Head shot finishing shot

[rileybassman]

Confession... never really heard of this before, but i harvest a nice doe last fall, put a good shot on her... maybe 2-3" back (was not gut shot upon gutting her went through one lunge and part of the liver) and waited about 45mins to an hour before going after her. Now this is verified bear country, we see them on carcasses every year... and we had about a half hour of light left, so instead of the customary 2 hour wait, i decided to go after her.

Easy blood trail, led right to her, but she had not yet expired. She let me get about 20 yards away... usually i just walk up and slit the throat, but she was sitting fairly normal and acted like she would bolt if i got much closer... so i waited for her head to turn (she was in some brush, and i didn't have a great body shot presented due to brush) she looked away and i aimed at the base of the skull and shot. She dropped like a sack of potatoes, and the arrow went completely through her head. I would never attempt a first shot head shot, but have to say i was impressed for the scenario... quicker death for her and instant retrieval for me.

Has anyone else attempted anything like this? Again, very specific scenario, where i knew it was the right deer etc.

 

[Desk Jockey]

I haven't. Interested in thoughts.

I recently read a few articles about Neck shots with a rifle. I can't find it but I saw where a guy that did deer culls in residential areas preferred head shots with a suppressed rifle. He said he'd prefer a clean miss to having a wounded deer run off on him.

 

[rileybassman]

Yea I can see that line of thought... tho Deer skulls are very thick on the front... I always worry about the sinus and nasal area tho...
I grew up on a goat farm, and butchered dozens and put them down on occasion, and we always shot them in the back of the head... never the front. A .22 lr was all that was needed on butcher day and they would always drop... I imagine it is similar for deer... a sideways or rear would be preferable, but not front facing.

 

[BruinPoint]

Never been in a situation to try it with a bow, but in my mind once an animal is wounded anything legal goes. This thread reminded me of finding this buck where he finally starved to death on the way to the winter range. Not sure what the circumstances were, but knowing some of the characters that hunt the area I can make a guess.

 

[BruinPoint]

Here's the other side just because it's interesting to see how the bone healed.
View attachment 33179

 

[rileybassman]

That's too bad... hate to think of an animal suffering like that. Again, not condoning making it a first shot attempt... just a mercy kill under specific circumstances.

Surprised at the lack of penetration tho... must have been a fairly low powered bow... or someone taking a 70 yard hail mary with a 40 yard pin... my arrow entered in base of skull, exited right between the eyes, a couple inches lower, and burrowed into the ground behind the deer. Cut the spinal cord, was dead before I could get there. I was kind of surprised at the penetration to be honest... guess I'll keep using the shuttle T locks

 

[PathFinder]

My buddy did the same on a buck he'd hit a ways back. Jumped it in tall grass and that was all he could see. Lights out instantly. Definitely wouldn't try it as a first choice with a bow, but for a finishing shot I think it's A OK.

 

[elkguide]

Glad you got lucky and finished that doe off. Unfortunately I have seen a couple of deer that were "head shot" and they were not as lucky. One in the jaw and one through an eye. As you all know, an arrow kills by severing organs or blood vessels while a bullet also kills by shock to the system. Of course there was also that infamous viral video of the doe in New Jersey that was walking through a village with an arrow sticking through her head.

Now from behind, perfect scenario on a previously hit deer...... might take the shot myself.

 

[5MilesBack]

With a bow I'd never take a "head" shot in any circumstance. But in your situation I might take a "base of the head" shot at the neck. Or I'd just figure a way to get one through the lungs.

With a rifle I've killed quite a few cow elk with first shot neck shots so I wouldn't ruin any meat. They drop in their tracks. However, there was this one cow........I shot her right behind the shoulder, mid way up, broadside on the first shot from about 150 yards.....175gr Partition-7mag. I tracked her in the snow for about 1/2 mile. Found her laying down with her head up right behind a blowdown. So I shot her at the base of the head with another round. Her head and neck flopped around like it was hit with a baseball bat. I walk up on her and she's still kicking around. So I walk up to her point blank and put one through the top of her head. All is well, or so I thought. I started skinning her out when her back legs started kicking like she was trying to get up. Put two more rounds through the chest, and waited several minutes. It was a little freaky.

 

[rileybassman]

Glad you got lucky and finished that doe off. Unfortunately I have seen a couple of deer that were "head shot" and they were not as lucky. One in the jaw and one through an eye. As you all know, an arrow kills by severing organs or blood vessels while a bullet also kills by shock to the system. Of course there was also that infamous viral video of the doe in New Jersey that was walking through a village with an arrow sticking through her head.

Now from behind, perfect scenario on a previously hit deer...... might take the shot myself.

Correct... yes, it was from behind and the only way I would take that shot... funny you mention that NJ deer... one of the things going through my mind at the time... the concept in my mind was to sever the spinal chord at base of skull.

 

[rileybassman]

With a bow I'd never take a "head" shot in any circumstance. But in your situation I might take a "base of the head" shot at the neck. Or I'd just figure a way to get one through the lungs.

With a rifle I've killed quite a few cow elk with first shot neck shots so I wouldn't ruin any meat. They drop in their tracks. However, there was this one cow........I shot her right behind the shoulder, mid way up, broadside on the first shot from about 150 yards.....175gr Partition-7mag. I tracked her in the snow for about 1/2 mile. Found her laying down with her head up right behind a blowdown. So I shot her at the base of the head with another round. Her head and neck flopped around like it was hit with a baseball bat. I walk up on her and she's still kicking around. So I walk up to her point blank and put one through the top of her head. All is well, or so I thought. I started skinning her out when her back legs started kicking like she was trying to get up. Put two more rounds through the chest, and waited several minutes. It was a little freaky.

I know a guy that had a similar situation with a deer... their will power to live is crazy sometimes, especially when they get adrenaline going after a first shot... head shot and still moving is a little freaky lol