Mule deer neck shots?

[filthyskills]

I’m looking to get some insight from some of the experienced guys. Have you taken a neck shot on a bedded deer? If you have, what conditions are present in order for you to do so?

I had several opportunities last season for neck shots at 5-20 yards where I could see the head and the base of the neck but did not take them. These were bedded deer typically behind a cut bank.

I’m not looking to start an argument about the ethics regarding this shot as there are a lot of variables and every situation is different.


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[orionthehunter1]

I shot one two years ago bedded looking at me. I hit him right in the white throat patch. Shot was about 150 yards and he had a snag covering his chest. I was steady and a 100% confident I could make the shot. Killed him stone dead right in his bed.

 

[Boxerboxer]

I’m looking to get some insight from some of the experienced guys. Have you taken a neck shot on a bedded deer? If you have, what conditions are present in order for you to do so?

I had several opportunities last season for neck shots at 5-20 yards where I could see the head and the base of the neck but did not take them. These were bedded deer typically behind a cut bank.

I’m not looking to start an argument about the ethics regarding this shot as there are a lot of variables and every situation is different.


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We're talking archery, correct?

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[durangobrad]

We're talking archery, correct?

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I hope not at 150yds. This is not the archery specific subforum?

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[BluMtn]

Rifle season, I have shot several in the neck along with a few whitetail.

 

[filthyskills]

I should’ve clarified. Yes archery.


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[Boxerboxer]

I hope not at 150yds. This is not N archery specific subforum?

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I see what you're saying, but the guy talking 150 was the first reply. OP was talking about having been under 20, and neck shots with a rifle are not super controversial. Anyway, OP confirmed this is regarding archery.

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[nphunter]

I should’ve clarified. Yes archery.


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Maybe a frontal with a large expandable, low neck. I could see with a 2” cut anywhere close to center is either artery or spine.

I had a buck bedded at about 4 yards below a cliff once, only shot would have been low neck into the body cavity. I drew back because I thought he was standing but he just shifted. Needed to take one step to have a clear shot into the lower neck. As I stepped I bumped my trigger and sent an arrow over his head into the bottom of a huge canyon. He hopped 20 feet down and looked at me. Didn’t stick around long enough for a second chance. He was probably a 175” 4x4. My wife walked me into him and watched the whole 2 hour stalk.

I felt very confident that arrow would have hit vitals in that situation if I wouldn’t have messed it up.

 

[Travis Hobbs]

If your talking a bedded deer neck shot as in a "frontal" type neck shot meaning the deer is facing you, and your putting an arrow through the "neck", then on into the vitals...I think with right equipment, distance and condition its super fatal. I have killed deer this way.

If its just a broadside type neck shot, on a bedded deer, and all I can see is the neck/head, Im waiting for him to stand or making him stand, shooting for vitals.

 

[filthyskills]

If your talking a bedded deer neck shot as in a "frontal" type neck shot meaning the deer is facing you, and your putting an arrow through the "neck", then on into the vitals...I think with right equipment, distance and condition its super fatal. I have killed deer this way.

If its just a broadside type neck shot, on a bedded deer, and all I can see is the neck/head, Im waiting for him to stand or making him stand, shooting for vitals.

I also should have clarified on this further.

I didn’t mean a frontal. More so a broadside shot close to the base of the skull. This of course would only be an option sub ~15 yards.

The reason I’m asking is a lot of the time it’s not that difficult to stalk into this situation where I’ve been hunting. By the time the deer stands up I typically get burned and spotted.

Just looking for someone who has attempted this shot successfully or unsuccessfully.




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[Wapiti1]

I took this shot on a whitetail that I had previously made a poor shot on and didn't want to push any further. 30 yards, deer not looking at me. I hit about 4 " below the jaw line, dead center of the neck. It did not work as planned, and the deer bolted.

I waited an hour, tracked and shot the deer in it's bed almost a 1/2 mile away. This time in the lungs. The autopsy revealed the arrow had passed through between the jugular veins and spine, hitting nothing important at all.

In that circumstance, I'd do it again. On an un-wounded deer, no.

Jeremy

 

[nphunter]

I also should have clarified on this further.

I didn’t mean a frontal. More so a broadside shot close to the base of the skull. This of course would only be an option sub ~15 yards.

The reason I’m asking is a lot of the time it’s not that difficult to stalk into this situation where I’ve been hunting. By the time the deer stands up I typically get burned and spotted.

Just looking for someone who has attempted this shot successfully or unsuccessfully.
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I would not take or recommend anyone to take that shot with a bow. Too much room for error and wounding that deer with very little chance of recovery. Too far back you won’t do much but too far forward you hit jaw, windpipe, ridge if nose, eye, none of those are vital and several could end in a deer that ends up dying of starvation due to damages you’ve done.

 

[filthyskills]

I took this shot on a whitetail that I had previously made a poor shot on and didn't want to push any further. 30 yards, deer not looking at me. I hit about 4 " below the jaw line, dead center of the neck. It did not work as planned, and the deer bolted.

I waited an hour, tracked and shot the deer in it's bed almost a 1/2 mile away. This time in the lungs. The autopsy revealed the arrow had passed through between the jugular veins and spine, hitting nothing important at all.

In that circumstance, I'd do it again. On an un-wounded deer, no.

Jeremy

Interesting. I’ll have to look at the anatomy a little more next time I clean a deer.

What broadhead configuration were you shooting? 2 or 3 blade? Expandable?


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[Wapiti1]

3 blade Slick Trick Magnum. It's been a while, so I don't remember exactly how it all laid out anatomy wise. The arteries were along the front of the windpipe, and the arrow went through the windpipe between them and the spine. The gap was about 2" if I remember right.

Jeremy

 

[filthyskills]

3 blade Slick Trick Magnum. It's been a while, so I don't remember exactly how it all laid out anatomy wise. The arteries were along the front of the windpipe, and the arrow went through the windpipe between them and the spine. The gap was about 2" if I remember right.

Jeremy

Having had that experience, would you take that shot if you were extremely close? Under 5 yards and had any broadhead of your choice.


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[MallardSX2]

Absolutely not witha bow.

 

[Scoot]

Absolutely not witha bow.

This!

Unless you're talking about a true frontal. Heavy arrow, fixed head, close shot, unaware animal ate all requirements for a frontal for me.

 

[filthyskills]

If you read my post I am not talking about a frontal. I’m also asking specifically to hear from those who have ever attempted this shot.

I’m clearly not advocating this shot or debating ethics.

Merely asking those who have done it.


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[Salmonchaser]

The two larger bucks were both neck shot archery losses on the ranch I guide pheasant hunts. Neck shots were taken because the bucks were in sourgum patches, covering the vitals.
The rifle hunters this year killed a buck that had survived an arrow going through above the lungs and below the spine, last year.
I haven’t bow hunted since high school, recurves and compressed cedar shafts were top technology. But based on my limited data seems like a risky shot on an in wounded animal.

 

[filthyskills]

The two larger bucks were both neck shot archery losses on the ranch I guide pheasant hunts. Neck shots were taken because the bucks were in sourgum patches, covering the vitals.
The rifle hunters this year killed a buck that had survived an arrow going through above the lungs and below the spine, last year.
I haven’t bow hunted since high school, recurves and compressed cedar shafts were top technology. But based on my limited data seems like a risky shot on an in wounded animal.

Thanks for the insight. First hand experience is exactly what I was asking for.

Was it known that the hunters took these shots or were the wounds apparent when the carcasses were found?


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