Where do you aim

Matthew1996 · #1 10-16-2011, 09:08 PM

Another thread got me thinking. Where do you aim on an animal rifle or archery?
I usually aim for the neck (rifle) and any deer I've ever hit in the neck has droped in its tracks.

Gary K · #2 10-16-2011, 09:21 PM

Let's just go ahead and get this thread closed

The Fisherman Guy · #3 10-16-2011, 09:21 PM

I have taken neck shots in the past, however they aren't the best choice for a target and I avoid them at all costs.

Center mass, broadside. A clean shot there will not damage any meat and usually pass through the rib cage allowing the animal to bleed out and die quickly.

If you pull a neck shot, you run a much higher risk of a nonfatal wound. Imagine blowing the nose off of that trophy buck and watching him disappear from you forever only to die from starvation or infection.

No deer and no sleep for you in that case.

huntin · #4 10-16-2011, 09:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew1996

Another thread got me thinking. Where do you aim on an animal rifle or archery?
I usually aim for the neck (rifle) and any deer I've ever hit in the neck has droped in its tracks.

This will bite you in the ass one day. My dad use to do the same thing until he lost 2 in one year. You can never go wrong with the lungs

Lefty-Canuck · #5 10-16-2011, 09:23 PM

How many deer have you shot? Because shoot enough and you will have at least one get away on you if you only shoot for the neck.....IMHO.

I have shot several in the neck and most were bang flops/ or clean misses but I shot the best buck I have had a chance at in the neck once...he went down. I walked up to him and drug him 10 yards. Decided to go back to were I was sitting and get my knife....he got up and ran away. He lived....which made me feel better but I still felt crappy I didn't get to have him!

For this reason chest shots only for me. Less variables to go wrong.

LC

HunterDave · #6 10-16-2011, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew1996

I usually aim for the neck (rifle) and any deer I've ever hit in the neck has droped in its tracks.

You'd pass up a broadside shot just to shoot it in the neck?

elkhunter11 · #7 10-16-2011, 09:26 PM

Shots close to the spine, as in the neck will usually drop an animal, but unless the spine itself is damaged, they will sometimes get up and run off wounded. I prefer to avoid neck shots for that reason.

t.bone · #8 10-16-2011, 09:29 PM

I usually go for a lung heart combo shot when i'm shoting 300 yrds plus.if it is close i will go for the neck or right between the eyes.I have shot deer in the brisket when they would not go broad side,and they dropped in their tracks.i would not regconmend tring for the neck out past 200yrds,but the last mule der i shot was 550 yrds out and i got her in the neck with a 120 gr spire point out of my 25-06.She dropped right where she was standing.i think it was more luck then anything else.

Alberta Bigbore · #9 10-16-2011, 09:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary K

Let's just go ahead and get this thread closed

.

Big Daddy Badger · #10 10-16-2011, 09:31 PM

Depends on animal, distance, whether I want the hide... weapon and even time of day.

Usually I go for the heat-lung shots on big game... it ain't fancy... but it works.

Rhino81 · #11 10-16-2011, 09:32 PM

My taxidermist does not like when I aim for the neck

HunterDave · #12 10-16-2011, 09:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alberta Bigbore

.

LMAO! My wife had a look and she LHAO too!

Albertadiver · #13 10-16-2011, 09:36 PM

As a fairly green hunter, my shots are always attempting to be for the lungs. My first deer was a gut shot (buck fever) and it was horrible trying to put it down quickly. My last two deer were clean head shots and I'd like to say that it was intentional, but I think I jerked when I pulled the trigger and I was just lucky.

I have been shooting a lot in 'real' conditions. Free hand, prone, and using trees and logs as rests so that I feel more comfortable. I'd suggest improving your shooting before you get too fancy with the shot placement.

Alberta Bigbore · #14 10-16-2011, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HunterDave

LMAO! My wife had a look and she LHAO too!

classic Jim 'n'Bones

kayaker · #15 10-16-2011, 10:05 PM

I normally try for a Texas heart shot myself...

ram crazy · #16 10-16-2011, 10:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matthew1996

Another thread got me thinking. Where do you aim on an animal rifle or archery?
I usually aim for the neck (rifle) and any deer I've ever hit in the neck has droped in its tracks.

You should do some research this has been talked about before!!!!

