bullet placement?


ousoonerfan22

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Re: bullet placement?

A high shoulder shot will drop them where they stand as this will also take out the spine. Just a low shoulder shot does not gurantee that it will stop there. I saw a doe with both front legs shot off go 200+ yards. Made me sick.

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Re: bullet placement?

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I always try for the neck shot. They never know what hits them.

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I've never tried a neck shot, I was told there was too much room for error. Is this true? What do you all think? I like the idea because I would think it would ruin less meat?

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There are a LOT of factors included in a neck shot. The first thing to keep in mind is that a typical neck on a whitetail isn't huge which is good and bad. Its good because there are only so many places the neck bone can hide. Its bad because its a small target.

Taking a neck shot is fine in my opinion but there are certain circumstances that follow along with that. Number one is that you know your equipment well. If you drag your ML out of the closet once a year Dont aim for the neck. You need to know that gun in every situation.

Number two is range. If you have a deer in close (say 30 yards) then you're good to go. I would NEVER take a neck shot on a deer out at 100yds. Ever notice how alert a doe is? They bob and move their heads all the time. A 100 yard shot gives them time to move and cause you to make a poor shot. Anything close and theyre pretty much impacted as soon as you pull the trigger.

Number three would have to be avoiding iffy shots. It needs to be as clean as a broadside shot. I know people who have taken iffy shots because the neck was the only thing exposed from brush. Not at all a good idea. It would be to easy to clip something and cause the bullet path to change wounding the deer.

That all said, ive never taken a neck shot with a rifle. Ive had one with a bow. The buck jumped the string and spun on his back legs. The arrow continued on its path and hit him in the neck as he turned. He folded like a card table. I didnt see him jump the string, just go down. I couldnt figure out what happened. I still had to put one in his hear to end the deal. Regardless, it anchored him dead.

I really cant see how a shoulder shot ruins a lot of meat. Ive never gotten that much meat off a shoulder anyway. Even punching a hole through one only takes up what, 1" dia x the thickness of the steak? Thats tiny on a deer!

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Re: bullet placement?

Here is the easiest way, examine the following pages and learn the deer's anatomy . To ensure immediate incapacitation, the central nervous system needs to be inturupted. That means the spinal cord needs to be severed. As long as this happens between the brain and the chest, it will induce a quick death to the anaimal. If the spine is taken out behind the shoulder, the heart and lungs are still getting commands from the brain to operate. This is when a finishing shot is needed.

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Re: bullet placement?

High shoulder.

The spine shot is really what drops them, or the hydro-shock around the spine as the bullet causes damage traveling threw.

Just an note too.

That does not mean top of his back and a few inches under that. Its about 2/3s the way up from his chest, maybe a bit higher but not much.

Look at a deer anatomy chart and see just how the spine routes threw the shoulders and body. Its not on the top like one would think.

Again, just a note...

I use this shot 95% of the time for the same reasons.

Well-ok.

Becuase I dont like to track em... LOL

Plus I like to drive the truck right up to them when done out in my fields. LOL

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Re: bullet placement?

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What about a dead on shot in the middle of the neck just under the white spot?

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Ive taken that shot a couple of times with a .30-06 and the longest shot was roughly 75 yards. I knew well and good what I could do with the rifle. At that distance I could smoke an egg. It turned out to be very fatal in both situations but neither anchored the deer.

Neither made it far. The farthest went all of roughly 40-yards. The other went roughly 15 feet. That is a very fatal shot but you really need to know your weapons.

Btw, that shot take the fun out of gutting... Things turn into a bit of a mess. wink.gif

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Re: bullet placement?

High shoulder shot.

Bang.......flop. wink.gif

I refuse to hunt with anyone who admits to taking neck shots. I've seen too many flesh wounds and windpipes shot out. I won't sacrifice my hunting time to help track a deer that someone muffed a neck shot on (and it's easy to do). They can go find it themselves.

You'll get the argument: "I don't wanna waste any meat". How much meat do you waste poking a deer through the ribs / lungs?? 3 ounces????????

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Re: bullet placement?

I agree with the high shoulder shot.

Neck shots are also good...however, like Strut said...why risk making an error and wounding the deer. The vitals (shoulder/rib area) is a much bigger target and less likely to lose a deer due to being a few inches off target.

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Re: bullet placement?

I have shot 3 deer in the neck over my 30+ years,

I don't aim for the neck all the time, it was the only shot available , and they were close and I knew my rifle well. I also new many people who shot them in the neck as a practice. I really don't see what the difference is if people are good enough to make the shot.

too_

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Re: bullet placement?

My theroy on neck shots vs high shoulder is basically engery disapation.

Seems the neck has to have the bullet actually hit the spine and at least graze it, since the neck is so flexable, to get that drop him shot.

High shoulder has much more connected to, and around, the spine so even hydro shock will drop him.

Its basically a higher precentage chance to drop the deer in the high shoulder vs neck.

Like AJ said.

Most people think that 1" groups at 100 yards off a bench is the same as shooting at deer in the field. This makes them feel they are a better shot then they really are once out in the feild.

JMO

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