Neck shot ethics

[fishslap]

I’d never intentionally take a neck shot since there is a lot of really good meat on the neck. Way less meat loss just behind the shoulder.

 

[tradman]

The last buck I took (01 Nov) I took a neck shot at 238yds. The bullet hit almost at the base of the skull. The buck dropped where he stood. This is the first time I took a neck shot.

 

[Taudisio]

I’ve shot a handful of deer in the neck. Haven’t had one take a step yet (knock on wood). It is not my first or second choice for shot placement, but it is effective as long as you are comfortable with the shot. A fragmenting bullet will give you a little more leeway. That being said, I don’t know what 44 mag bullets would fragment enough to encourage me to try a neck shot with one.

I would never encourage someone to take a neck shot unless it is already wounded and down.

 

[Pharmseller]

I’m not confident enough to take a neck shot.




P

 

[sierracharlie338]

I think something that needs to be considered with some of the responses is distance of the shot. I’m actually baffled at the number of people against neck shots. The OP stated it was only a 40yard shot and some responders say they don’t feel comfortable taking that shot? At 40yards? With a firearm?!! I’m all for knowing your boundaries but this isn’t a difficult shot imo. As stated in a previous thread I grew up shooting this way because my old man didn’t like tracking animals. My experience differed from many here. It’s a great shot and anchors the animal in its tracks. For reference below is the shot I’m referring to, base of the neck and even a dots with further forward IME.

 

[Swamp Fox]

I think something that needs to be considered with some of the responses is distance of the shot. I’m actually baffled at the number of people against neck shots. The OP stated it was only a 40yard shot and some responders say they don’t feel comfortable taking that shot? At 40yards? With a firearm?!! I’m all for knowing your boundaries but this isn’t a difficult shot imo. As stated in a previous thread I grew up shooting this way because my old man didn’t like tracking animals. My experience differed from many here. It’s a great shot and anchors the animal in its tracks. For reference below is the shot I’m referring to, base of the neck and even a dots with further forward IME.
View attachment 793136

I'll bet that's not what most here are thinking of when they think of a neck shot.

 

[WKR]

I had a similar predicament this last Friday, only shot was a Texas heart shot or back of the neck at about 40 yards...I hesitated and let the buck walk. After the fact I was cussing myself for not taking the shot because I've shot em in the neck a few times now and it worked every time.

Luckily I went out to the same area the next morning and got on the same buck first thing and was able to kill him.

I think neck shots up close are deadly, I dont know if they are a good option for long range shots though.

 

[Taudisio]

I think something that needs to be considered with some of the responses is distance of the shot. I’m actually baffled at the number of people against neck shots. The OP stated it was only a 40yard shot and some responders say they don’t feel comfortable taking that shot? At 40yards? With a firearm?!! I’m all for knowing your boundaries but this isn’t a difficult shot imo. As stated in a previous thread I grew up shooting this way because my old man didn’t like tracking animals. My experience differed from many here. It’s a great shot and anchors the animal in its tracks. For reference below is the shot I’m referring to, base of the neck and even a dots with further forward IME.
View attachment 793136

Good point, I was referring to neck shots as in, between the base of the skull and the muscles from the shoulder. Truly, only neck meat/bone/esophagus/windpipe to hit. The shot you referred to wasn’t even in my head.

 

[Burnsie]

Depends on the distance - inside 100 yards I'll take a neck shot all day long. Longer shots I go for the boiler room. A neck shot will drop a deer in its tracks -the hydrostatic shock basically explodes the blood vessels in the neck and brain - lights out.

 

[Hoosker Doo]

Genuine question here as a novice bow hunter (shot and carried one around for years, but still consider myself a novice).

Since OP mentioned he's more of a bow hunter and hesitated with this shot with a rifle, would the shot below be considered taboo to serious archery hunters?



The doe was facing head on and that white throat patch made for a great aiming point. She fell on her face at the shot and the broadhead had to be unscrewed to pull the arrow out from between the vertebrae.