I am going deer hunting tomorrow for the first time and need some advice?
guitardan asked:
I’ve shot quail, rabbit, dove, duck, etc. but havn’t been deer hunting. My question is where exactly is a good location to shoot the deer? Or does it matter where on the torso you shoot it that much. Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.
Ivar
I’ve shot quail, rabbit, dove, duck, etc. but havn’t been deer hunting. My question is where exactly is a good location to shoot the deer? Or does it matter where on the torso you shoot it that much. Any advice would be appriciated. Thanks in advance.
Ivar
Tags: Deer Hunting, Rabbit, Torso
May 22nd, 2008 at 6:50 pm
a foot diagnal from the bottom of the neck
May 22nd, 2008 at 11:18 pm
all you need to do is send me some beef jerky(please) lol
May 24th, 2008 at 1:49 am
Just like the target suggests. Right in the center of the front shoulder.
May 26th, 2008 at 6:21 am
It all depends, If it is a doe then you can go for a head shot if you get the chance, this way their is no way to mess up the meat with a “GUT” shot, other than that you may want to look a the frame work of a deers insides, you really want to aim right past the front shoulder blades and below the back strap, this way you do not get the stink and mess of a gut shot, and if you do by accident get a gut shot make sure you keep the deer on ice for days or else the meat will have a funk come summer grilling time. hope this helps
May 29th, 2008 at 10:17 am
the best place would be the neck. (so you dont ruin meat) but if its your first time i would recomend shooting them right behind the shoulder. by shooting there you will have a perfect lung shot hit behind his shoulder and you will hit his ribs and wont have any ruined meat.
May 29th, 2008 at 6:54 pm
you want to aim for the area of the body on its torso a little ways back from the base of the neck. the best target is about the size of a normal pie tin. (a circle thats about foot or so in diameter) hit it there and you should be ok
May 30th, 2008 at 1:42 am
right behind the sholder is the easiest– and to answer the ? about what you do with it after it has been shot… eat it! duh!
June 1st, 2008 at 2:16 pm
just behind the front shoulder is the heart.
goal is to drop him quick so you don’t have to follow the trail of blood, as this makes the animal suffer and wastes your energy.
The mountainmen had a strategy for dealing with Grizzles, as they only had one shot. Wait until the bear is close enough and stick the barrel in his mouth; pull triger. This either blew out his spine or pierced the brain. If that didn’t work, they had the hatchet.
Better men than me!
June 3rd, 2008 at 2:47 am
I don’t know what type of rifle you’re using nor the ammo but the best place to hit a deer and kill it is to aim for the heart and lung area. No head or brain shots! If you’re shooting deer for its meat then aim for the ribs, just behind the front leg, so the bullets will enter the lung area. You need a quick kill for a large animal so yes, it matters greatly where you hit. You don’t want to wound an animal and have it run off only to suffer or be at the mercy of other animals that will kill it slowly.
Take a look at the diagram and information on the URL I listed below. I think it will help you a great deal.
June 5th, 2008 at 2:34 am
After my last trip we had 3 to clean one was hit in the neck. It had lots of neck meat that was ruined. Had one hit in the spine, lost lots of good back strap there. The third was hit in the side right behind the front leg. Not the shoulder good meat there also.
You get a good clean kill with a heart/lung shot 3-4 inches behind the front shoulder in the chest.
Of course if your really really good and don’t want to mount the head then you know where the best place is to hit him without messing up any meat with a good clean kill.*
June 7th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
I wonder about a lot of the answers you have received.
The neck is a terrible place to shoot a deer. The animals get away a LOT. Yea, you could get one and if you do there is no loss of meat but your odds are down.
The shoulder is not a great place either because if you hit the shoulder you will ruin the meat of the shoulder you hit, or of both shoulders if you hit them both.
The guy telling you behind the shoulder is correct. You have both lungs and the heart there and hitting any one kills the animal.
If you do get your deer, congrads. If you do not, do some research on it. The targets have the kill vitals on them and you should be a responsible hunter and KNOW where you need to shoot it to give it a rapid death.
As far as after you shoot it. Gut it immediatly and get it to your vehicle. Deer spoil rather rapidly if they stay hot so getting the guts out is a biggie. You will need a knife and an axe to split the pelvic bone and try to avoid contamination of the meat with the urin or bowels.
You should really be more responsible in your hunting than to be having to ask this the night prior to a trip but reardless, I do wish you luck and hope in the future you will be more prepared.
June 9th, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Best shot for a novice is right behind the point where the front leg bends. Draw right above the shoulder then drop right down and behind the bend in that front leg. You’re sure to get a vital organ. When I guided and had trophy come up to a nervous shooter I would sometimes tell him to go for the shoulders. They would get lungs and shoulders and the deer could not run away. You’re new, but you know a kill shot. Follow your friend’s or host’s advice.
Good Hunting!
June 10th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
Take your time and dont rush the shot first of all as many first timers will do, be patient and breathe as you will be nervous and shakey at first so get your wits about you and wait for the shot, about 3 inches behind the front shoulder is the best place to shoot a deer, you will either take out both lungs , the heart or both and if the deer doesnt drop in his tracks then he wont go far and should leave a good blood trail, after the shot sit back and relax for a minute to get your nerves and heart rate down and if the deer is laying within sight give him time to die because if you didnt make a good shot and wounded him then he will likely go lay down and die, but if you go right after him you will push him into running and may never find him, good luck to ya, but i spect if your going in the morning your in bed by now and wont even read this til after the fact so use this as advice for your next hunt.
Report back let us know how it went..
June 11th, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Try to get somewhere where the deer have trails. They always use the same trails. ALWAYS. Also i have a stand in front of a clearing pasture thing and i dropped two this morning. just make sure you get there before sunrise. (morning is the best time to go) don’t shoot in the torso. since you are a beginner, shoot it right behind the shoulder blade. that is an ideal shot. if you think you can do it hook him in the neck. that way it will drop right there instead of run 30 yards before it drops. if it is eating with his head down shoot him right behind the head where the neck is. it’s a messy shot but that will break it’s back and you won’t have to track it. don’t shoot it in the torso. Don’t go if there is a heavy wind. They don’t like having their scent spread so if it is above ten miles an hour they wont be moving. they like a 3-5 mph wind. they really love a light sprinkle. all the deer in the wood will be out frolicking in a light sprinkle. in a heavy rain though none will come out. going in the morning is the best time. try to be in your stand about half an hour before light. don’t fall asleep in there (i did this morning and almost missed a 9 pointer) don’t rely on your ears either. deer are very very quite when moving through the woods. basically, get in a stand in front of a clearing or trail. don’t go stalking your first time. you won’t get one. hope this helps.
June 13th, 2008 at 5:31 am
The heart & lung area just behind the front shoulder is the only acceptable area to place your lethal shot.* You have a 10″ to 12″ area in which to make the proper shot placement.* It is not wise to place it anywhere else.*
June 15th, 2008 at 12:24 am
Shoot them on theyre front shoulder.
Be very quiet, when your out there.
June 15th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
behind the front shoulder—NEVER go for a head shot on anything-this is bad advice –always heart and lungs