Neck Shots

[roundball]

I have always taken Heart/lung shots but I'am considering a neck shot if I'am within 30 yards. My question is where should I aim? I'am shooting .530 PRB.

I've had a couple cases where a deer stopped with his vitals covered by a tree...I used neck shots on both of them in the 30-35yd range, right at the thick part of the neck where it joins the body...here's one

.54cal Flint smoothbore / 8 pointer / 25-30yds

 

[Slamfire]

The neck shot is preferrable only to the Texas "heart" shot. But I've only seen one cow elk that ran directly away, and never a deer. If you can wait, they'll usually angle off a might giving you a shot at the heart/lung area.
As for the cow, that sure was a messy job.

 

[Plains99]

Reading these posts, I am surprised to hear of meat damage being a concern. I've hunted deer for 30 years with muzzleloaders and one of the main things I like about it is that there is so little meat damage. I pulled a shot on a mule deer doe once with a .54 PRB and hit her in the hip as she angled away... Had to blood trail her and put her on down with a second shot. That hip had some meat damage but I can't remember another deer out of well over a hundred where a muzzleloader did any more than punch a neat hole.

 

[BrownBear]

My distance limits for neck shots are the same as for head shots on rabbits or squirrels. If you can make the head shots, you can make the neck shots. In my case that's about 30 yards offhand if I'm rested, and 50 yards from a rest.

The problem with neck shots is having reliable (and clearly visible) aiming points. Simply shooting at the big part of the neck is kind of like shooting at the big part of a deer. It might work and it might not- that's not good enough for me.

I've already mentioned them, but the two most reliable aiming points on a neck both in terms of visibility and lethality are the white throat patch for face-on shots and the base of the skull for side shots.

And here's why neck shots are important up here. Much of our hunting is in dense grass and brush as tall or taller than a deer's back. It's head or neck shots or no venison.

 

[bramble]

Playfarmers, with regard to my hit or miss statement on head shots, I stand corrected. Your report of broken jaws is something I have not run across. Thanks for the word. bramble

 

[paulvallandigham]

Plains. Often there will be a clotting of blood in the sinew surrounding the wound. Many people don't know how to remove this, thinking that the meat is spoiled. So, they cut away a huge section of meat and throw it away, when a few slits, and thumb and finger work under a faucet will remove the blood, even when its congealed, leaving the meat just fine. Many people have gotten so used to eating plastic wrapped meat, that they think anything that tastes of blood is " Gamey " meaning, to them, spoiled. Its just bloody, but they no longer know the taste because all the blood is drained out of meat sold over the counter, save Liver, and no one eats that! That's fish bait!

I agree with you. A Round ball destroys very little meat. Processing meat properly is all that is required to preserve fine eating.

 

[Slamfire]

I may have created the wrong impression, that was a 140 grain Hornady 6.5mm bullet I put up that cow's pipe. :shake:

 

[Adirondackman]

Roundball - Did that deer drop afier being hit there?

 

[roundball]

Roundball - Did that deer drop afier being hit there?

Like a ton of bricks...the way he's laying there in the photo with his head raised up makes the entry hole look like it's back on the very edge of the shoulder, but when standing it was clearly out on the neck, 3-4 inches in front of the shoulders

 

[Adirondackman]

Congrats - Good shot and very nice buck :hatsoff:

 

[roundball]

Congrats - Good shot and very nice buck :hatsoff:

Well, it's just a skinny little rack...but:
It WAS ML season;
He WAS walking through the woods in front of me;
I DID have a new .54cal Flint smoothbore in my lap;
I DID have a tag in my wallet;
I DID whistle;
He DID stop;
Light was almost gone;
I took the shot I was given;
:grin:

 

[Greenmtnboy]

I take a neck shot when ever possible.
I have never lost an animal and every animal I have shot droped, I like a neck shot because there is very little mess and very little loss of meat. ( I use every bit of rib meat)
But that said you had better be a darn good shot and shoot a lot.
I aim for the neck where the juglar and the spine are closest.
:hatsoff:

 

[Bountyhunter]

I'm with you. Neck shot is my first choice, and if it is iffy, then I take what is offered.

