Head shots, the only killing shot

[werner.reiche]

If there is only few more minutes of day light, a head shot is the way to go. You miss or it drop right there.... No tracking or free meal for yotes.

Or you might blow its nose or lower jaw off...

and for all of you that are going to whine about not shooting if you can't hit...there are a lot of hunters out there who attempt shots that they can't make. Can't count the number of wounded deer I've recovered over the years wounded by others.

If you can make the shot, great. But lets not get into encouraging those who can't make it that its a good idea.

[werner.reiche]

So what about taking body shots at turkeys then . ? I shoot at the head on them too although I guess there is that chance I might only hit the beak and cause suffering .

TD

That's a pretty poor straw man BB. I assume you are using a shotgun and are hitting him in the head, and neck with many pellets.

[twostroke]

I have never personally taken a head shot, just cause I am not comfortable with that.......but just curious is it a shot that has to be taken head on or is it just as effective shooting in the side of the head.

[werner.reiche]

I have never personally taken a head shot, just cause I am not comfortable with that.......but just curious is it a shot that has to be taken head on or is it just as effective shooting in the side of the head.

My guess is it would be about the same - brain target is roughly the same dimensions from the front as from the side...the one difference from side/front is that the skull angles are different, so a lower powered round (.30-30 or .44 mag) may experience deflection problems - but that is more hypothetical issue.

The one running deer I did head-shoot was running down a hill towards me. I shot him in the head (30-30, 170 gr ST), just below the left antler - but it was off to the side enough that it did not enter his skull, but blew a hole out near his ear. It knocked him down though but he needed a finisher.

[terrym]

I haven't read this entire thread nor do I plan to. Taking head shots is not ethical hunting in my book. I would not be surprised if more than 50% of shooters couldn't hit an apple at 50 yds and that apple is actually bigger than the brain. Why risk blowing the face off a deer and have it die a slow painful death. Flame me , curse me I couldn't care less. Head shots are a very easy shot to mess up and the deer is the one who can pay a very big price. Why do people have this mentality that killing deer is like swatting mosquitos? Respect your game and kill them humanely.

[delmer]

Took a bull moose with a head shot. Had tracked him in fresh snow during some inclement weather, and found him bedded down in a small stand of pines. Only part of him clearly visible was his head, which was broad side to me. Shot taken at 40 yards and it was over. I can say, if the only shot available was head on, I would not have shot.

[400bigbear]

I haven't read this entire thread nor do I plan to. Taking head shots is not ethical hunting in my book. I would not be surprised if more than 50% of shooters couldn't hit an apple at 50 yds and that apple is actually bigger than the brain. Why risk blowing the face off a deer and have it die a slow painful death. Flame me , curse me I couldn't care less. Head shots are a very easy shot to mess up and the deer is the one who can pay a very big price. Why do people have this mentality that killing deer is like swatting mosquitos? Respect your game and kill them humanely.

In all my years of hunting and guiding I have yet to see a deer get up from a head shot or seen any of these jaws etc, woundings some claim here happen . It and a neck shot consistently anchors them on the spot so how can you say it's inhumane . ? I got a feeling some won't take it is because they are more worried about damaging the cape than anything else . Even butchers take the head not the heart or lungs whether its beast or fowl . There is a good reason for that . It's humane .

TD

[werner.reiche]

In all my years of hunting and guiding I have yet to see a deer get up from a head shot or seen any of these jaws etc, woundings some claim here happen . It and a neck shot consistently anchors them on the spot so how can you say it's inhumane . ? I got a feeling some won't take it is because they are more worried about damaging the cape than anything else . Even butchers take the head not the heart or lungs whether its beast or fowl . There is a good reason for that . It's humane .

TD

I tracked one deer that had its tongue shot off and left lots of bone splinters - never recovered it - probably tracked it a couple of miles.

Re butchers - a poor comparison - they are either shooting a .22 at a range of about 4" or using a captive bolt pistol held up against the skull. And when I worked in a slaughterhouse, I have seen 3 beef that had been shot in the forehead and knocked to the floor, had their throats cut and then get up and walk around until they bleed out.

Poultry are held in funnels or shackles upside down and have their throats cut.

As far as the "...in all my years..." this is a real puzzler for me, because there are a few on the board here that claim years and years of experience but seem to be very limited in what they have seen...doesn't make sense.

[400bigbear]

That's a pretty poor straw man BB. I assume you are using a shotgun and are hitting him in the head, and neck with many pellets.

It's not straw man at all Werner or why not take the body ? Just because many pellets are flying it only takes one to penetrate the brain right . ? If you want to though go single projectile then what about bows . They make specific arrows even to decapitate turkeys or are you going to argue that too ? There is a reason for that .

TD

[werner.reiche]

It's not straw man at all Werner or why not take the body ? Just because many pellets are flying it only takes one to penetrate the brain right . ? If you want to though go single projectile then what about bows . They make specific arrows even to decapitate turkeys or are you going to argue that too ? There is a reason for that .

TD

It's about as straw as they come.