Arn?Narn. · #17 10-16-2011, 10:19 PM

I honestly do like head shots.

sjemac · #18 10-16-2011, 10:35 PM

I too prefer to shoot them in the head or high neck when the conditions are perfect for it and I'm not hunting horns. Out of 60plus big game animals I've killed, about 40 were shot in the head or neck. When I hunted with my boys when they were little, I wouldn't take any other shot since I didn't want to be tracking an animal near dark -- that also meant passing up a lot of animals that didn't offer the opportunity to get properly set for a head shot.

stuckon308 · #19 10-16-2011, 11:05 PM

Has anyone tried to track a deer that had it's jaw blown off by a jerk who tried shooting it in the head?

Not fun, easy, or quick.

Toe823 · #20 10-16-2011, 11:21 PM

I have shot half the animals i have ever shot right behind the ear. I have never had one not die instantly. I will only shoot them there when i am under 100 yards. i have never seen one with the jaw blown off, but i imagine they are there. I have had to put down a few gut shot deer(wounds 2 or 3 days old) from people missing an obvious lung or heart shot. I personally think it comes down to shooting ability, shooting when a good shot presents itself, and making a good clean kill shot.

sjemac · #21 10-16-2011, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuckon308

Has anyone tried to track a deer that had it's jaw blown off by a jerk who tried shooting it in the head?

Not fun, easy, or quick.

No. But I've tracked or found more than a few shot by some "jerk" who shot too far back and gut shot an animal. Not fun, easy, or quick.

A face shot animal may LOOK more horrific than a gut shot animal but the actual death is just as gruesome in both cases. Make the shots you know you are capable of.

Bad shots are bad shots. I once (after seeing him take 10 shots at a fawn that wouldn't leave) counseled a guy with a Lee-Enfield that was held together with duct tape to shoot at a deer's front hoof. After two more shots, he took my advice and hit it in the neck just in front of the shoulder.

Shoot where you know you can make the shot. The "jerks" will shoot regardless.

packhuntr · #22 10-17-2011, 06:38 AM

Holy crap. After reading some of the bs on here, there is no wonder why guys have so many "hunting stories". Where do people learn this stuff.

The Bit Runner. · #23 10-17-2011, 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toe823

I have shot half the animals i have ever shot right behind the ear. I have never had one not die instantly. I will only shoot them there when i am under 100 yards. i have never seen one with the jaw blown off, but i imagine they are there. I have had to put down a few gut shot deer(wounds 2 or 3 days old) from people missing an obvious lung or heart shot. I personally think it comes down to shooting ability, shooting when a good shot presents itself, and making a good clean kill shot.

Well Said... X2

catnthehat · #24 10-17-2011, 07:18 AM

A bad shot is just that, a bad shot, and head shots for the most part are a lower percentage shot than a lung shot.
I have shot deer in the head but much prefer a heart/lung shot for several reasons....
Cat

aulrich · #25 10-17-2011, 07:36 AM

Heart/lung or high shoulder, but mostly heart lung the high shoulder comes into play if I am too close to the property line were I don't have permission or some of the deep dark colees where I would burn half a day on recovery even if it only ran a little bit.

drake · #26 10-17-2011, 09:13 AM

i aim for hair....my sks does the rest (it even comes with a batonnet for "express gutting")

FrostyinHell · #27 10-17-2011, 10:05 AM

As with everything, let your honest shooting ability decide your shot placement. Some guys have shot their whole lives and still can't shoot MOA or better with a precision rifle. If you are shooting a rifle that can only manage 1.5 - 2 MOA you should stick with a tried and true double lung shot. Also consider how much a deer moves its head, they are always looking around. You may be committed to a head shot at 100m but as soon as you squeeze off the shot the deer moves, you now have a wounded deer or if lucky a clean miss. I will take an upper neck shot if less than 100m because I know I can make it, beyond that it is all double lung. Know your rifle and your true abilities. Leave the bravado and visions of grandeur in the hunt camp and on the forum.

Arn?Narn. · #28 10-17-2011, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stuckon308

Has anyone tried to track a deer that had it's jaw blown off by a jerk who tried shooting it in the head?

Not fun, easy, or quick.

Have tracked ones that were gut shot and quarter shot...

BigRackLover · #29 10-17-2011, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary K

Let's just go ahead and get this thread closed

lol

bb356 · #30 10-17-2011, 12:36 PM

A perfect example of the stupidity of neck and head shot's !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BPLQc3JJDGw