Rifle Season, Shot Placement

DeadEyeGardner · #1 08-20-2014, 06:44 AM

Hey guys and gals.

I wanted to start this thread out of curiosity and discussion purposes (hopefully not start any wars lol). In my time hunting ive seen guys take a couple different approaches, may it be a vitals shot or spinal shot during rifle season. Also, as im sure it does matter, with different hig game possible different shot placement may be necessary. Curious as if anyone could shed further light on the subject, pros/cons or even stories that relate.

BG

DeadEyeGardner · #2 08-20-2014, 06:46 AM

Should read BIG Game, not HIG game lol.

Bassett · #3 08-20-2014, 06:54 AM

I will more than likely always choose behind front shoulder. It's more dependable than a neck shot. The animal I did end up shooting in front of the shoulder dropped on the spot but did require a follow up shot. So I prefer heart/lungs all the way.

alacringa · #4 08-20-2014, 08:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassett

I will more than likely always choose behind front shoulder. It's more dependable than a neck shot. The animal I did end up shooting in front of the shoulder dropped on the spot but did require a follow up shot. So I prefer heart/lungs all the way.

x2. Heart-lung shot is the most humane.

bdub · #5 08-20-2014, 08:18 AM

I think of the front legs as goal posts. From any reasonable angle that the animal is facing I try and put the bullet in between the vertical lines made by the front legs and hold halfway up the body. If he's directly broadside I hold straight on the leg line half way up. Hope I explained that ok.

Bassett · #6 08-20-2014, 08:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

I think of the front legs as goal posts. From any reasonable angle that the animal is facing I try and put the bullet in between the vertical lines made by the front legs and hold halfway up the body. If he's directly broadside I hold straight on the leg line half way up. Hope I explained that ok.

Not bashing, but out of curiosity wouldn't that ruin a lot of meat?

super7mag · #7 08-20-2014, 08:29 AM

Heart/lung are the vitals that have the largest margin for error ( biggest target) .
A head shot is likley the most humane but has quite a bit larger chance of error.
Frontal shots dropp animals in there tracks, but can be quite messy when opened up.

Lefty-Canuck · #8 08-20-2014, 08:34 AM

Boiler room heart lungs....depending on the angle decides where I aim left/right but the vertical cross hair is always between bottom 1/3 and 1/2 way up the chest cavity....I don't like the "high" shot personally. After having a deer get up and run away (only to be seen 2 weeks after season feeding wth does) I never take a neck shot UNLESS I have already hit the animal and it's a kill shot at close range.

LC

Ice Fishing Maniac · #9 08-20-2014, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alacringa

x2. Heart-lung shot is the most humane.

I agree with this statement

Double lung is with maybe other internal organs being hit as well (Liver/heart).

Must be the bow hunter in me for the double lung.

bdub · #10 08-20-2014, 08:56 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bassett

Not bashing, but out of curiosity wouldn't that ruin a lot of meat?

At times you will loose a fair bit depending on the angle, bullet performance, actual point of impact etc. Other times nothing or very little.

Speckle55 · #11 08-20-2014, 09:02 AM

When shooting a animal its important to know where the vitals are and what percent are your odds of hitting that target

example would you have a better chance of hitting a 2 to 3 inch target(spine) or a 9 to 10 inch target(heart/lungs)

my personal favorite target is the heart/lungs shot

I leave my animal for 1hr or more if it goes out of sight then track it down

if I see it fall then I will go to it immediately

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrostatic_shock

Food for Thought

David

Mateo · #12 08-20-2014, 09:14 AM

If it's less than 100-150 yards, I go for the neck. It kills them quick and bleeds them out fast. Any further it's heart lungs. That being said, I've sent some close up snap shots to the boiler room because it was free hand standing in tall grass.

58thecat · #13 08-20-2014, 09:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alacringa

x2. Heart-lung shot is the most humane.

Lefty-Canuck · #14 08-20-2014, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateo

If it's less than 100-150 yards, I go for the neck. It kills them quick and bleeds them out fast. Any further it's heart lungs. That being said, I've sent some close up snap shots to the boiler room because it was free hand standing in tall grass.

I thought this too....till I dropped a deer with one shot to the neck at exactly 100 yards. Went up to him and drug him 10 yards....then went back to where I was sitting to grab a knife (left my pack behind), he got up and ran before I got back to him....

A lung shot would have been a much better choice.

LC

expmler · #15 08-20-2014, 09:25 AM

Broadside double lung, two broken ribs and completely bled out.

bdub · #16 08-20-2014, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lefty-Canuck

I thought this too....till I dropped a deer with one shot to the neck at exactly 100 yards. Went up to him and drug him 10 yards....then went back to where I was sitting to grab a knife (left my pack behind), he got up and ran before I got back to him....

A lung shot would have been a much better choice.

LC

Wow, could have been a deer rodeo if he got up while you were dragging him!

I've tried a couple neck shots in my younger days with poor results as well that required more shooting. They are often a bad shot for sure.

Lefty-Canuck · #17 08-20-2014, 10:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

Wow, could have been a deer rodeo if he got up while you were dragging him!

I've tried a couple neck shots in my younger days with poor results as well that required more shooting. They are often a bad shot for sure.

Indeed! It was a huge eye opener....I learned a lot of things from that one experience.

LC

Mateo · #18 08-20-2014, 10:54 AM

[QUOTE=Lefty-Canuck;2524210]I thought this too....till I dropped a deer with one shot to the neck at exactly 100 yards. Went up to him and drug him 10 yards....then went back to where I was sitting to grab a knife (left my pack behind), he got up and ran before I got back to him....

