Thread: What's your pet Sika load?

Originally Posted by SIKAHUNTER

.270 or 6.5/284 here, specially if they on the run a decent thump in the big area brings em down. Shot a few with my .223 which killed them just as dead, but have seen deer neck shot with .223's get up and piss off (hunter had knife in hand ready to gut - up jumps deer and gone!)

A guy working on the chopper had cut the hock and clipped a carabiener into ones leg when it stood up between his legs and shot through. All he could think of to say was "hey you are not supposed to doing this"

I try to avoid neck shots with whatever calibre. There is a massive sinew and muscle mass above the bone on the top of the neck. Hit that and they will go down like they are done for but they will be up and away in 30 seconds. The Indians and American settlers used to capture mustangs and brumbies by shooting them in this spot. It was a method they called creaseing.
I tried a couple times during the live capture day to crease deer, unsuccessfully, one dropped and then got clean away cause the dog wouldnt grab it.
The dog was to clever for that, it had had several hidings for chasing deer.

The other one developed a bad case of rheineck.
I have shot several deer over the years that have been hit in the neck by a bullet and healed but they had all got a case of rheineck out of it. The deer's neck developes a permanent twist, so when they run they appear to be looking back over their shoulder. This might not be the completely correct term for this state but it was what we called it at the time.

There is also a far bit of non fatal material on the lower neck, muscle, trachea, and brisket.