whitetail shot placement

[TedKennedy]

Depends. If I'm 100% certain I can make the shot, neck or head works. If there's any chance or any distance involved, I'll take the lungs.

@swampratt - thanks for the advice on the Vmax. Worked like a champ.

 

[CHenry]

Neck shots. I wonder why more hunters don’t use it. It’s either a quick CNS kill or a clean miss.

I agree with this and its what I did when I could

 

[Oklahomabassin]

I see all kinds of bad shots.

 

[kirk1978]

I see all kinds of bad shots.

Quit watching me hunt!! Its creepy

 

[kirk1978]

This years deer, so I guess I'm a heart shooter.

 

[Oklahomabassin]

This years deer, so I guess I'm a heart shooter.

View attachment 432774

I think some shoot to save the heart and lose all of the deer! You sacrificed the heart to bag the deer! Great shot!

 

[Dorkus]

Five minutes worth the watch.

 

[kirk1978]

Five minutes worth the watch.

How much meat do you lose with the high shoulder? I've hit the heart, lungs, and a couple in the neck but didn't want to mess up the groceries so never tried it.

 

[Dorkus]

How much meat do you lose with the high shoulder? I've hit the heart, lungs, and a couple in the neck but didn't want to mess up the groceries so never tried it.

I only started it this year and only on one doe during rifle. My ML shot was a mistake and I hit the back lung, almost a gut shot. Luckily I found her after letting her lay over an hour.

I did lose some on the high shoulder but that is just moved to burger anyway. I know it is a small sample size but I will say this, the darn lady just dropped like in that video and zero tracking or suffering. I would never try it archery but all rifle and ML hunts from now on will get this placement from me after my experience. I am willing to give up some meat to not track and reduce suffering. Just my $00.02

 

[swampratt]

I hit a buck high shoulder with my 20.5" barrel .308 and 178 A-Max.
I was higher than the deer and at 225 yards.
Both shoulders ruined no front tenderloins and some of the back strap ruined and many inches of neck meat ruined.
Bullet exited with a huge hole on the off side.
Dropped on the spot though.
Next time I used that same 178 A-Max load was a doe staring at me at 15 yards .
Shot it through the neck.
She fell over backwards all 4 legs straight up in the air stiff.

It unzipped the hide from the base of the skull to the shoulder blades.
My buddy thought I cut the hide with my knife. Perfect straight line.
No edible neck meat.

I stopped using that 178 A-Max.
Just tore up too much meat but really put the kill on them and made me think this may be an excellent elk bullet.

I have struck out this year so far.
But I have found many Oyster Mushrooms and a buddy found a Lions Mane and gave me some of it