Head Shooting Big Game

[KenLee]

Y'all would have shit a brick when I headshot dozens of deer with "Stangers" as a teenager. After shooting 2-300 coons out of tall trees in the dark each year, often seeing nothing but eyes, it was a cakewalk. I'll readily admit that at 58 with health issues, I'm not the same shooter anymore. Good light, calm animal, and on a somewhat steady day, the wsm still noggin pops some fat does.

 

[KHntr]

Y'all would have shit a brick when I headshot dozens of deer with "Stangers" as a teenager. After shooting 2-300 coons out of tall trees in the dark, often seeing nothing but eyes, it was a cakewalk. I'll readily admit that at 58 with health issues, I'm not the same shooter anymore. Good light, calm animal, and on a somewhat steady day, the wsm still noggin pops some fat does.

Not at all.

Big difference between shooting 300 raccoons between the blinkers, and shooting one deer and 5 grouse in total though.

 

[KenLee]

Not at all.

Big difference between shooting 300 raccoons between the blinkers, and shooting one deer and 5 grouse in total though.

I've never seen a grouse, but I'd bet I've noggined 30-35 deer with Stangers

 

[omicron1792]

Most saying it’s inhumane would shoot a hog in the head. Why is that?

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Most saying it’s inhumane would shoot a hog in the head. Why is that?

We don’t have feral hogs where I hunt, so I have never hunted them. But, if I did, I’d aim in the way that ensures the quickest death and most likely recovery. Your experience may be different, but the pigs I have seen don’t have long necks, unlike deer, so they don’t move their heads in a way that can quickly turn an instantly fatal shot into a catastrophic wound. I would still prefer to take shots at the largest vital area.

I suspect, however, that many people view feral hogs - or predators - as vermin and don’t particularly care how horribly they die. And, as far as I can tell, a lot of people don’t eat them and don’t bother to recover them.

I certainly never much care to shot placement on a groundhog. I aim center mass and squeeze the trigger. The varmint bullet takes care of the rest. Anything that’s not lying on the ground after the shot counts as a miss.

But, I shoot squirrels in the head because it is the best way to ensure recovery with minimal meat loss. And, the way squirrels move, it makes for a good target that doesn’t move much. Unlike deer, they don’t move their heads in a way that can quickly turn an instantly fatal shot into a catastrophic wound. At ranges under 50 yards, I am unlikely to miss, especially given the amount of time I have to take a shot on a squirrel. Also, hitting a dime-sized brain isn’t much harder than hitting a quarter-sized heart and lungs.

If I could arrange for deer to stand still, at 50 yards or less, while I calmly aim and blow their heads off, I might plan on taking that shot more often. But given the choice between hitting a volleyball or a golf ball, where only raw hits count and there are no points for taking a harder shot, why risk it?

If you need two points to win and have the time, there’s no point taking half-court shots. I lump most people who *brag* about taking headshots in the same category as people who *brag* about taking long shots. Many of them seem more interested in proving something about themselves than in considering the best way to ensure clean recovery. That’s not directed at anyone in particular, just a general observation.

 

[omicron1792]

We don’t have feral hogs where I hunt, so I have never hunted them. But, if I did, I’d aim in the way that ensures the quickest death and most likely recovery. Your experience may be different, but the pigs I have seen don’t have long necks, unlike deer, so they don’t move their heads in a way that can quickly turn an instantly fatal shot into a catastrophic wound. I would still prefer to take shots at the largest vital area.

I suspect, however, that many people view feral hogs - or predators - as vermin and don’t particularly care how horribly they die. And, as far as I can tell, a lot of people don’t eat them and don’t bother to recover them.

I certainly never much care to shot placement on a groundhog. I aim center mass and squeeze the trigger. The varmint bullet takes care of the rest. Anything that’s not lying on the ground after the shot counts as a miss.

But, I shoot squirrels in the head because it is the best way to ensure recovery with minimal meat loss. And, the way squirrels move, it makes for a good target that doesn’t move much. Unlike deer, they don’t move their heads in a way that can quickly turn an instantly fatal shot into a catastrophic wound. At ranges under 50 yards, I am unlikely to miss, especially given the amount of time I have to take a shot on a squirrel. Also, hitting a dime-sized brain isn’t much harder than hitting a quarter-sized heart and lungs.

If I could arrange for deer to stand still, at 50 yards or less, while I calmly aim and blow their heads off, I might plan on taking that shot more often. But given the choice between hitting a volleyball or a golf ball, where only raw hits count and there are no points for taking a harder shot, why risk it?

If you need two points to win and have the time, there’s no point taking half-court shots. I lump most people who *brag* about taking headshots in the same category as people who *brag* about taking long shots. Many of them seem more interested in proving something about themselves than in considering the best way to ensure clean recovery. That’s not directed at anyone in particular, just a general observation.

See. I think most are anthropomorphizing or majestically thinking of deer and elk compared to hogs. I think animals are animals, and an ethical shot on one is the same as another (within reason).

Lots of depredation deer shooters do only head shots stacking up 100s of deer.

