Close up Deer and Shot Placement

[Fox]

I agree with everyone here, heads can move fast, small brain, neck shot has a small target, take out the lungs and the deer is done.

[MikePal]

Neck shots can go too high-- meat and bone-- not lethal-- long run and never retrieve it.
Neck shots can go too low-- tracheal/skin hit-- they can breath through a trach hit same as a laryngeal cancer patient with a trach tube

Sorry Johny..have to disagree with a blanket statement like that....my last 5 deer have all been like this....neck shots at around 25 yds with a 50 cal ML. I hit sub 1" groupings on bull at 50 yds, these shots are easy and quick, the deer drops in their tracks, no waiting for the animal to bleed out, their dead before the hit the ground. Very efficient way to kill a deer.




You can see my tree stand in the background (centre)...the autopsy photos on this shot were amazing (available for PM if you like to see), The 50 cal left a huge whole thru the neck, tore out the windpipe, severed the artery and removed two vertebrate in the spine...




Since the OP is using slugs (similar to .50 cal ML).....at 37 yds...the neck shoot is a completely viable option.

I however do concur with what others have said for anything beyond 50yds, I will usually aim for the Heart (vitals) and use heavy/soft lead to it brings them down fast.

[werner.reiche]

Heart/lung-- nothing else is more effective.
Neck shots can go too high-- meat and bone-- not lethal-- long run and never retrieve it.
Neck shots can go too low-- tracheal/skin hit-- they can breath through a trach hit same as a laryngeal cancer patient with a trach tube
Head shot-- they have small brains- too easy to shoot off the face or ears and still not kill-- so they run away.

Always go for the heart lung shot

Agree with you 100% Johnny - but we have this discussion every year complete with the same anecdotal evidence complete with pictures and it always turns out the same....

Too bad we don't have some pictures of the times it doesn't work out, deer left to die with broken jaws, etc.

Silly thing is the *only* hunting board I've been on where a neck/head shot is *ever* discussed as a first choice shot.

[MikePal]

but we have this discussion every year complete with the same anecdotal evidence complete with pictures and it always turns out the same....

Too bad we don't have some pictures of the times it doesn't work out, deer left to die with broken jaws, etc.

Yup a perennial discussion and your attitude hasn't changed Werner, yet I still have success year after year

I still use the neck shot as my preferred shot choice, it has never failed me; one shot, instant death, deer in it's tracks.

Sorry no pictures of a failed shoot, hasn't happened yet and shouldn't, it' a less than a 50 yrd shot....

[MikePal]

anecdotal evidence complete with pictures

Isn't that an oxymoron ? Haha

[Species8472]

In general I would agree that a boiler room shot is the shot to take and that a neck shot is not recommended for the vast majority of cases. That being said I would make case by case exceptions for instances like Mike describes. If one is as accurate as Mike says and knows the exact range and is shooting from a solid rest (assuming this looking at the blind pic) than I would say have at it.

Rarely does one blanket rule cover everything. They cover most things but there are always exceptions.

[Rugger]

Your first picture provides some other info. It looks like the corn is placed so that a deer is most likely to be facing away from your blind, the shot looks like it went in the back of the neck and out the front. When I think about it that way I think it's a much better shot than one taken at the side of the neck. When looking at the back of the neck with the deer facing away from you it's almost all vital. There's probably only about an inch (at most) on either side that would result in wounding as opposed to either an instantly fatal shot or a clean miss.
Again I think it has to be underlined that head and neck shots can be good choices under certain conditions.

[robster]

Looking at your grouping on the target & you knowing the distance, I can't see how you could miss a shot when the opportunity rises. The variables are your hunting spot. Private land? Close to other hunted properties? When I bow hunt I'll go for the heart & lungs period. During controlled hunt I go for neck shot. Reason being during the bow hunt I know there's no one else around. During the controlled hunt the neighbouring properties are busy. I lost a deer about ten years ago. Slug to the boiler room but that deer still ran far enough to neighbouring property for someone else to claim that deer. So this is why I choose a neck shot in the gun hunt. Every time I've pulled the trigger that animal dropped. No blood trail, no tracking, no lost deer. With scopes & accurate ammo shouldn't worry. If the shot is questionable, don't shoot. Wait for the right opportunity or pass.

[MikePal]

. There's probably only about an inch (at most) on either side that would result in wounding as opposed to either an instantly fatal shot or a clean miss.
Again I think it has to be underlined that head and neck shots can be good choices under certain conditions.

Both those shots were actually fairly perpendicular but at a downward angle...the pic below shows where I aim/hit, fairly high on the neck just below the head.



This is a pic of the damage done to the neck, all I've done was skin and clear away some of the loose tissue around the exit wound...what you see is the gap left when 2 vertebrate have disintegrated. The trauma encompasses almost 50% the width of the neck...no blood flow, no air and no spine with a single shot.



Your right Rugger, it does take right condition and knowing your shooting distances etc. I've been hunting this scenario for many years, all my kills are about 25 yd range. I have full confidence in my shooting abilities and no problem making that shot.

This is my grouping at 50 yds with that Gun and bullet:

(the fouling shot is slightly high left..the next 3, yes 3, are sub 1" bull...




Let's remember, Rick (OP) is asking about using a shotgun (slug) at 37 yrds, so I am offering my opinion on taking a neck shot at those ranges....completely viable if you have confidence in hitting within 2'" of bull at 50 yrds and the deer is relaxed and offering a good broadside shot.

I don't think a Hunter should have to defend a shot that kills a deer instantly and drops a deer in their tracks..especially to other hunters.

[Waftrudnir]

Not new to deer hunting just this year switching over to slug barrel and 4power scope in past I used 00buck shot but with eyesight (short sighted) I'm finding it easier to use a scope.

don't want to start a debate on buck shot - just saying good for you (and the deer) that you switched!
neck and headshots are great as long as you can place them properly 100% of the time. if that's for you, just get a roll of dimes and place 'em at about 50m out in the bush and shoot from a similar set up as you intend to hunt (not bench-rest, unless you hunt bench-rest). if you miss one (without buck fever and all the time in the world) it's not for you. I accomplished quite a few head shoots, but would never go for a shot at the neck (especially upper neck from the side). I know someone how does nothing else for many years, but that's comparing apples to oranges. most hunters (only time a year they hold a rifle is in booze camp) have problems hitting the boiler room under real life conditions.
some people frown on hitting the shoulder blade. truth is that not that much meat is wasted in the end and most likely it won't run at all. so, if it quarters towards you, don't worry (unless you shoot an arrow).
look at some pictures; there are many like this
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_g4vLpyyJHpo/TOVv6yhNaUI/AAAAAAAAA10/7-0YinDHC3o/s1600/shot%2Bplacement.bmp
and remember to apply it in 3D; i.e. if you shoot from a treestand at short range, aim a bit higher so that you hit as much of the vitals as possible (if your scope is zeroed in at that range, if not you have to compensate for the lower bullet at that range on top of it!)