Head or neck shot

[crazymofo]

In my rifle hunting days i used to use and love the neck shot on deer because it would drop them in there tracks. Has anyone ever successfully taken a deer with a head or neck shot with there bow? (on purpose or accident)  If so what happened and how long was the shot?

[bucklucky]

I have seen plenty of elk running around with arrows stuck in there neck and one calf that had one sticking straight out os its nose. This is my opinion but if you are shooting for the head or neck on deer and elk your not a very ethical hunter. That is a very low percentage shot.

[DeKuma]

  very 

[dreamingbig]

As Bucklucky said, DON'T take the shot intentionally.  It is a very low percentage shot and it will kill a few animals at times but not worth the risk.  A frontal shot in the chest is much more lethal but still not recommended.  Wait until they are broadside or quartering away.

If you hit the neck when a shot goes wrong then you are hoping you hit the jugular vein and/or wind pipe.  If you do so, it will put them down in a hurry but it is very difficult to hit intentionally.

[Intruder]

very 

+1

[saylean]

+2

If you cant hit vitals clearly, dont take the shot, IMHO.

[TeacherMan]

When I was a kid my dad's hunting partner always raved about head shots with a rifle, I use to think they where a great idea as a teen, until I was hunting with them in the Entiat one year and a nice little 3pt Mule Deer stepped out at about 75 yds away and he attempted to make a head shot. He ended up blowing the lower jaw off the animal and we pursued that animal on and off for two days never finding it. About 3 hours the first day. They are all a bad idea. Look at that nice bull that was killed in Oregon on the random photos, it lived several weeks because of a bad neck shot. Just don't do, be ethical. 

[DeKuma]

Look in the bear forum for the story on the bear hit in the head that lived.  Pretty amazing.

[jdb]

with a rifle I am a high shoulder shot kinda guy with a bow heart or lungs. I have killed 1 deer with a neck shot it was when I was younger and took a snap shot a at a deer on a dead run, hit him right in the neck and rolled him up. greatest shot Ive ever made but not very responsible and I wouldnt take such a shot now. JB

[wastickslinger]

I hate it when Uncle Ted shoots those fawns in the juggular. I wonder how many he wounds when doing this.

I will agree with the majority. Never take a head or neck shot with a bow.

[Bean Counter]

I took my first doe with a rifled slug out of my 12 ga.  It was a neck shot while she was facing me.  I didn't want to shoot at her torso and risk busting the gut.  She was less than 10 yards, and I had a good, solid rest for that shot.  I can hit the black on a target at 50 yards with my ShotG.  No way would I try those antics at 100 yards, be it with a shotty or my rifle. 

[DeKuma]

I admit to taking them on very close range animals with modern equipment, but never a bow.
I have shot a couple of deer with both rifle and handgun in the head/neck at lest than 20yds, and I put down a cow elk at 2 yards with two shots to the head with a .44 mag.  Those are the exceptions and never the rule.  If they are that close, a modern round will roll them if placed in the head around the ear just fine.

[catwithboost]

My spike last year I took it in the neck with a 7mm mag it went about 20yrds and dropped.

[Bean Counter]

I put down a cow elk at 2 yards with two shots to the head with a .44 mag. 

TWO YARDS? Wow!  You need a bayonet! Woulda saved $1.25 on the round 

[DeKuma]

I put down a cow elk at 2 yards with two shots to the head with a .44 mag. 

TWO YARDS? Wow!  You need a bayonet! Woulda saved $1.25 on the round 

You're telling me!  My step mom had shot it and broke it's back in the lower quarter.  It got up and stumbled over the hill.  I ran down the ridge and up the other side and found blood and started tracking.  I found it a short way over the hill and like an idiot, kicked it in the butt, instead of going to the head.  It did not move, and I thought her dead, so I turned my back on her and waved to my dad and step mom to signal I found her. Just then I heard her jump up and try to kick me with her front hooves.  As I stumble/fell backwards I fired on shot into the head/neck junction and when I landed on my back, I fired the second between the eyes.
Scared the living crap out of me and I have never approached a downed animal like that again!  Always approach the head on use a stick to poke the head or eye to make sure it is DOWN!!