I think there is a lot of fuddism in the arguments here, similar to the “lack of ethics” with shooting a deer or elk with a 223.

Of note I have killed tons of hogs and deer.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

See. I think most are anthropomorphizing or majestically thinking of deer and elk compared to hogs. I think animals are animals, and an ethical shot on one is the same as another (within reason).

Lots of depredation deer shooters do only head shots stacking up 100s of deer.

I think there is a lot of fuddism in the arguments here, similar to the “lack of ethics” with shooting a deer or elk with a 223.

Of note I have killed tons of hogs and deer.

I don’t disagree at all that many people anthropomorphize animals, especially “cute” or “majestic” ones. If I ever stop feeling some sense of respect for animals, I think I might have to stop hunting and/or eating them. Wantonly taking life bothers me. I’ve known people who treat killing about like taking a shit and I am glad I don’t feel that way. The only things I ever killed over which I don’t have any positive feelings are snakes and people.

I still won’t take a shot at a golfball if I can achieve the same outcome - with a lower chance of catastrophic wounding - by hitting a volleyball.

I do disagree that it is in anyway akin to shooting a deer with a good .224 caliber bullet. If I am playing the percentages, most people have a far greater chance of making a clean kill with a good .224 bullet than with other calibers. What you call “fuddism”, I would call a “stubborn belief in what we already know know” or “ignorance.” Trying to convince some people that a good .224 bullet is great for deer is like trying to convince them that Jesus wasn’t the son of God or that Allah wasn’t a prophet.

 

[omicron1792]

I don’t disagree at all that many people anthropomorphize animals, especially “cute” or “majestic” ones. If I ever stop feeling some sense of respect for animals, I think I might have to stop hunting and/or eating them. Wantonly taking life bothers me. I’ve known people who treat killing about like taking a shit and I am glad I don’t feel that way. The only things I ever killed over which I don’t have any positive feelings are snakes and people.

I still won’t take a shot at a golfball if I can achieve the same outcome - with a lower chance of catastrophic wounding - by hitting a volleyball.

I do disagree that it is in anyway akin to shooting a deer with a good .224 caliber bullet. If I am playing the percentages, most people have a far greater chance of making a clean kill with a good .224 bullet than with other calibers. What you call “fuddism”, I would call a “stubborn belief in what we already know know” or “ignorance.” Trying to convince some people that a good .224 bullet is great for deer is like trying to convince them that Jesus wasn’t the son of God or that Allah wasn’t a prophet.

I’m not talking about a 800 yard shot.

For most deer shot at 100 yards you or I can easily hit them in the head.

Agree with most of your post btw.

 

[Huntsalot]

Idiotic choice. After putting down numerous deer with their jaws blown off and suffering, I won't hunt with anyone that makes that sort of decision.

 

[Castle Rock]

I call bullshit on this one, where are you located

Idiotic choice. After putting down numerous deer with their jaws blown off and suffering, I won't hunt with anyone that makes that sort of decision.

 

[Huntsalot]

I call bullshit on this one, where are you located

Pennsylvania. All 3 doe. 1 in muzzleloader season, 2 in rifle season. Jaws hanging, wounded for days.

***forgot about this buck. Headshot in rifle by an idiot

 

[Huntsalot]

I call bullshit on this one, where are you located

Here’s a sweet photo of a suffering deer. Not as cool as your photo but pretty close right?

 

[Castle Rock]

Pennsylvania. All 3 doe. 1 in muzzleloader season, 2 in rifle season. Jaws hanging, wounded for days.

***forgot about this buck. Headshot in rifle by an idiot

View attachment 988687

Sorry I was wrong to call you out like that, it is something that I have never seen
We do a lot of control shooting and head shooting is the normal way it is done.

 

[omicron1792]

What he didn’t show is the many deer seen with injuries from being shot in the body or leg that suffer also. Not as much a heartstring puller, but just as sad for the animal.

 

[Formidilosus]

See. I think most are anthropomorphizing or majestically thinking of deer and elk compared to hogs. I think animals are animals, and an ethical shot on one is the same as another (within reason).

Lots of depredation deer shooters do only head shots stacking up 100s of deer.

I think there is a lot of fuddism in the arguments here, similar to the “lack of ethics” with shooting a deer or elk with a 223.

Of note I have killed tons of hogs and deer.

It’s not just fuddism. The physiology is different, and the reaction to the animals are different. I don’t have massive experience with pigs, but what I do is the a “head shot” is usually at the base of the skull and neck, they have a shorter snout, their head is much more slab sided than deer, their head does not move rapidly as they have a shorter neck, and their skull is such that any hit in proximity to the brain drops them.

This is completely different to deer and other ungulates. I have culled deer, have taken lots of head shots, and yet head shots from other cullers have resulted in very destroyed faces and not death way too many times; something I have not seen on pigs.

 

[NorthIdahoDude]

I will only take head/neck/spine shots if I have a really good rest, the range 100 ish yards or less, and I have a MOA or better rifle in my hand that isn't setup for max MPBR, and I can tell I am holding tight enough to hit precisely where I am aiming. That said, when all that comes together, I've done it a few times, and it's always gone well for me.