A lung shot would have been a much better choice.

LC[/

I've heard of 'lung' shots that the deer have woken up from, but not a neck shot. You must have....... Hit high, shocked the spine a bit. Anything below the spine is arteries. I bet you carry a knife at all times when hunting now,eh?
Do you know what bullet you used?

Mateo · #19 08-20-2014, 11:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bdub

Wow, could have been a deer rodeo if he got up while you were dragging him!

I've tried a couple neck shots in my younger days with poor results as well that required more shooting. They are often a bad shot for sure.

I'm guessing your rifle wasn't very accurate if you had trouble with neck shots. Hoping your groups are tighter nowadays. Neck to the brain shot ( never tried it) neck shots kill the fastest more consistently and could be dubbed, the more 'humane' shot. Don't get me wrong. A dead deer is a dead deer, and to each their own. With all the deer I've harvested neck shots drop them, heart/lung shots usually mean the deer runs for 10-30 meters. Not always, but I hunt for meat and a bled out, instantly dead deer is what I strive for.

Sledhead71 · #20 08-20-2014, 11:09 AM

Majority of the time there is NO reason to take a low percentage shot...

Marksmanship should be determined on paper, not on our quarry that we are blessed enough to pursue...

Sledhead71 · #21 08-20-2014, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateo

I'm guessing your rifle wasn't very accurate if you had trouble with neck shots. Hoping your groups are tighter nowadays. Neck to the brain shot ( never tried it) neck shots kill the fastest more consistently and could be dubbed, the more 'humane' shot. Don't get me wrong. A dead deer is a dead deer, and to each their own. With all the deer I've harvested neck shots drop them, heart/lung shots usually mean the deer runs for 10-30 meters. Not always, but I hunt for meat and a bled out, instantly dead deer is what I strive for.

Your logic is flawed.

ADH · #22 08-20-2014, 11:19 AM

Double lung is the way to go behind the shoulder so you don't damage too much meat and if it misses the heart bonus because that organ is one tasty sun of a gun.

Lefty-Canuck · #23 08-20-2014, 11:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateo

I've heard of 'lung' shots that the deer have woken up from, but not a neck shot. You must have....... Hit high, shocked the spine a bit. Anything below the spine is arteries. I bet you carry a knife at all times when hunting now,eh?
Do you know what bullet you used?

It was a .270 Winchester, hand loaded 130gr game kings....up to that point I had shot nearly a dozen animals in the neck....including 2 other animals that same year.....I got cocky, thinking there was no way that shot could be messed up....shot was taken prone off a bi-pod.

The chest shot was wide open and it should have been my first and only choice....I would have a nice 165 class whitetail to show formatting I made a better decision.

I always carry a knife....now it's home is on my hip and not in my pack.

It was a live and learn moment....folks should learn from my experience

LC

HunterDave · #24 08-20-2014, 11:40 AM

Boiler room......Always. It's the largest target with the least amount of damage to the meat. I hunt deer with Nosler Ballistic tips and I get a lot of "Bang, Flops". I can't remember a deer having gone farther than 50 yards or so even with a shot that was less than perfect.

If the deer is facing me and I can't wait for a broadside shot, I'll shoot a little higher into the neck rather than lower into the chest cavity.

newguy · #25 08-20-2014, 11:50 AM

boiler room for me and anyone i mentor. head shots are for the practice range. waaaaaaaaaay too much room for error.

Bassett · #26 08-20-2014, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateo

If it's less than 100-150 yards, I go for the neck. It kills them quick and bleeds them out fast. Any further it's heart lungs. That being said, I've sent some close up snap shots to the boiler room because it was free hand standing in tall grass.

Won't bleed out nearly as quick as a heart shot.

DeadEyeGardner · #27 08-20-2014, 01:43 PM

Great discussion, and thanks for the pics Speckle55. I certainly feel that every hunt and set up is going to be unique, and if close and confident allows for a neck shot- mind you if your mouting or not, to each his own. I strongly agree with percentages and a 10" target vs 3" target definately speaks for itself. Have seen a couple deer drop in place with a well placed vital shot as well.

bdub · #28 08-20-2014, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mateo

I'm guessing your rifle wasn't very accurate if you had trouble with neck shots. Hoping your groups are tighter nowadays. Neck to the brain shot ( never tried it) neck shots kill the fastest more consistently and could be dubbed, the more 'humane' shot. Don't get me wrong. A dead deer is a dead deer, and to each their own. With all the deer I've harvested neck shots drop them, heart/lung shots usually mean the deer runs for 10-30 meters. Not always, but I hunt for meat and a bled out, instantly dead deer is what I strive for.

Haha ya my rifle must of been a pile of junk and my groups have improved since then. Good luck with your neck shots. Perhaps you should start trying the old head shot for even quicker kills.

catnthehat · #29 08-20-2014, 02:05 PM

I've never had any issues with shooting an animal in the heart/lung area, the have always died pretty quickly .
Cat

Sooner · #30 08-20-2014, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by catnthehat

I've never had any issues with shooting an animal in the heart/lung area, the have always died pretty quickly .
Cat

Me as well. Will usually find them less than 100 yrds away too. 99 % of the time you hear or see them fall. If I hear/see that, I walk up slowly and ready. Not even kicking when I get there. One more behind the ears just to make sure.