Hunting Forum

A GOOD PLACE TO TAKE DOWN A DEER

Na will stay with behind the shoulder. pretty much givs a 8" kill zone.wo high an brake the bach to far foward and take out the shoulders, too low and take out the heart too far back and take out lungs.
Deer can be shot in the neck and not die for quite along time and suffer needlessly.
Joe Termite

While I will say that throughout my 45+ years of hunting whitetail every one has been an intentional neck shot and that they all dropped where they stood, I would not advise this shot for everyone. But, that's just me and I shoot a lot.

If you aren't certain of deer anatomy and able to shoot 1 MOA then don't. Most shots where I take are < 75 yards and I can usually find a tree to use as a rest as extra insurance. But the common consensus is to go for the vital zone. A neck shot is not a neck shot. There are areas of the neck that will drop one on the spot and there are other areas of the neck that are real trouble. I don't recommend it to most people.

With my T/C Encore .308, I have killed deer this year at 50, 85, and 100 yards all with neck shots that haven't varied an inch in any direction. All of those deer were dead before they hit the ground. In previous years, I've accomplished the same thing with this same gun, as well as my Ruger mod. 77 .308, and my Wnchester mod. 70 .270. Then again, most of my shots are broadside at 100 yards or less, with the majority being 40 yards or less. The one deer I killed this year at 200 yards was shot with the Ruger with 15 minutes of legal shooting light, and I hit it behind the shoulder and high in the back, which resulted in shooting about 4 inches of back bone out, and of course dropping it dead in it's tracks. That was a lousy shot, but it was my fault since I was freezing, shaking, and rushed the shot in the dark.

Most of the time, I follow Joe termite's approach. I have shot some at the base of the neck-shoulders and dropped them cold dead. Rt, I did compliment you on that "shivering" shot on your other thread. Bottom line: you and Steve must be heeell of a good shooting individuals. I just hope I don't reincarnate as a deer. Wouldn't stand a chance.

Posted By ternera1 on 13 Nov 2012 06:04 PM
Most of the time, I follow Joe termite's approach.

And that's the right answer.

Bottom line: you and Steve must be heeell of a good shooting individuals.

To quote a Clint Eastwood character: "A man's got to know his limitations"

Not intended to be bragging in the least and again, I wouldn't recommend it for most folks. Actually I shouldn't probably of even said it. Can I take it back ?

No, you can not take your statements back. The site does not ALLOW you to delete your own shouit. You are a bad-azz shot. Period.
My son-n-law is a sniper and he has told me some good shooting episodes. He doesn't claim to shoot a tick of a bulls nut at 100yrds., but he agrees with you when you said "...have to know his limitations"

Honestly tenera, that was NOT the intent of any of the posts that I've ever made. Could I hit a ticks tick at 100? NFW '-)

As I'm thinking about this I can think of few times I've taken a neck shot. All  were within 40yds, and taken with a 30/30 with a peep sight. All of them dropped in their tracks.

 I'm more of a heart lung shooter, and would never take a long shot at the neck.

That said I have to believe that the conditions we are hunting under (I.E. wind, weather, and forest) as well as ones ability to shoot are other factors in this equation. IMHO, anyone going for a neck shot better damn well know that they can hit their point of aim.

And I agree LD, I am NOT advocating this shot and would advise anyone to not take it. I shouldn't have posted in this thread. As my niece would say:  "my bad"

Steve, I'm going to respectfully agree, and disagree with you.

I've read a series of books by a guy named Dr. Ken Nordberg, who is a big advocate of the neck shot.

That said, as has been quoted, " a MAN needs to know his limitations". When it comes to shooting we are not all equal. If your confident in your ability, by all means take the neck shot. My caveat being in my above post, it's not necessarily the shot for everyone.

So now that I've mentioned it, lets talk about the point of aim should one decide to take a neck shot.

I for one prefer to hit as close to the juncture of the neck and the torso as I can, my belief being that it gives me the greatest amount of muscle mass to hit. I also tend to aim a bit high of center mass. My theory being that I would prefer that the impact is closer to the spine than the windpipe.

So that's my reasoning, if by this thread some may consider the neck shot, lets hope that we can do the best we can to advise them the best we can, the above is my advise.

Posted By Lunkerdog on 13 Nov 2012 09:20 PM
Steve, I'm going to respectfully agree, and disagree with you.

