Head and Neck Shots

The Deer Manager · Guest

As a professional deer stalker in England taking around 400 deer a year, a large percentage of the revenue i generate from the deer is derived from the sale of the carcasses. Game dealers whinge and whine about carcass damage and in fact will 50% less for chest shot deer. This means if possible i will take a head shot whenever i can and will pass up the chance of a shot if unable to get a good clean shot. I know my limitations and the limitations of my rifle (.243 ack improved) due to experience and extensive practice etc.
The meat on a head shot deer ie. one that has died instantaneously is without doubt better and the overall result much cleaner and more humane. Unless close i dont usually take a front on head shot and my shot of preferance is when the annimal is walking away or standing facing away at a slight angle. Death is instantaneous when a shot is taken from this angle and the annimal drops in his/her traks. I use 95gr combined tech bullets travelling at 3500fps which have devastating results when colliding into craneum! I will soon start posting pics to demonstrate. On the larger species the bullet sometimes stays in the head with a front on head shot pushing the eyes out on stalks which is usuall a good indication the bullet has done its job!
I can hand on my heart say i have never wounded or maimed an annimal head shooting yet, patly because i never become complcent or take risky shots where i couldt be 100% positive i could hit my mark!

Cant wait to see the replies

All the Best guys, keep your powder dry!

popgun · Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 12:34 am Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

I looks like it works for you because you have the shooting skill and patience to wait for the right shot placement. Those that might have a problem with the shot are those that do not shoot regularly and lack the patience to wait for the right angle. Hunters come in all skill levels and aiming points are different for everyone. It's a comfort/excitement zone thing for everyone. In as much as we by law can not sell our game here in the US a little meat or hide damage is of little consequence. Hides that are sent to a tannery are usually used by the hunter as decoration or to make hunting items, i.e. possibles bags, bullet bags, tobacco bags, lacing, vests, gloves, etc.
What rifle are you using? Also, what species of deer are you hunting? Red Deer? I can't immagine taking that number of whitetails over here in a year with predation permits. Question

Knifeboy · Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 4:05 pm Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

Wow 400 Deer a year.
You must really keep busy skinning and cleaning them suckers.
I would love to see the pictures.
Make an account so you arnt just a guest anymore, and then sit and stay a while. We would love to have someone with your expertise around.
Hope to see the photos soon.

Knifeboy

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

In the case of a professional hunter as yourself, I have no problem with headshots... for general hunters I only care in that those harvested animals are usually shown off and a headshot critter aint the purtiest one around. For the same reason I dont like people cutting out the throats of their deer, it looks pretty bad and unless the animal was alive when you got up to it, quite pointless.

I dont have the slightest doubt in my mind most of the deer I've killed over the years couldnt have been headshot. Nearly all of them were standing still and most quite calm not even knowing or caring I was there.

There is very very little meat lost from a side on vitals shot... its a bigger area and has relatively zero asthetic reduction so thats where I put the slugs. If I were a professional hunter though I would probably use headshots too as I think there would be alot of hunting in areas where hunting isnt allowed and the animals are quite tame allowing for close, accurate shots I'd guess.

grimel · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 160

DallanC wrote:

There is very very little meat lost from a side on vitals shot... .

Unless you are using a super magnum with light bullets at close range especially with something like a ballistic tip.

One more reason to use the old standards!

deermanager · Member Joined: Jun 17, 2005 Posts: 50

God damn if i hear any more about there aint much a man cant fix with 700 doolars and his thirty ought six i think i'll vomit all over myself onto my computer key board so please i beg you...................... how about abreviating it? enuf said.

By the way i do have a 30-06 as the heavy weight in my gun safe for use when i need to pack abit of punch so i know what you are talking about!

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

deermanager wrote:

God damn if i hear any more about there aint much a man cant fix with 700 doolars and his thirty ought six i think i'll vomit all over myself onto my computer key board so please i beg you...................... how about abreviating it? enuf said. !

Its just a tagline that I dont see anything offensive in it. People like custom taglines for individuality just as they do avatars, user names etc etc. As long as its not offensive I dont have any problems with it.

-DallanC

grimel · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 160

That is abreviated:

The entire poem:

"Grandpa's Lesson."

Pappy took to drinkin' back when I was barely three.
Ma got pretty quiet. She was frettin', you could see.
So I was sent to Grandpa and he raised me up real good.
He taught me what I oughta and he taught me what I should.

