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neck shots on deer?

5K views 26 replies 24 participants last post by  Shawnm 
#1 ·
passed up 8pt today only offered neck shot anyone shoot in neck with crossbow?
 
#2 ·
Not a good shot option for a bow at all. You made a good choice. Sure they have arteries and a spine in there, but it's risky, and have never once seen someone recommend this area of a deer as a target for archery equipment. This applies to a rifle too. No need to try to hit a 1/2" artery or 2" spine when you can shoot for a killzone the size of the heart/lung area (probably 14+") so really no comparison on the deadlier option with much higher chances of a killing shot.
 
#3 ·
You did right to pass the shot. It can be done, but your kill zone is considerably smaller. Bear in mind most buck's necks are swollen now too, which shows more surface area to pick that kill zone out of. Opinions may vary, but for me, it's either behind the shoulder or I don't take the shot.

A friend of mine attempted a neck shot last night, and was crying the blues today. Several hundred yards of light blood, then nothing. I'd have to guess that buck's sore, but still chasing does.
 
#4 ·
Definitely not with a bow, I did it last year as a finishing shot and I'll never do it again.

As for a rifle, I'll take a neck shot any day, all day. Drops them in their tracks, all but one anyhow, it ran 20 yards and rolled down the mountain another 100. There is so much meat and vitals the traumatic shock is hard to avoid.
 
#6 ·
I have never even considered neck shots.My Dad told me 43 years ago shoot behind the shoulder and that is what I do.I could have taken an iffy shot yesterday at a buck of a lifetime.I may never see that class of buck again but it was the right thing to do.I have mixed emotions about it but I made the correct decision and I am glad I did.
 
#7 ·
I've never taken one, but I found this topic interesting as I recently read something about it. I own the Field and Stream total deer hunter manual. #178 says "Take the Neck Shot if you must" and here is what it says:

In his book "Shots at Whitetails", Larry Koller preached the neck shot to gun hunters and proved its lethality by grounding bucks via shots to the throat patch. "Any shot into the upper third of the deer's neck," he wrote, "is so decisive in result that this writer has yet to hear of a deer moving from its tracks after being hit in this area...Lower neck shots seem to have much the same effect on deer as the quick removal of a head with an ax has on the Thanksgiving turkey." A good neck shot will do the job, but it's a smaller target for the average hunter. If all you have is a neck shot, and it's one you're confident you can make, fine. Otherwise, shoot for the hear-lung area.

For what its worth, thought I'd share that. Maybe only for gun shots? I dunno....
 
#8 ·
The shock and damage from gun shots is many times bigger than that of an arrow. Picture a small pumpkin. That is the size of the tissue destruction from a high velocity bullet. It will cover up much of the neck of a deer. Now picture the 1.5 inch diameter broadhead. That is all you are relying on to hit vital structures in the neck. Namely the spine and two main vessels.
 
#10 ·
I will shoot for the vitals, not the neck. I don't eat vitals.

However, I do enjoy neck roasts with bacon and onion in a crock pot, for making pulled meat sammies!
 
#12 ·
Bow-no, rifle-yes. Even with the rifle I would much prefer a chest shot.

My son spined a doe a few years ago with the bow. It went into some brush beside us and the only shot offered was a neck shot. He shot it thru the neck and it basically did nothing to the deer. Fortunately it caused the deer to get wound up again and it got back into the open a little which allowed him to put a finishing arrow thru the chest.
 
#16 ·
Absolutely not. Not worth the risk of a wounded, festering deer. Way bigger more vital organs there to shoot at and much higher percentage of kill assurance....or pass the shot till tomorrow. That's what hunting with a broadhead is about. bullets have a LOT of energy and tend to kill with shock, and sometimes blood loss/oxygen starvation. Broadheads only have blood loss on their sides. Spining them is a very unrepeatable, high-percentage-of-wounding them shot.
 
#21 ·
Thought of this thread today while turkey hunting. I stopped to take a break while walking down a logging road. I heard leaves rustling, turned to look, here comes an 8 point. At first glance, I thought he had an ear tag. What I was seeing was an arrow from a crossbow, stuck straight through the bucks neck at its thickest spot. The broad head was off, probably spun off going through the brush. The deer came to within 15 feet of me, then turned and walked away. It was getting around pretty well, considering it had an arrow impaled in it's neck.
 
#23 ·
I'm failing to see any negativity towards crossbows in anyone's post.In fact,I've noticed very little negativity at all in the last few years.To most,they're a non-issue at this point.In any event,anyone that shoots a broadhead into a deer's neck intentionally shouldn't be in the woods with any weapon.
 
#25 ·
Uh, I could tell because the shaft said Mission, as in Mission Crossbows. The deer was only 15 feet away. Not hammering anyone, just stating the facts. I'm not an archery expert, but I believe crossbow bolts are hard to mistake for an arrow. I believe most are 20 or 22 inches. Even with overdraws, I've never seen arrows that were anywhere near that length. I also hunt with a Mission Dagger, so I'm familiar with their bolts.
 
#26 ·
demillo said:
I've never taken one, but I found this topic interesting as I recently read something about it. I own the Field and Stream total deer hunter manual. #178 says "Take the Neck Shot if you must" and here is what it says:

In his book "Shots at Whitetails", Larry Koller preached the neck shot to gun hunters ...


That quote specifically says "to gun hunters"
 
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