Poor Shot Selection

[ilhnter]

Last night on the outdoor channel I was watching the Western Extremes show. The host of the show, (not sure what his name is), was hunting mule deer. He had a nice buck probaly 150 to 250 yds away. The deer was facing straight away from him. He made some type of grunting noise and the deer stopped and just turned his neck and head and looked back at the hunter. The HOST of the show took the shot. Shot the deer in the neck. In my opinion that is a horrible shot. Shooting that distance, and shooting at the neck. He could have hit that deer in the hind end or who knows where. After the shot he was bragging about the shot and all that. Then when they walked up to the buck he was talking about shooting deer in the neck and how good of a shot it is. I couldn't believe my ears. To me that is a horrible shot to take. He could have waited for the buck to turn broadside or at least quarter to where he could have take a shot at the vitals. Just had to vent a moment.

[johnf]

Last night on the outdoor channel I was watching the Western Extremes show. The host of the show, (not sure what his name is), was hunting mule deer. He had a nice buck probably 150 to 250 yds away. The deer was facing straight away from him. He made some type of grunting noise and the deer stopped and just turned his neck and head and looked back at the hunter. The HOST of the show took the shot. Shot the deer in the neck. In my opinion that is a horrible shot. Shooting that distance, and shooting at the neck. He could have hit that deer in the hind end or who knows where. After the shot he was bragging about the shot and all that. Then when they walked up to the buck he was talking about shooting deer in the neck and how good of a shot it is. I couldn't believe my ears. To me that is a horrible shot to take. He could have waited for the buck to turn broadside or at least quarter to where he could have take a shot at the vitals. Just had to vent a moment.

Lots of guys I know swear by the neck shot. One my friends here shot a really nice 8pt at about 300 yards with a 7mm in the neck this year. Dropped in it's tracks. If a guy is comfortable shooting at that distance then what's wrong with taking the shot. I've practiced at that distance but would not be comfortable taking that shot. Out to 200 I might if that's the only shot I had. I would prefer a vitals shot though.

[Texan_Til_I_Die]

...After the shot he was bragging about the shot and all that. Then when they walked up to the buck he was talking about shooting deer in the neck and how good of a shot it is...

It ain't bragging if you can consistently do it.

Some people can't hit a deer period at 250 yards. Others can hit a post-it note every shot at that range. It all depends on the shooter and the weapon.

[wtnhunt]

Know a few who swear by neck shots too. Think it depends on the hunter and on the situation. Neck shots can drop a deer in their tracks and there are hunters who are excellent shots well capable of making those shots at those distances. I had an opportunity for a neck shot on a really nice buck a few years back at about 110 yards with my rifle, but I did not feel real good about it so I passed it up, had I felt good about it I probably would have squeezed off the shot.

[JimPic]

The quickest drops I ever had were neck shots--right in their tracks

[Bowtech_archer07]

One of the best I shots I know will take a neck shot every time he gets the chance.. with a shotgun that is. It saves the meat on the animal, 9 times out of 10 will drop the deer in its tracks, and like I said, this guy is one of the best shots and best hunters i've ever known in my life.

[TexasDeerHunter]

I am a huge fan of the neck shot for saving meat and one shot drops, I primarily shoot a .223 for deer and have dropped several with a neck shot. When I hunt up north I use a 30-06 due to laws and neck shoot with it as well. I think it depends on the hunter and the rifle, knowing your limitations. I won't shoot a deer over 200 yds with my .223, and with my 30-06 I am proficient out to 400 yds. Depending on the yardage, wind, and how out of breath I am determines where I aim. If it is over 250 I will usually look for a bigger vital area. This year I made a 265yd shot on a buck in Kansas walking away from me, aimed for the exit hole and hit about an inch to the right resulting in a dead deer. The high shoulder shot is just as effective and more forgiving for dropping a deer in it's tracks, but it destroy's meat.

[dbHunterNY]

I've shot a buck through the lung and heart, quartering slightly away, however when processing it I took a 125 grain broadhead and a 30 caliber sized bullet out of its neck. I don't have confidence in a neck shot so I don't take it, but I too know others who swear by it and have taken deer that way right in front of me. This debate has been around for a while that's the truth.

- Dan

[Jorden]

I've dropped a buck and an elk in their tracks with next shots...not exactly where I was aiming though:D:D:D

[Bowtech_archer07]

I've shot a buck through the lung and heart, quartering slightly away, however when processing it I took a 125 grain broadhead and a 30 caliber sized bullet out of its neck. I don't have confidence in a neck shot so I don't take it, but I too know others who swear by it and have taken deer that way right in front of me. This debate has been around for a while that's the truth.

- Dan

True, there is less margin of error with the neck shot, and you have to hit the spine, or it is ineffective. My dad shot a a deer one time that jumped the string, spun, and it heat the meat of the neck, needless to say, we didn't find the deer, and I believe it survived. But if one is proficient with the shot and hitting them in the spine, then I say, by all means take the shot. I don't take neck shots personally, but I don't look down on those who do.