I learned a heap 'o lessons from the yarns he liked to tell.
There's one I won't forget because I learned it 'speshly well.
There jist ain't many folk who live a peaceful, carefree life.
Along with all the good times there'll be lotsa grief and strife.

But there ain't many troubles that a man caint fix
With seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six."

Grandpa courted Grandma near the town of old Cheyenne.
Her daddy was cantankerous - a very greedy man.
He wouldn't give permission for a fancy wedding day
'Til grandpa paid a dowry - biggest ever people say.

Her daddy softened up when Grandpa said that he could fix
Him up with seven hundred dollars and a thirty ought six.

Grandpa herded cattle down around Jalisco way.
Ended up behind some iron bars one dusty day.
Seems the local jefe craved my Grandpa's pinto mare.
Grandpa wouldn't sell her so he lit on out of there.

Didn't take much doin' 'cept a couple special tricks
Plus seven hundred dollars and his thirty ought six.

Then there was that Faro game near San Francisco Bay.
Grandpa's cards was smokin' hot and he took all one day.
He woke up nearly naked in a ditch next early morn'.
With nothin' but his flannel shirt, and it was ripped and torn.

Those others were professionals and they don't play for kicks.
He lost seven hundred dollars and his thirty ought six.

He begged some woolen trousers off the local storekeep there
Who loaned him both a pony and a rifle on a dare.
He caught those thievin' cardsharks at another Faro game.
He got back all his property and also his good name.

He left one bleedin' badly and another mostly lame.
My Grandpa's trusty rifle shoots just where you choose to aim.

Grandpa's slowin' down a bit and just the other night
He handed me his rifle and a box sealed up real tight.
He fixed me with them pale grey eyes and this is what he said,
"You're awful young but steady too and I will soon be dead.

I'll bet this here old rifle and this honest money too
Will come in mighty handy just as readily for you.
There jist ain't many folk who lead a carefree peaceful life.
Along with times of happiness, there's always woe and strife.

But.....ain't many troubles that a man caint fix
with seven hundred dollars and his thirty ought six."

Lindy Cooper Wisdom

popgun · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 3:26 pm Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

Maybe we should have inserted 303 Rolling Eyes

Blaine · Member Joined: Feb 24, 2005 Posts: 260 Location: Maine

deermanager wrote:

God damn if i hear any more about there aint much a man cant fix with 700 doolars and his thirty ought six i think i'll vomit all over myself onto my computer key board so please i beg you...................... how about abreviating it? enuf said.

By the way i do have a 30-06 as the heavy weight in my gun safe for use when i need to pack abit of punch so i know what you are talking about!

Personally I don't find tag lines nearly as offensive as your using our Lord's name in vane.

Blaine

delboy · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

Firstly, welcome to the fold Deermanager - whereabouts are you?
Secondly, Grimel, you certainly DID abbreviate that one!! At least I know where it comes from now, all I gotta figure is who 'Lindy Cooper' is! Have to look that name up. Nice poem though. As for Popgun, insert it WHERE mate? Be careful how you answer that one - could get yourself a bad name!! Smile

grimel · Member Joined: Jan 28, 2005 Posts: 160

delboy wrote:

Firstly, welcome to the fold Deermanager - whereabouts are you?
Secondly, Grimel, you certainly DID abbreviate that one!! At least I know where it comes from now, all I gotta figure is who 'Lindy Cooper' is! Have to look that name up. Nice poem though. As for Popgun, insert it WHERE mate? Be careful how you answer that one - could get yourself a bad name!! Smile

Lindy Cooper Wisdom, daughter of Col Jeff Cooper = accomplished huntress, shotist, and author.

popgun · Posted: Sun Jun 19, 2005 8:21 pm Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

Quote::

As for Popgun, insert it WHERE mate? Be careful how you answer that one - could get yourself a bad name!!

delboy · Posted: Mon Jun 20, 2005 12:08 am Post subject: Re: Head and Neck Shots

Chris! First it's impersonation of a turkey, now it's inserting foreign objects - What are you like mate? No wonder there are so many strange laws in the U.S. does the expression "with friends like you........." mean anything out there?? Smile

:)

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Huh, I thought I covered profanity in the website rules... but I was actually surprised I missed it. I dont mind minor words like a "hell" or "damn" ... I say too many of those when I hit my thumb with the hammer Confused

Anyway I'll add in a section addressing it soon.

-DallanC