Opinions on head shots with gun.

Last weekend me and my buddies did a few drives and one if my friends popped a button buck in the head. The deer stumbled around, ended getting stabbed then shot again before it was dead. I told my buddy I thought it was unethical. He told me it's the most ethical shot. I'm wondering everyone's opinion. This has probably been on here before but I've never seen it.


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Your buddy is an idiot.

 

I have shot a wounded deer in the head when it was the only shot presented, successful it works if it gets sloppy you look like a d-bag.

 

Friend of mine dad all he does is either head shots or neck shots. But all shots are under 30 yards He dont like to waist any meat. All deer drop on the spot with out any movement. I believe them two shots are more ethical then a shoulder shots.

 

I think head/neck shots should be avoided.

 

Ever seen a deer running with its lower jaw flopping. That can be the result of a head shot being off a couple inches and its a slow painful death.

 

I shoot the same place on a deer no matter if it is a bow or gun.

 

Not my thing, I don't like seeing people take them, but I'm certainly not going to tell them they shouldn't. I've seen deer with head shots gone wrong and a rib shot doesn't ruin any meat either.

 

Excatly. Don't shoot the deer in the meat areas and there isn't any loss of meat.

 

This. Ironically it seems most people that take these "high" percentage shots are the ones who end up with results like your buddy.

Not for me.

 

I had a doe walking away at 80 yards, she turned to look back at me and I shot her right at the base of the skull. Now all of this was done with a Remington 700 Varmint 308 with a bauch and lomb 6X24 with 168 gr nosler BTs. I felt it was not unethical whatsover.

 

Yeah, I think it's a horrible shot to take.

 

I won't do it with any weapon.

 

I don't like head shots or deer drives for that matter.

 

Never do I ever plan on taking a head shot ever ever ever. Way to much can go wrong there and you wind up with a wounded suffering animal. Putting the bullet behind the shoulder is always more ethical IMO. Can things go wrong aiming behind the shoulder? Yeah, but being off a few inches behind the shoulder seems a lot better than aiming for a head shot and only blowing the deers jaw off

I won't even comment on the shooting a button buck piece of the story....

If he were my buddy he wouldn't be hunting with me anymore that's for certain.

 

I've killed a lot of deer in the past 25 years with a rifle. Not once have I even thought about taking a head shot. Way too much can go wrong. Much easier to tuck a bullet right behind the shoulder and have better results.

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The only head shot I would and have ever taken is from nearly point blank to put down a suffering animal. If put in just the right spot, brain death is instant, according to my veterinarian.

 

Not a very good supporting testimonial against the stereotypical deer driver... Hopefully it wasn't a running shot in front of dogs, about the only way it could get worse. (was it albino )

 

Part of the ethics involved is 'what could go wrong', and it's a fine line between instant death (brain) and slow painful death (nose, throat, etc...). Shoulder is much more ethical - perfect shot is 10 sec death, 4" off in any direction is still a relatively quick kill and a recovered deer. I cannot believe this is even debated.
The 'no wasted meat' argument is a poor excuse, IMNSHO - you risk wasting the whole deer with a low percentage shot. The meat you lose is not that much and the lowest quality (sinew) on the whole deer.

 

never would do it EVER rather the deer walk!! then not have a shot