Head Shots

[Guest ADAM]

I was just wondering how many of you take head shots on deer or other big game. The reason I'm asking is that me and my brother in law were talking about hunting last night, and I asked him if he was going to shoot everything in the head this year again. He shoots all his game in the head no matter if its bow hunting or rifle, he is not a trophy hunter he hunts strictly for meat, although he has got some massive deer with nice racks. His justification for doing this is that they dont run after a head shot. To me its just gross i can handle guts, hearts,and lungs but the smell of brain matter makes me vomit.

[ShaunM]

I personally don't take head shots. I think caliber and bullet weight is everything when it comes to meat preservation.

[Guest ADAM]

I agree with you 101. especially when the only gun he hunts with are 12 gauge slugs.

[whiskey]

Head shots are low percentage shots. Animals are always moving their heads and it only takes a small movement to cause a miss on a small target. I have killed with head shots, but I learned a hard lesson about head shots.I used to say, "head shots are great, you either hit and kill them or you miss and they run off unharmed" until I was hunting hogs in Florida and decided to take a head shot on a boar that was about 200 lbs. Just as I squeezed the trigger he raised his head and I ended up shooting him in the jaw. I didn't find the hog and I am sure he died a miserable death. I was only off my target by a couple inches. I take head shots on squirrels when using a .22, but that is it.

I am a fan of neck shots on hogs, above all other kill zones. I have also killed deer with neck shots. I do think that the situation has to be right to attempt neck shots on deer too.

[DaveS]

I don't take head shots because they are very low precentage shots. I have had to "euthenize" too many deer that only had 1/2 of their face (from the eyes forward was blown off) left after someone took a head shot or running shot on a deer. I like the shoulder....period!

[ShaunM]

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Edited September 16, 2010 by Hunting101

[Sidinman]

I am with you on this one WD the shoulder or most the time right behind it. Once though I had a doe walking straight at me, she stopped and dropped her to eat and when she raised her head back up shot her right through the eye. Was a heck of a sight seeing her roll straight back over, all four legs go straight up in the air and then flop to one side. DRT

[Guest ADAM]

I agree with all of you, I think the vitals are the best shot it just blows my mind that in the 15 years I have known him every shot he takes is to the head, and odd enough he has never just wounded one they all have dropped on the spot. The only animals that I head shoot are them damn yotes I hope they suffer.

[memphismason]

I am a shoulder shooter myself, but I do have an uncle who is trying to talk me into neck shots. That is his aiming point and he says there is no tracking required after the shot.

[Guest GunTroll]

Pump station all the way.

[Guest clutepc]

Vitals and if it's not a clear shot they walk..

I think there is enough bad press for hunters without deer running around because of bad head shot,

Seems that every deer that survives ends up getting posted on YouTube

[roverboy]

Head shots are awesome, but really I've never even did it on a deer. Groundhogs, rabbits, and squirrels is all.

[ShaunM]

Head shots should be left for zombie deer.

[DaveS]

Just think of the repair work a Taxidermist would have to do to repair a head shot deer for mounting!

[memphismason]

Head shots should be left for zombie deer.

[ShaunM]

Holy crap!

[kb4ns]

Is it good or bad if the first thing I noticed is the rack?

[spikehunter]

I have taken many deer with neck shots and have never had one move an inch. I usually aim for the vitals if the shot presents itself, but I don't mind a neck shot at all

[Guest mosinon]

did someone say zombie deer?