Thread: Neckshot placement

Originally Posted by JoshC

Gibo, no offence, but instead of practicing on "goats", get your .22 out and practice on cans and targets, and if you can, shoot as many rabbits and possums as possible. Do it in a controlled fashion, aiming for a specific kill spot over and over. Aim small, to hit an aimed for point, not "at the general target" or "the big bit". To become confident in bullet placement and being a consistent accurate shot you need to practice sending pills down the tube.

I realise you're not going to go out and willy-nilly shoot at goats, but rather than worry about where you should aim on an animal, worry about sending the bullet exactly where you want it to go. To kill a deer you know you need to hit it vitally, or in the brain or break its neck, and you should be able to determine whether a kill shot is on offer or not the second you see that animal. With new hunters I always tell them to wait for a clear kill shot before sending the bullet. If it means we lose an animal then so be it, it's better than a tracking a wounded one for hours or in the worst case losing it.

I now shoot the majority of my deer with a 223 (up to several a month) and will confidently neck or head shoot a deer out to, and in good conditions 200m, from various stances and with the deer on various angles. Depending on range and angle of the animal I will either aim for the base of the neck, behind the animals ear, below its face, back of the head etc. Any further than that range or if I am not confident, comfortable, the animal won't stop or the weather conditions don't allow it I either won't shoot and will stalk closer or I will let the animal walk, or if I'm hunting an area with longer ranges I'll take a bigger calibre and hilar shoot.

The only reason I feel confident to take these shots is because I use my rifle almost daily and know exactly where it shoots, and know what I am personally capable of. I have never gone for a neck or head shot and wounded a deer, and the only deer I have wounded and lost have been ones when I have rushed a chest shot on that animal.

Cheers Josh appreciate the advice,

I am not saying I dont know how to shoot or that I am not confident in where my slug will go, what I was asking for was "where" in the neck do you aim to kill as I have never done it.
I will take a hilar shot when available everytime but wanted to expand my options.