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Post by pacecars on Feb 5, 2022 0:00:59 GMT -5
I have often thought that I would try a neck shot but when it is time to take the shot I revert back to the shoulder/lung shot. The only deer I shot in the neck was one running straight away from me at 250 yards that had been wounded by another hunter. I was trying for the “Texas Heart Shot” and went a little high and through the back of the neck severing the spine, I had a couple witnesses and of course said I meant to do that
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Post by bradshaw on Feb 5, 2022 9:06:24 GMT -5
I have often thought that I would try a neck shot but when it is time to take the shot I revert back to the shoulder/lung shot. The only deer I shot in the neck was one running straight away from me at 250 yards that had been wounded by another hunter. I was trying for the “Texas Heart Shot” and went a little high and through the back of the neck severing the spine, I had a couple witnesses and of course said I meant to do that ***** A neck shot never enters my mind unless there is no choice. Especially on something as twitchy as a deer. Whether one does it consciously or subconsciously, the Central Nervous System must be visualized to focus placement. Apex predators know by instinct or a combination of instinct & mother’s training exactly where to bite, or smash with a paw. Between sloppiness and ACCURACY there is no choice. When pouncing on prey that can mess up your life permanent, exact placement of teeth, paw, or bullet decides whether you eat of lick your wounds. Potatojudge cites CENTRAL LUNGS, and that has, for me, been the most forgiving, clean bleed-out zone. There is a halo around the lungs which presents a mixed bag of placement results. High, immediately behind the diaphragm, the liver, without which nothing that wears a liver survives. Yet, it is possible to slip a high shot between liver & spine----with no prospect of immediate death. Likewise cut brisket or breastbone: animal vanishes. Spines vary greatly between species, with curves & angles, in places not adjacent or parallel to the broadside outline of the back. The “hunter” whose knowledge of anatomy and killing sees the center of the torso as a bullseye garantees himself a gut shot. Nor is his mind on the job who thinks an animal's lungs describe the forward half of its body; recipe for a gut shot. Even a grazing deer, unaware you have it in your sights, may step forward just as you squeeze. If you’re on the rear edge of the lungs, that’s a gut shot. I doubt a cat, coyote, or bear ever thinks, “This is an easy shot.” The mind sets the sights. David Bradshaw
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Post by pacecars on Feb 5, 2022 9:50:42 GMT -5
I should also point out that the above neck shot was with a rifle by the way. The only reason I ever think about a neck shot is because I grew up reading over and over Larry Kohler’s “Shots at Whitetails” and it being his favorite shot. But every time it comes down to take a shot I revert to the “boiler room” and through bone when possible. I have never been one of those that says it messes up meat. A hole through guts and skin messes up a lot more and feeds Coyotes
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Post by pacecars on Feb 5, 2022 10:09:14 GMT -5
Also being a bow hunter as well the lungs and avoiding bones has been the primary target. I have seen a couple of deer with arrows in their face and always wonder how that happened. I met a gentleman at an archery shop that was a die hard head shooter with rifles and we could not convince him that it would not work for archery. I give the owner credit, He offered to help set him up and teach him all about bow hunting but even though the customer had never even shot a bow he read and studied and knew it would work. The owner refused to sell him a bow
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Post by potatojudge on Feb 5, 2022 11:58:09 GMT -5
Liver and lung bases present a moving target on a stationary animal. Every medical student is taught where the diaphragm is in inhalation and at exhalation so that when gun shot victim comes in the door, you can decide if this is an abdominal wound, chest wound, or potentially both. A shot too far back on a deer means you don't know exactly what you might hit. Vital structures definitely, but lung bases or liver leave a lot of room for a deer to sprint. A deer without a pancreas can still get itself lost in thick brush. Practice looking at your quarry with x-ray vision, an anatomy drawing by your side.
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Post by bigbore5 on Feb 5, 2022 12:59:36 GMT -5
I'll take a neck shot when a deer is facing me,alert,with its head up. I don't like the bullet penetrating on back into the guts.
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Post by bradshaw on Feb 5, 2022 15:35:25 GMT -5
Liver and lung bases present a moving target on a stationary animal. Every medical student is taught where the diaphragm is in inhalation and at exhalation so that when gun shot victim comes in the door, you can decide if this is an abdominal wound, chest wound, or potentially both. A shot too far back on a deer means you don't know exactly what you might hit. Vital structures definitely, but lung bases or liver leave a lot of room for a deer to sprint. A deer without a pancreas can still get itself lost in thick brush. Practice looking at your quarry with x-ray vision, an anatomy drawing by your side. ***** potato judge.... excellent, and to dress the man as a deer, and lay him prone, illustrates the unknown of a lung shot away from the front leg. Explains variable nature of the “kill zone.” And why the Mind of the Hunter must see a specific Point of Aim. David Bradshaw
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Post by sixshot on Feb 5, 2022 15:48:50 GMT -5
I've already stated where I like to place my shots but a few times I've had to use the frontal shot which can be very deadly if placed correctly. On my recent trip to Africa my very first animal was a nice Nyala bull that was facing us straight on at 55 yds & he was about to leave, no choice, either shoot or let him go. As I've said before my Ruger bisley 45 was always loaded with a 282 gr HP in the first chamber & a 308 gr LBT solid in the second. I had to step in front of the PH to take the shot & holding center chest I touched off the 282 gr HP & it almost dropped him, I've seen this before where an animal is tip toeing on all 4 feet, that's a good sign they are about to go down. He turned just a bit & I hit him with one of the 308 gr solids & he dropped straight down. I'm guessing these bull Nyala probably weigh about 300 lbs, it was a deadly shot with these big bullets. On Zebra I did a double lung shot that never took a single step & they are very hard to kill as I understand. I used the high shoulder shot on the Kudu with the same bullet with an exit & it dropped straight down. Switching to the FA 41 magnum & a 250 gr solid I used the high shoulder shot on an old Gemsbok bull & he dropped straight down. Shoulder shots don't always kill instantly but the animal is done, a lung shot many times is a faster killer. I never want or prefer a neck or head shot. Dick
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Post by zeus on Feb 6, 2022 0:23:51 GMT -5
I’ll call this thread Lazarus! Holy smokes. Brought back from 2009 🤣🤣
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Post by reflex264 on Feb 9, 2022 8:40:54 GMT -5
I’ll call this thread Lazarus! Holy smokes. Brought back from 2009 🤣🤣 I kind of noticed that. lol Still relevant though I guess.
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Post by reflex264 on Feb 9, 2022 8:54:50 GMT -5
I aim for the aorta. Regardless of angle it means a dead dear. My preferred shot at the aorta is a perfect broadside shot which I will wait for. With this aiming point even if you miss the actual aorta you are going to hit vitals. Most of the time if you wait out a broadside shot you get a double lung and aorta hit. No tracking required. Think of it like this, even a smaller doe is going to give you at least an 8" kill zone with this shot placement. Large bucks can give you up to a 12" target. Much better odds than trying to shoot them in the head. The only intentional head shots I have ever taken was on an already wounded animal. Here are a few pics to illustrate my point. All of these have a visible entry hole. Broadside impact. Aorta and both lungs. Angle towards, facing down hill towards me frontal shot. Hit aorta and off side lung. Shooting down from tree stand broadside Quartering towards me, slightly uphill, both lungs and nearly centered heart. broadside uphill. Aorta and double lung.
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