I wish hunters would think of the possible consequences before they try head shots, or shooting at running deer etc. Hitting the brain is actually very small, like tennis ball size, and a miss leaves the deer to suffer for a long time before death. Also, with todays media would love to make hunters look bad. Most will ignore this, but I make this post in hopes some will think twice before taking a risky shot that could leave the deer with a wound it will suffer for many days before death. Thanks
Head shots
Gitzit
61 - 80 of 189 Posts
Here's the thing. You try head shots on deer and you don't have any respect for the game you're pursuing and you'll never change my mind. Way too many things could go wrong when you squeeze that trigger. You shouldn't be in the woods hunting deer if you think taking a head shot is okay. PERIOD.
Neck shots I feel are fine with the gun, but if you're using a bow, again you should not be in the woods hunting deer if you think neck shots with a bow are okay. PERIOD.
People need to respect the game they hunt. Clearly a lot of people on here do not. Facebook is even worse. Follow hunting Pennsylvania and you won't believe the things you read.
It really saddens me that you guys can't respect the game enough to take an ethical shot. I don't care how good of a shot you are. It's just plain wrong.
Neck shots I feel are fine with the gun, but if you're using a bow, again you should not be in the woods hunting deer if you think neck shots with a bow are okay. PERIOD.
People need to respect the game they hunt. Clearly a lot of people on here do not. Facebook is even worse. Follow hunting Pennsylvania and you won't believe the things you read.
It really saddens me that you guys can't respect the game enough to take an ethical shot. I don't care how good of a shot you are. It's just plain wrong.
Joined
·
14,167 Posts
Josh I am far from perfect and I have wounded deer through the years. I just never heard of a neck shot being someone’s preferred shot with archery equipment.
You are describing any archery shot on a deer. Deer move and jump to the sound of a bow shooting when you aim for the boiler room and you can end up barely clipping the lung and lays somewhere in agony for 12-24 hours before dying. Or you can miss all the key vitals and it carries a permanent wound/disability for the rest of its life.
You just answer your own question on why not too shoot at the neck or head! to small of a target
Honest to goodness, this is my record with my x-bow in my 8th season with it.
Aiming in front of shoulder - 5 for 5, average recovery 25 yards
Aiming behind shoulder - 6 for 8, average recovery 50-75 yards.
Both lost deer made funky moves when I fired. One stuck in the shoulder with very little blood and the other hit high and back in no man's land. Complete pass through with no blood. Backed out and didn't find either. The latter was a real nice buck and I called off work the next day and burned about 6000 calories in 4 hours zigzagging the mountain. Nothing.
You can make bad shots and lose deer aiming for anywhere, but my experience aiming for neck has been good.
I'm sorry that it saddens you, but there's nothing unethical about a 15-20 yard neck shot with an X-bow.
Joined
·
7,880 Posts
Wow, the view must be awesome from way up there on that pedestal!
So, when the conditions are just right (deer alert level, behavior, posture, distance, angle, wind, rest, position) I should give up a total lay-up head/top-of-neck shot that INSTANTLY kills the deer, because it doesn't meet YOUR definition of ethical?
Further, I should feel ashamed, and give up the sport permanently? Wanna buy my gear? Might set you back more than you're prepared for...
I'll argue that I respect the game enough that I strive for the most quick, most reliable kill that I can give that animal. Sometimes, that's a head/neck shot. Most of the time, it's a clean heart/lung shot. Occasionally, it's a high-shoulder shot, but those are my absolute last choice. Ruins too much meat. Only taken when the alternative is no meat (late in a bad season.)
I'd love to see it studied, but I'd wager a significant chunk of coin that an order of magnitude or two more deer are wounded, lost and left to suffer from poor marksmanship/buck fever shots in the gut, rump, or legs than by botched attempts at head shots each year.
What saddens me is that guys can't respect other hunters and others' abilities that might exceed their own, and trust that an ethical hunter who knows his abilities and limits can ethically and humanely pull off the shots you don't personally feel are for you.
Joined
·
16,639 Posts
The picture of the doe in Piker8's post is what saddens me. That's the result of unethical shots on deer.
Joined
·
7,880 Posts
Could just as easily have been shot at while running.
Or by a hunter with major shakes aiming at the shoulder.
Or a "brush shot" or "sound shot"..
(none of which are good)
Like you said, you don't know the circumstances.
No pedestal here. Baffles me to see this. I hope all your head shots are on point. I'll be on the look out for the jawless deer running around. Enjoy.
If you're talking rifle have at it with the neck. Gonna kill them instantly I believe. Mentioned that a minute ago. Head shot, I got no time for that irresponsible shot.
Joined
·
14,167 Posts
My thing with head shots is that if you screw it up you get what happens in the picture a couple posts above. I also understand that we have some really great marksman on here with a wealth of knowledge on firearms. With that being said no one is perfect and we all miss the mark sometimes. During the summer I shoot my compound so much that I feel at 20 yards I could be accurate blindfolded. Every now and then however I will still manage to pull a shot that leaves me dumbfounded. Be it a slight lapse of concentration or a slight breakdown in my form. It happens and nothing is ever a 100% slam dunk.
Some of the greatest hockey players in the world have been known to miss a open net or two or professional golfers missing a gimme putt. It happens.
Some of the greatest hockey players in the world have been known to miss a open net or two or professional golfers missing a gimme putt. It happens.
Apparently you didn't read my post on the bow neck shot that never died.
Joined
·
5,234 Posts
I would take a neck shot with a rifle but never a head shot. And for goodness sake, i would never ever take a neck or head shot with archery equipment. That is just plain dumb but to each their own.
Well shooting a target in the back yard is great and great practice.
But it’s not real world hunting. You add in branches,leaves, sticks, wind, possibly, rain, drizzle,snow. Elevation,
Maybe getting turned around. A real live deer maybe on alert. Maybe getting read to bolt. Real live adrenaline pumping. All the things we love. Plus you could be cold sitting for 2-3 hours without drawing your bow. All leads to missed shots and bad hits. You hunt long enough it happens!!! Age too!
I’m glad it’s not like target practice or we would even do it!
I don’t intentionally wound anything and there have been shots that I wish I wouldn’t have taken. Especially in younger days. I hate it when I’m responsible for anything suffering.
But real life hunting it’s gonna happen!
Joined
·
5,234 Posts
LOL he is the same person that posted this last year. Look for his posts under I hit Bullwinkle. Below is one of his posts. I wouldnt be taking neck shots with a bow if you have trouble hitting the body.
Joshb729:
I'm walking out of the woods now guys. Thanks. Buck Fever got the better of me on the shot. I thought I was on the vitals but the body was so large I might have misjudged. I'll keep everyone in the loop. My bro in law is a good tracker and he's hunting 45 mins away, ill get him out here with me before dark.
Joined
·
14,167 Posts
I totally agree and the point I was trying to make that even under the best circumstances shooting in my back yard without any pressure or anxiety I can still mess up a shot from time to time. That’s why when it comes to hunting situations I try and wait for the best shot possible. I practice a lot in the off season so when that moment of truth arrives it’s almost automatic.
Apparently you didn't read the post about the thousands of gut-shot and leg shot deer that happens every year from nervous hunters who were aiming for the lungs.
I regret every day not aiming for the neck on that one.
61 - 80 of 189 Posts
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