 

[Formidilosus]

What he didn’t show is the many deer seen with injuries from being shot in the body or leg that suffer also. Not as much a heartstring puller, but just as sad for the animal.

No, it’s not. Be intellectually honest here. If you had to choose between your jaw being blown apart, or being shot in the arm- you’re choosing the arm.
Deer survive all the time with three legs, beyond that it’s the difference of hitting a 12+ inch target, or a 2” target. The amount of dude that can hit a 2” target on demand from a sandbag at 100 yards is laughably, stupidly small. Now add doing it in a live animal- if it’s a whitetail, one that is neurotic and extremely flighty, mostly shot from trees by people that aren’t zeroed at all- and then explain to me why you think people saying it’s a bad idea are wrong?

 

[omicron1792]

No, it’s not. Be intellectually honest here. If you had to choose between your jaw being blown apart, or being shot in the arm- you’re choosing the arm.
Deer survive all the time with three legs, beyond that it’s the difference of hitting a 12+ inch target, or a 2” target. The amount of dude that can hit a 2” target on demand from a sandbag at 100 yards is laughably, stupidly small. Now add doing it in a live animal- if it’s a whitetail, one that is neurotic and extremely flighty, mostly shot from trees by people that aren’t zeroed at all- and then explain to me why you think people saying it’s a bad idea are wrong?

2” inch target is not being intellectually honest.

I’ve never head shot a deer. But I know lots of folks that have. Must be a southern thing where shots are much shorter.

The depredation guys I know head shot the deer regularly. And have killed many many more deer than me, and probably you.

I don’t think it should be the regular shot for most people or situations. I just find it funny if people do it on a coyote or hog most people say “badass.” If done on a deer it’s “how could you.”

 

[Formidilosus]

2” inch target is not being intellectually honest.

Have you ever pulled a deer skull apart? The brain is pretty darn small. And unlike pigs- jaw and snout shots often don’t drop them.

I’ve never head shot a deer. But I know lots of folks that have. Must be a southern thing where shots are much shorter.

I grew up in the south- I have seen a massive quantity of deer being killed.

The depredation guys I know head shot the deer regularly. And have killed many many more deer than me, and probably you.

Sure- and you believe the depredation guys are the same as functionally any hunter that isn’t a depredation shooter? As in you actually believe that a depredation shooter that is killing hundreds a year, is the same as the people asking about it on this thread?

I don’t think it should be the regular shot for most people or situations. I just find it funny if people do it on a coyote or hog most people say “badass.” If done on a deer it’s “how could you.”

All you are doing here is strawmans. I have done depredation shooting of deer- my “best” was over 70 in a single night. I have killed a huge quantity of deer with head shots- I have watched a huge number of them get shot by others- again, lots of head shots. And I have watched deer from “professional” shooters get wounded and run off to be killed later.
I have shot multiple elk in the head (most as follow up shots) out to 644 yards with members of this forum. I did a simultaneous fire with 4 shooters for head shots on 4 bedded elk with members here at 80 yards. One of those elk turned its head at the instant the the trigger was pulled, flopped, got up and started running away- fortunately the shooter was quite competent and using a gas gun and he brained it running for what he thought was a second time. The first shot went right in front of its brain through its sinuses, and not only did not kill it, it didn’t stop it from running away.

People are sharing what actually happens when people try to take headshots, and yet you seem to be emotionally driven by “it must be because they’re cute”. No, it’s because it’s a bad idea for people to do.

 

[omicron1792]

Have you ever pulled a deer skull apart? The brain is pretty darn small. And unlike pigs- jaw and snout shots often don’t drop them.





I grew up in the south- I have seen a massive quantity of deer being killed.




Sure- and you believe the depredation guys are the same as functionally any hunter that isn’t a depredation shooter? As in you actually believe that a depredation shooter that is killing hundreds a year, is the same as the people asking about it on this thread?





All you are doing here is strawmans. I have done depredation shooting of deer- my “best” was over 70 in a single night. I have killed a huge quantity of deer with head shots- I have watched a huge number of them get shot by others- again, lots of head shots. And I have watched deer from “professional” shooters get wounded and run off to be killed later.
I have shot multiple elk in the head (most as follow up shots) out to 644 yards with members of this forum. I did a simultaneous fire with 4 shooters for head shots on 4 bedded elk with members here at 80 yards. One of those elk turned its head at the instant the the trigger was pulled, flopped, got up and started running away- fortunately the shooter was quite competent and using a gas gun and he brained it running for what he thought was a second time. The first shot went right in front of its brain through its sinuses, and not only did not kill it, it didn’t stop it from running away.

People are sharing what actually happens when people try to take headshots, and yet you seem to be emotionally driven by “it must be because they’re cute”. No, it’s because it’s a bad idea for people to do.

Ok

Man you have alot a good info. But you are really hard to actually talk to

Btw. When you said the part about where a deer would want to be shot, you were anthropomorphizing.

Also, a 77TMK to the head had a far bigger kill radius than 2”. You can sometimes say “yep, you’re right. I was being dramatic. It’s 4-5” zone, which is still small.”