 

[ronrryan]

I avoid neck shots unless they are the only possible shot under ideal conditions, have taken three over the years, deer dropped on the spot as if struck by lightning. In all cases only the neck was visible, but was close and clearly visible and I had a perfect sight picture and a steady hold. I would rather put one in the boiler room. The old-timey meat hunters used to say: "shoot 'em in the lungs and let 'em run", so they were bled out internally when they fell. Good smoke, ron in FL

 

[RC]

I take a neck shot when ever possible.
I have never lost an animal and every animal I have shot droped,

IMHO....it only takes one "bad" shot to ruin yer perfect record.I'd be sick if I wounded it and it got away..sorry but my opinion ain't nobody that good ALL the time..and if you ever lose one you will be sick...

 

[Bountyhunter]

We strive for shots which produce the lightening drop. Game that is chased before it is shot, that has been running before it is shot, or runs after it is shot, encourages a high level of adrenaline in the blood and tissues which contributes to the gamey flavor, and toughness of the meat.

I will not shoot a buck, no matter how good he is, if he comes running to me. Our seasons are already during the rut, and we have those hormones to contend with, I dont need the additional adrenaline. I always try to place my shots for an immediate drop.

I killed a small buck a few years ago that had been wounded by another hunter a few minutes before. My neighbor had shot him across the creek from where I was, but had not killed him. He came blasting up out of the creek, a front leg swinging, into the corn field where I had stopped to take a break. He stopped momentarily to get his bearings, and I dropped him. I gutted him there, and then took him back to my machine shed to skin and dress him. The odor was almost unbearable. I cut off some meat scrap and threw it to the dog, he came up and sniffed it, then backed up with his lips curling and left the shop. That about says it all.

I hear people say all the time, I dont eat venison, because it stinks so bad. Well, no wonder, it was either run to death, or it was not field dressed properly. My meat does not stink, either when it is dressed, or when it is cooked.

Anyone want a tutorial on proper field dressing?

Bill

 

[rabbit03]

Heck if he's that close don't waste the roundball and powder, just wrastle em to the ground and cut his throat! :rotf:

rabbit03

 

[roundball]

In my opinion, my field dressing / butchering regimen is superior to anyone elses.

I always try to put a deer now as fast & hard as possible.....mainly so I don't have to drag them as far. :grin:

Then I huff & puff to get them up onto the 'hitch haul' mounted across the back of the Blazer.
Drive them a mile or so to a few needy families that I donate them to every year...drop of the entire deer and I'm on my home to clean the rifle...I pick up the horns next time I stop by.

Funny thing...just talking about it here makes me realize I haven't field dressed / butchered a deer in a good 10+ years now, but have continued to carry a good dressing/skinning folding knife in spite of not using it...I'm going to stop carrying it this year...just leave it in the equipment box in the back of the Blazer...one less pound of stuff to lug around the woods.
:winking:

 

[Stumpkiller]

I will not shoot a buck, no matter how good he is, if he comes running to me.

:rotf: You want to avoid hunting the hedgerows in the fields of Broome and Tioga County in NY. I once counted off eleven shots that rolled closer as a six point came romping along a half mile long hedgerow I was sitting near in Tioga County. The deer stopped about 20 yards inside the wood and stood there panting. I didn't see any "marks" so I dropped it. No complaints at the table. As I was dressing it several of the shooters stopped by to examing the "Swiss Cheese" deer I had and were amazed that there was only one hole through the chest. And I was happy to point out the hair and tissue on the tree behind him where I shot.

I guess adrenaline is an acquired taste. :grin: EVERY deer is run during regular season where I hunt. And not every buck that runs is running scared. They're smart enough to know a show of speed and a button-hook will save their energy. The cagy ones don't seem to panic. I've learned to hunt in the thickest tangle I know of so they do come running to me. Dueing the bow and m/l specialty seasons that actually have a chance to rest and behave like whitetail and I have to hunt for them. That's harder.