfect shot placement in an imperfect world, why not do yourself and the animal a solid and bring something that’s not so close to being, just enough.
Makes me wonder when 20 and 17 cals going to be considered enough gun for deer.

[Brian Pfleuger]

Something I personally haven't ever seen in all my years of hunting was a bigger gun turning a bad shot into a good one;

or one where I could reasonably say "Well now, if that had only been an X caliber, this deer would have escaped. Sure glad it was a Y."

In fact, I can't recall a single situation where I thought the caliber/power of the firearm had any effect whatsoever on the outcome.

{And (were it legal) I would shoot a deer in the neck with my .204Ruger without hesitation, and I would put a fair sum of money on the bet that it would be an insta-kill.}

[Pumpkin]

The first deer (spike) I ever shot was in the neck at about 75yds with a scoped H&R Topper 30-30. One 150gr Federal and it was over. The biggest deer I ever shot (about 25 years later) was at around 175 yards.
His head was seen peering out through some thick mesquite brush leaving me only one clear shot, behind his shoulder with my 30-06.

My point is, had I had a .223 in both instances would they both have turned out the same way?
I have no doubt that little spike would have gone down in a similar manner but the latter one I would wager might not have been such an easy deer to track.
As it was, even with a 150gr Hornady sp behind the shoulder he still managed to work his way through some heavy brush for about 75yds.

First deer was a perfect situation
Second one was not and ended up being a, take it or leave it situation.
Glad I had enough gun.

[bamaranger]

I'm glad deer season is over and staying out of this one from this point forward!

[rickyrick]

Well, you have to be disciplined. You have to pass on a shot that you’re not comfortable with. I won’t take a questionable shot with .223 or a 30-06. Heck, some people use bows and arrows. I’m confident through experience that a solid shot to the neck with .223 will do the trick as long as you are within the appropriate range for your chosen cartridge.