I hate neck shots

[Buckmaster7600]

Spent most of the day yesterday tracking a buck my neighbor shot. 35 yd frontal shot aimed at white patch “all he had to shoot at.” We were doin the annual last day of muzzloader block drives. He was a driver buck tried circling back into drivers. 
 

at the shot buck dropped then got his feet but fell a few times then ran off before a follow up shot was available. He continued with the drive and jumped the buck again 100yds from first shot and shot at again but missed. After completion of drive we kept setting up watchers and pushing where the buck was heading while looking. In total the buck went 1.8 miles as a crow flies from initial shot and was killed by someone not with us. Really nice 8pt for around here. 
 

Shot hit white patch of throat and but a couple inches right of center and ripped a 2” entrance and and 3+” exit. 
 

What’s everyone else’s take on neck shots I hate them, I have had and been apart of too many bad outcomes from them and unless I have a rifle with a fast follow up capability I won’t take them. I would rather wait for the deer to turn and shoot it in a hind quarter than take a neck shot. 
 

Just to be clear I’m not talking about neck into vital shots “I love those” just upper neck shots.

[The_Real_TCIII]

I think people underestimate just how much of the neck is just "meat"

[mowin]

Frontal shot like your buddy had is iffy.  As you found out, little left or right and it's going a long way.  Broadside shots are much better. Little high or low and it's your deer. 

[Moho81]

I personally hate chasing deer. I wait for vitals every time. No neck, no head and ABSOLUTELY NO TEXAS HEART SHOT. 

[mowin]

Just now, Moho81 said:

I personally hate chasing deer. I wait for vitals every time. No neck, no head and ABSOLUTELY NO TEXAS HEART SHOT. 

I've never taken a Texas heart shot, and never will.  

[Robhuntandfish]

I've shot one in the neck many years ago. It was bedded and looked up and I shot the neck and it never moved an inch. But not one I would take these days.  I also won't shoot at a running deer.  I need to be steady and feel comfortable.  Actually bow hunting got me into this practice just about being picky about the shot. 

[ZAG]

Never taken a neck shot intentionally. 

[NYBowhunter]

Base of neck with me seeing entire side of deer is only neck shot that I would take.

[phade]

Muzzleloader experience hasn’t been great with expansion and shock damage. I’ve seen it in a few using Barnes but also seen some where I am not sure any expansion took place.

Modern rifle and slug. I’d situationally consider it. But it’d have to be “right” in that moment as I see it to take that shot. Can’t say never but I also can’t say 100/100.

[G-man]

Nope no neck or frontal shots at all.. bow or gun...

[Belo]

never taken one and it would have to be perfect conditions, me with a rest, deer not alert, me with time to really settle the hairs etc. For sure would not take this shot as a driver.

I did shoot a doe in the neck with my mz once. She went 5 yards and died. I was aiming for the lungs lol. 

Edited December 12, 2022 by mowin

[Buckmaster7600]

1 hour ago, Moho81 said:

I personally hate chasing deer. I wait for vitals every time. No neck, no head and ABSOLUTELY NO TEXAS HEART SHOT. 

With my style of hunting it’s inevitable. It gets hated on a lot but it’s a big target and highly effective. 
 

The shots I’ll take while tracking with snow and zero property access issues are very different from what I’ll take from a stand at home. 

[Stubborn1vt]

4 minutes ago, Belo said:

never taken one and it would have to be perfect conditions, me with a rest, deer not alert, me with time to really settle the hairs etc. For sure would not take this shot as a driver.

I did shoot a doe in the neck with my mz once. She went 5 years and died. I was aiming for the lungs lol. 

At least she had a good long life...

[Belo]

19 minutes ago, Stubborn1vt said:

At least she had a good long life...

lol. dammit, now i won't edit it. 

[Belo]

24 minutes ago, Buckmaster7600 said:

With my style of hunting it’s inevitable. It gets hated on a lot but it’s a big target and highly effective. 
 

The shots I’ll take while tracking with snow and zero property access issues are very different from what I’ll take from a stand at home. 

Ethicacy aside, I think it's a meat thing as well. Sure plenty of gut shot deer still get eaten and without issue, but I want to avoid that if at all possible and nobody intentionally gut shoots a dear whereas a texas heart shot is intentional. I know you're not a consumer of venison, but I'd really want to leave the whole GI tract in tact if I can, especially in warmer temps.