Would you take the shot?

[rickystyx]

Here's the scenario. You're in a ground blind with a .30-06 staring head-on into the eyes of a doe about 40 yards away. Your shot options are front center chest or a head shot. Assuming you can't pull off a shot as she's turning, what do you do? Deal with the consequences of a cheat shot, attempt a head shot, or let her move on?

 

[MUP]

For a doe I would wait for a better angle and not worry about not being able to take her if she ran. I've never had a big buck get that close to a blind so I wouldn't know about that scenario!

 

[cbhunter]

Front chest if you must shoot

 

[deerhunter10]

Front chest is not a bad shot to take if you are comfortable. Never ever a head shot.

 

[Hduke86]

I'll go against the grain here with the options. Shooting sticks and you're steady at 40 yards. I'd take a mid neck shot any day of the week at 40. Heck I'll ruffle some feathers cause I really don't care, I'm confident enough in my shooting ability IF IF IF I have my rifle on a rest to take a head shot at 40. Id probably aim at the throat patch area more than likely.

 

[tntrkkllr]

40 yards dead on in the chest, I see a bullet doing into the guts and making a nasty mess definitely pass

 

[backyardtndeer]

Honestly don't need the meat and I am not after does, but if I were in need of meat I would take the chest shot or a neck shot if that was presented. I would not take a head shot on a deer.

 

[Remi]

I'm putting it right there.

 

[MUP]

View attachment 204932


I'm putting it right there.

If he had a rack like that I would too!

 

[Ski]

Pass for me. If I'm shooting a doe it's for the meat and I want every morsel, so no shots that destroy neck or shoulder meat. Broadside chip shot through ribs or no shot at all.

 

[MUP]

After thinking on this, I was reminded of a scenario similar to this I faced in ML season of 2010. I had a good 8pt in my cross hairs and had to wait on him to turn for the better shot. I was totally focused and ready. He was on alert and I knew he was about to turn to leave, and when he took that first side step and turned I was ready and fired. Got heem. this was at 80 yards or so tho.

 

[shrimphead]

chest shot all day

 

[backyardtndeer]

After thinking on this, I was reminded of a scenario similar to this I faced in ML season of 2010. I had a good 8pt in my cross hairs and had to wait on him to turn for the better shot. I was totally focused and ready. He was on alert and I knew he was about to turn to leave, and when he took that first side step and turned I was ready and fired. Got heem. this was at 80 yards or so tho.

Yep. Have had to do the same, or pick out a spot that's clear out ahead of the deer and wait for him to step into the opening.

 

[Remi]

If he had a rack like that I would too!

2019, the only shot he gave me in an ivy thicket.

 

[Snake]

View attachment 204932


I'm putting it right there.

That was where I shot my last buck. Don't like that shot because a couple inches to either side you've got a maimed deer and likely never find it . But a true shot will drop them like a sack of taters . Only shot I'll take if the deer is alerted to me otherwise I'll wait for the trusty broadside shot .

 

[Snake]

I'll go against the grain here with the options. Shooting sticks and you're steady at 40 yards. I'd take a mid neck shot any day of the week at 40. Heck I'll ruffle some feathers cause I really don't care, I'm confident enough in my shooting ability IF IF IF I have my rifle on a rest to take a head shot at 40. Id probably aim at the throat patch area more than likely.

@rem270 will throat punch you for taking a head shot

 

[Jcalder]

25-06. Probably wouldn't do it again, but with a 30-06 I'd have no hesitation.

 

[megalomaniac]

View attachment 204932


I'm putting it right there.

Killed a pile of deer with this shot angle and rifle, never lost one. At 40y, I'm taking it all day long. At 200y or more, nope.

Sure, guts are exploded, but I skin and quarter via gutless method, so I lose less meat than shooting one through the shoulders.

 

[Hduke86]

@rem270 will throat punch you for taking a head shot

He better get to punching

 

[Popcorn]

If she picks her head up, throat patch without hesitation. I have taken a few doe walking in or out with that shot.

 

[Omega]

Nope, pass. When a deer doesn't give me a shot, I consider it that deers lucky day.

 

[Knothead]

I'm with Omega.

 

[rem270]

I killed a doe this year on a straight looking at me shot. I didn't want her running down in the steep woods I have. She didn't make it out of the food plot.

 

[44 mag]

If she picks her head up, throat patch without hesitation. I have taken a few doe walking in or out with that shot.

I was going to say the same thing. Makes a pretty nice target.

 

[SALTMAN]

why are some of you dead set against head shot ? You don't mess up all that inside stuff , nor any meat . I'll do it anytime . Favorite is behind the ear walking away from me . Worst case you clean miss .

 

[Ski]

why are some of you dead set against head shot ? You don't mess up all that inside stuff , nor any meat . I'll do it anytime . Favorite is behind the ear walking away from me . Worst case you clean miss .

I heard what sounded like a grunting buck with lots of thrashing inside a thicket. I just knew it was a breeding couple so I stalked my way in. As I got closer the sound became more like an old man snoring. I couldn't see any deer but the sound was right in front of me. Another step and I saw it.

There was a button buck on the ground with no jaw and a mangled forehead, ear dangling. He was gurgling on his own blood. His sinus cavity was destroyed. I pulled my knife out to cut his throat and he jumped up as soon as he felt me, and ran full throttle right into a tangle of bushes that he'd have seen if his eyes worked. So I shot him.

Upon closer look the bullet had entered behind and slightly above an ear and took the bottom of his face off on the exit. I assume from a tree stand. Regardless, the entire ordeal really impacted me. It was tough seeing the deer suffer, and who knows for how long. I hadn't heard any nearby shots that day. I'm 100% sure someone thought they'd shoot a yearling doe behind the ear and save all that tender meat. Bad as I felt for the little buck I'm sure the hunter felt even worse.

That's why I'm dead set against head shots. No doubt that hunter felt confident in their shooting ability as well. On the range I'm sure he/she was a good shot. They hit the mark on this deer. It wasn't a miss.

Had they put it through the ribs behind shoulder the deer would have been easily removed and only meat damage would have been the thin strips between a couple ribs. It's not a glamorous hero shot that requires marksmanship but it's effective.

 

[MUP]

I've seen a doe missing part of her lower jaw too, and would have shot her had she been within range of my bow. Head shots are a year round thing for spotlighters in my area.

 

[Jcalder]

why are some of you dead set against head shot ? You don't mess up all that inside stuff , nor any meat . I'll do it anytime . Favorite is behind the ear walking away from me . Worst case you clean miss .

Worst case is blowing a jaw off. We've been over this enough.

 

[JW01]

Where neck meets shoulder. can't tote it

 

[deerhunter10]

why are some of you dead set against head shot ? You don't mess up all that inside stuff , nor any meat . I'll do it anytime . Favorite is behind the ear walking away from me . Worst case you clean miss .

No worst case scenario you severely injury the deer and it dies a slow death because you missed your spot by a couple inches. You do not ruin enough meat shooting behind the shoulder or even dead on to justify ever shooting a deer in the head. That's a mountain ill die on. No need for it at all.