Thread: Neckshot placement

True, the neck is a smaller target than the chest, but if you are happy to shoot at the chest of a deer at 400m then you should be accurate enough to nail it in the neck at 40m. When I aim for the neck I imagine my bullet passing through the center of the neck, no matter what the angle or how far up the neck you aim. This seems to flatten them. The one shot I won't take is front on into the brisket. Lost an animal at 5m like that (big calibre and good bullet) and know 3 others that have had the same problem. I will always aim further up the neck now.

Originally Posted by Shearer

True, the neck is a smaller target than the chest, but if you are happy to shoot at the chest of a deer at 400m then you should be accurate enough to nail it in the neck at 40m. When I aim for the neck I imagine my bullet passing through the center of the neck, no matter what the angle or how far up the neck you aim. This seems to flatten them. The one shot I won't take is front on into the brisket. Lost an animal at 5m like that (big calibre and good bullet) and know 3 others that have had the same problem. I will always aim further up the neck now.

Agree

It is possible on that front on brisket shot for a bullet to pass outside the ribs inside the shoulder and not actually hit anything vital... not saying thats what happened just saying.

also just saying... I think most people who shoot for the engine room shoot too low Ie one third up the depth of the chest. where the fuck this rule of thumb came from I have no Idea.
Aiming for this area a slightly low shot will break the brisket and do no real damage. If it hits where you aimed it will likely hit or at least damage the heart and they quite often(fucken always) take off on a heart run which in some country can mean a hour at least trying to find a dead deer or not finding it at all.
Aiming that low also gives very little left right margin for error on a broad side shot,the diaphragm and lungs taper back from forward low to high rear.

Broadside on if you want bang flop place your pill half way up the depth of the chest in line with the front leg,if your shot is true you wont hit leg bone, you will annihilate the lower lungs and major arteries out of the heart and shock to the spine will drop it right there.
If your a bit high from aim point you will breakm the scapular damage high lungs and shock the spine and drop it right there, if your a bit high and left or right a bit you will damage lungs shock the spine and drop it Right there.
If your really high(4-6 inches on a mature red) you will hit the spine and lungs and drop it right there
The "vitals" cavity on a mature deer is from upper side of brisket to about 2/3rds of the way up.
A pig is differrent, vitals are in the lower half not 2/3rds.

I will slip it in on the crease most the time if its to far for a neck but if it is imperative its DRT( IE will be hard to find if moves) its halfway up the depth of the chest(lung shot) at a point in the center of the chest between the NATURAL LINE OF THE FRONT LEGS.
So IMHO you want to pass that pill threw the point between the front legs halfway up the chest,depending on angle this could mean aiming behind the shoulder on the crease or in front of the shoulder on the point.

Sincerely "hates heart shots with a passion"

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

Agree

It is possible on that front on brisket shot for a bullet to pass outside the ribs inside the shoulder and not actually hit anything vital... not saying thats what happened just saying.

also just saying... I think most people who shoot for the engine room shoot too low Ie one third up the depth of the chest. where the fuck this rule of thumb came from I have no Idea.
Aiming for this area a slightly low shot will break the brisket and do no real damage. If it hits where you aimed it will likely hit or at least damage the heart and they quite often(fucken always) take off on a heart run which in some country can mean a hour at least trying to find a dead deer or not finding it at all.
Aiming that low also gives very little left right margin for error on a broad side shot,the diaphragm and lungs taper back from forward low to high rear.

Broadside on if you want bang flop place your pill half way up the depth of the chest in line with the front leg,if your shot is true you wont hit leg bone, you will annihilate the lower lungs and major arteries out of the heart and shock to the spine will drop it right there.
If your a bit high from aim point you will breakm the scapular damage high lungs and shock the spine and drop it right there, if your a bit high and left or right a bit you will damage lungs shock the spine and drop it Right there.
If your really high(4-6 inches on a mature red) you will hit the spine and lungs and drop it right there
The "vitals" cavity on a mature deer is from upper side of brisket to about 2/3rds of the way up.
A pig is differrent, vitals are in the lower half not 2/3rds.

I will slip it in on the crease most the time if its to far for a neck but if it is imperative its DRT( IE will be hard to find if moves) its halfway up the depth of the chest(lung shot) at a point in the center of the chest between the NATURAL LINE OF THE FRONT LEGS
So IMHO you want to pass that pill threw the point between the front legs halfway up the chest,depending on angle this could mean aiming behind the shoulder on the crease or in front of the shoulder on the point.

Sincerely "hates heart shots with a passion"

Agree entirely.
I imagine a tennis ball right in the middle of the chest and the bullet has to pass through it from whatever angle.
My theory with the front on brisket shot is that the bullet passes between the lungs, above the heart and too far below the
spine. Effectively turns it into a gut shot. Not good.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Agree entirely.
I imagine a tennis ball right in the middle of the chest and the bullet has to pass through it from whatever angle.
My theory with the front on brisket shot is that the bullet passes between the lungs, above the heart and too far below the
spine. Effectively turns it into a gut shot. Not good.

Yep which is why with that presentation I usually opt top of neck or wait for a different shot.

You need a TL;DR vc

Totally Loving Dirty Rampant girl? already have one , married her in fact

Here's something. Don't shoot at deer. Don't shoot at the shoulder area, or the neck area.

Shoot at a precise spot. That will be the spot that the circumstances and angle of the bullet's penetration will afford you the best opportunity for a humane kill. I consider these things, and then imagine an x on the deer and aim for that.

Be it on the neck or shoulder, or where ever.

I guess this sounds a bit pious and arrogant. But I learnt the hard way, after having a few monumental stuff ups after shooting at the big bit in the front.

Hi guys, absolutely loving this thread, excuse my ignorance, what exactly is a 'Hilar shoot'?....i googled it but non the wiser!

Originally Posted by Scouser

Hi guys, absolutely loving this thread, excuse my ignorance, what exactly is a 'Hilar shoot'?....i googled it but non the wiser!

Some sweet info from the crew aye!

The Hilar area is in the chest. Its the colaboration of all the arteries, veins and vital organs.

For me it is a visual thing and I cant explain it so will dig up some pic's from books at home for ya and put em up here.

There is some good info on the topic in the book "red deer of new zealand" by Lentin and Saxton.

Originally Posted by Gibo

There is some good info on the topic in the book "red deer of new zealand" by Lentin and Saxton.

which is a must read in any case .. and re-read .. and re-read ..




Tim

Originally Posted by kiwi39

which is a must read in any case .. and re-read .. and re-read ..




Tim

I had a copy of "red deer in new zealand" by roger lentle and frank saxton and gave it to someone on the forum, so there are a few copies around.

"Hunting the seasons 'round" Is a good informative read also.

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

"Hunting the seasons 'round" Is a good informative read also.

Who's that by ??



Tim

The same authors

Sent from my GT-S5360T using Tapatalk 2

I no longer go for the hilar region. I prefer the flatar region. Its and age thing.

Originally Posted by Munsey

There is also risk of neck shot dropping anamil like a stone , then fuck me ! It wakes up and fucks off after 5 mins . I Neck shoot if well under 100 mts .

This happens when you hit the neck but above the spine i.e. lower on the neck before it meets the body there is quite a gap - they will drop like a stone then get up and you will not find them.