BigGameHunt.net Hunting Forums

[147 Grain]

I've always had good success in aiming for the heart & lung area about 3" behind the shoulder, but a few buddies of mine are encouraging folks to anchor the deer immediately with a round directly through the shoulder.

What do you prefer and why?

-steve

P.S. Actually, I prefer to shoot my deer as close to the truck as possible! :P

[nal12001]

I have to admit that close to the truck is nice but i would settle for second best which in my opinion is the heart lung area. my reason for that is less wasted meat. (I'm a meat hunter). but if it goes down quik i dont really care.

[silent_scope]

I like to shoot all my deer in the neck just below the head. I don't get any of my deer mounted down to the shoulder i just have european mounts done. I have also found that you hardly waste any meat by shooting them in the neck and it takes them down quickly if you cut one of the arteries or hit the spinal chord.

[NONYA]

i like to putem down so i always go for the shoulder.I have seen heartshot deer run 100 yards,I would rather know exactly where they are.

[147 Grain]

So what weight or type of bullet do you folks use?

I'm thinking of using the factory 30-06 ammo I have in stock (see list below), but wanted your advice as there might be other choices out there.

Which of the following rounds would you suggest for deer?

* 180-gr. Winchester Ballistic Silvertip
* 165-gr. Federal / Speer Hot Core
* 150-gr. Federal Grand Slam
* 180-gr. Federal / Nosler Solid Base BT
* 180-gr. Federal Grand Slam
* 180-gr. Winchester / Nosler AccuBond

Thank-you in advance of your advice!

[NONYA]

In my 7mag I shoot 150 gr nosler partitions or accubonds for everything i hunt here in Montana,a 150 in your 30.06 is plenty of bullet for deer as long as it is a quality bonded bullet.

[expatriate]

Overall, I've found that the best place to shoot a deer is in SW Montana, followed by Idaho. :D

Alabama was nice, only because the limit was two deer per day for a 70 day season.

Not that NC doesn't have its advantages. My son got one on a firebreak this year and we didn't have to drag it an inch -- just backed the truck up to it. However, cutting up a 114 lb (undressed) spike just made me miss the Rockies more. The meat was awesome, but just not much of it.

As far as shot placement I generally go for the heart/lungs, but as Nonya says that's no guarantee. I destroyed the heart on a mulie with a .308 in Idaho once and it still ran 100 yards or so. But yet when my son took his whitetail with a .243 through the lungs it just dropped without a twitch. It seems like if the bullet gets there before they make the decision to run, you're OK. But if the decision's been made, they're gone.

I generally leave the shoulders alone -- I like the meat too much, and am willing to walk a bit to get it.

As far as bullet choice, 147 grain, I'd stick with 150s for deer. IMO if you use a 180 you're giving up trajectory and shock for extra bullet weight you don't need. With an '06 you'll be able to push it plenty fast enough to do the job.

[BowMtnSpirit]

As to where to hit them, I too like to save that meat if I can. I've taken them at the base of skull, heart and through the shoulders. I've never not recovered one I shot with the rifle, but I have helped track a couple that were never recovered which were hit in the lungs. Those mulies can sometimes take a lot.

I shoot both .30-06 and .300 Win Mag. Either the 150 g or 180 g rounds are fine. I tend toward the 180 g because I also hunt elk, where the extra weight is helpful, and that way I don't have to spend as much time tinkering with my groups. The main thing is to settle on one and stick with it, because consistency and accuracy are the most critical factors. Another important factor, particularly with the heavier round, is to get a quality hunting round, such as the Fail-Safe or Trophy Bonded. Good expansion may keep that 180g round from just zipping through without expending its energy where it needs to.

Good luck this year, all!

[Guest]

First off, I wish to say that I only shoot deer in the front shoulders if I am going after the trophy rack on it's head. Now other than that, I will always try to put the bullet just behind the front leg/shoulder about 2 inches back and 6 inches up from the brisket, taking out the heart & lungs etc.

Sometimes a hunter is not given that perfect broadside presentation and must "thread the needle" with that bullet by going behind the rear ribs and slipping the bullet on up through to the lungs/heart area. I have also taken the so called TEXAS HEART SHOT on a deer that was trying to make it over the ridge in a big hurry, thus I took the shot to anchor him quickly. This of course can ruin a lot of good meat for the freezer.

[BowMtnSpirit]

Ditto on that. Only time I actually did that, the buck already had a couple rounds in him (put there by my brother in law), and it did anchor him in a hurry. Otherwise, my preference is clearly the heart, every time. But that's not always what you're presented. In fact, last year, I knocked my scope off falling in a shale slide, and didn't realize it until I shot my buck the next day. First shot, aimed at the heart, took him high and behind the shoulder. He went down like he was pole-axed, and I was able to finish him off, after realizing my shots weren't going where I intended them. Ruined some meat, but kept a bunch, and didn't lose a wounded animal in the end, so it was all good.

The time I shot my deer through the shoulders, I'd already put two .30-06 rounds through him lengthwise (from the front), and he kept running right at me. When he turned, I stopped him. But I'm with you on that preference.

[NONYA]

you call it Texas heart shot,i call it "Holey **** he looks bigger going away and on the horizon,Im gonna try one!"

[147 Grain]

Thanks for the advice!

Found the following links that hopefully will be helpful to everyone:

Elk Anatomy Overview: http://www.bowhunting.net/NAspecies/elk2.html

In looking at an elk's circulatory system and bone structure, there appears to be two good spots to shoot for:




1. Heart and Lung area slightly behind the front leg / near the top of the shoulder.




2. Spine / Base of Neck Area. Following the forward portion of the front leg 1/2 to 2/3'rds up to where the neck meets the spine. There are a lot of major support bones in this area that when broken, should anchor the animal very quickly.

[RidgeRunner_07]

:evil: A truly self respecting trophy or meat hunter will take his time and wait for that perfect shot right into the vitals. I prefer to take a deer right in the heart lungs area due to the love for that venison; But I do gotta say it's to your benifit to shoot a deer right into the sholder to knock it down faster.


:D As far as bullet weights I would go with what ever suits you. IDK weather or not you handload or not but if so I would recomend the 150 grain Nosler partions, if not I would also recomend that you use Remington core-lokt bullets.

[NONYA]

All of our choices probably have alot to do with the way we were taught to hunt and the people that taught us.I always try to hit em square in the front shouder and that is the way my father hunts and taught me shoot.The vitals/lung shot is just as deadly but they COULD run a short distance before they drop,the shoulder shot will usually putem down on the spot but it COULD take longer for the animal to expire.Bolth are ethical choices and very effective.

[fuzzybear]

Lung/heart.
Pretty much a sure thing. There are exceptions.
Head shots are an absolute. I don't keep trophies or take pictures so, head shots aren't out of the question. The distance of the shot and the angle determine my aim point.
I like to keep the antlers in tact. I use them for a variety of projects.