[FSU_Seminole]

If you have the confidence in your weapon then I guess its ok. Me personally I'd never try to shoot a deer in the neck at that range.

In fact my favorite shot is the high shoulder shot. Drops them like a ton of bricks every single time.

[Zambo]

I have used and prefer the neck shot with a shotgun. I am usually 60 yards and under and have slug gun and scope. As far as hitting the spine there is a margin of error. The meat and muscle around the neck is solid. A hit close to the spine will break his spine from the shock and impact.

[kuntryboy]

Under 200 yrds and with a good rest its a neck shot for me also! my 7 mag destroys both front sholders! 100 Yards are closer its a head shot! on does that is!!

[WVdeerhunter]

I dont shot bucks in the neck messes up the mount.:D:D

But i would take a shot at 150 - 200 yds if i had at least a sticky note size kill zone. It's not bragging if you know your gun and can hit what you are shoting at. Killed a buck ones at 125yds chasing a doe. Just dont take the shot if you dont think you can make a good kill shot but if you know when you shot that you are right there you wont even think about taking a shot like that.

[Washi]

Neck shots don't destroy meat? Guess I'm the only one who likes a good neck roast.

[Guest bigalt78]

i disagree i think taking the straight away shot is great. When i have a deer facing me i take that shot a lot. I've only shot one deer in the neck but i've shot the rest in the front of the chest. The one i shot in the neck died very quick so that was good and it dont ruin any of the meat really maybe just a little bit of the neck roast. One time i was setup in kind of a bad situation, i was in the middle of the hill and had a deer coming down on me but i was new to deer hunting and didnt know any better about my setup, but anyways the deer was facing me and i shot the front of the chest where that little dent thing that's kinda like where are adams apple is on us. Well i placed my arrow right there and since it was up hill it went through hit the lungs and drilled the spine dropping the deer in its tracks and it died quick because of the lungs. This was one of the coolest kills i've ever had probably because i dropped the first deer of the season in its tracks with my bow. Sorry i kinda went on and on but yeah i think taking this shot is fine.

[dbHunterNY]

True, there is less margin of error with the neck shot, and you have to hit the spine, or it is ineffective. My dad shot a a deer one time that jumped the string, spun, and it heat the meat of the neck, needless to say, we didn't find the deer, and I believe it survived. But if one is proficient with the shot and hitting them in the spine, then I say, by all means take the shot. I don't take neck shots personally, but I don't look down on those who do.

That's what I'm talking about. There will always be some who take one shot or the other, but I don't think anyone should get bitter or scorn others for choosing a neck shot. If they still take the animal in a humane way then they've done their duty. It a personal decision one makes on his/her own.

- Dan

[Doc]

So far, I have had two experiences that told me thatthee are hunters out there who THINK they can always make a neck shot, but can't. The first was a nice buck that had it's entire lower jaw dangling from its face and still moving along quite nicely. Chances are that had I not come along and put an end to that miserable creatures life, it most likely would have had a long slow death of starvation.

The second was a deer on the far side of an un-crossable ravine. I catch brief glimpses of it, and could hear it wheezing and blowing through a severed wind pipe. That one wasn't as lucky as the first one and probably met an ugly end during the winter.

Really, there is very little target area in the neck and a whole lot of areas in the neck that are not immediately lethal. I think that even if I was 90% sure of having the ability to make that shot, I would still go for the heart-lung area or pass completely. Sure, even a shot in that vital area comes with no guarantees. But the percentages are a whole lot more in your favor than purposely choosing the much smaller target.

The other thing that I am convinced of is that some hunters don't recognize the difference between shooting range conditions and those of actual hunting conditions at a target that is capable of moving at the last minute as the trigger is being squeezed. They seem to be really deluded about their actual abilities under hunting conditions and make some rather poor choices because of that. Personally, when I am shooting at live flesh and bone, I like to set the odds as much in my favor as possible. I kind of feel that I owe the deer at least that much.

Doc

[Dubie]

I've had the move at the last second thing happen to me once. Luckily, as I squeezed the trigger, the deer bent down to graze and it wizzed over his neck. Suprised the **** out of him, but I was able to put a second shot into the vitals, dropping him in his tracks. I realized it could have easily gone differently and ended up with a fataly wounded yet un-recoverable deer. It was the last time I deliberatly took a neck shot.

[Ethan Givan]

My uncle swears by the neck shot, especially with a muzzleloader. He was in the Marines and is one of the best shots I have ever seen. He dropped a big 8 pointer at 300 yards this year with a neck shot from his .30-06. My cousin shot his first deer in the neck with a .30-30 accidentaly and dropped it as well. I would never try the shot, but it definitely works.