No prob.

That said, as has been quoted, " a MAN needs to know his limitations". When it comes to shooting we are not all equal. If your confident in your ability, by all means take the neck shot. My caveat being in my above post, it's not necessarily the shot for everyone.

I couldn't agree more!

so now that i mentioned it lets talk about the point of aim should one decide to take a neck shot I for one prefer to hit close to the juncture of the neck and the torso as I can, my belief being that it gives me the greatest amount of muscle mass to hit. I also tend to aim a bit high of center mass. My theory being that I would prefer that the impact is closer to the spine than the windpipe So that's my reasoning,

Still with ya. And as for a poa, if using a scope, pick a hair not the deer. Most guys shoot at the deer.  Focus on the smallest area you can see.  And I agree, go high on the neck where it meets the body, go low and you've got a jugular shot, not pretty. 

if by this thread some may consider the neck shot, lets hope that we can do the best we can to advise them the best we can, the above is my advise.

Not quite sure where we disagree but whatever. That shot is not for everyone. It cam have very bad results. I'm kicking myself in the azz for posting in this thread.

Not quite sure where we disagree but whatever. That shot is not for everyone. It cam have very bad results. I'm kicking myself in the azz for posting in this thread.

I guess that's where we disagree, I'm not kicking you in the azz for posting what you've posted in this thread!!!

And I also believe that what RT4 has posted, as well as what I have backs you up.

The neck shot is a great shot!!! For those that understand it!!! And those that understand it, also understand that it's not always the best shot under the circumstance that any of us may be under. Yours or mine not being the exception, or the rule.

I believe that your contribution to this discussion has been exceptional!!!

The original poster posted a generic statement. As we have discussed this we have determined that the truth runs much deeper than a generic statement!!!

So there it is... Kick yer own butt if you will... I certainly will not!!!

I'm not that good of a shot, but the T/C Encore and Ruger mod.77 are both that good of a gun, and the .308 is (in my opinion) the perfect deer cartridge; and I'm firing from a fixed rest! Also, remember that when I'm hunting with a rifle, it's over a food plot and usually a corn pile, and at deer who are totally relaxed and have no idea that they are about to take a dirt nap! I wouldn't attempt a neck shot at over 100 yards, and would opt for the high shoulder shot, instead. BTW, if you go back and check out the pictures in my deer #1, #2, and #3 posts, you can see the location of those consistent neck shots all made with the T/C.

Steve, hope you did not misunderstand me; like LD said: I wasn't kicking your azzzk. The statement referred to my son-n-law. Nowhere in your statements did you imply doing anything out of the ordinary.

RT4, if I remember right the Encore is advertised to shoot MOA right out of the box, are they that good?

And if so, is that with a recommended ammo from T/C?

I ask because I've always thought it to be a bold claim from T/C, and as we all know, not all ammo is created equal. 

no offense taken guys. I was the only one kickin' my azz ;-) I re-read what I posted later and said to myself... "self, you sound like some egotistical b*stard". Not how it was intended at all. For me, a neck shot is my preference for the reasons stated, but it's probably not for the majority of folks and I shouldn't of "promoted" it...

Fair enough, and agreed Steve, the neck shot is not for the majority of hunters. I too load ammo for one cartridge, and it's a sub-moa shooter, but the neck shot is not my go to shot, tho in some situations I'm not afraid to take it.

This is a hunting site so it goes without saying that there are going to be many exceptional shooters here, but there's still going to be those that only shoot their rifles to sight in before the season. I remember showing my 100yd targets to a new friend, and he was amazed, and stated that he couldn't shoot that good at 25yds. This is a guy that has hunted for decades.

So in that regard I believe that this has been a good discussion, and will hopefully dissuade many from going for the neck shot just because they read it here.

Lunker, I don't know what T/C recommends (I bought it used without an owner's manual), but when I patterned mine, it shot the Winchester power point 150 grain better than any thing else, which also happens to be the same load the Ruger handles the best, so that's what I use. I only have one gun that prefers Remington loads, and that's my Ruger .220 swift, and none of my guns like Federal, or Hornady loads.

I prefer to hit em in the chest just behund the knee. I like em to bleed out. Mainly because I eat the liver and with shots that kill on impact the liver is just so full of blood makes a mess in the kitchen.