Danger of Head Shots

roedeerred

Well-Known Member
When out this morning I pulled a shot and although the buck went down like a stone as I approached it lifted its head so I shot at 40 yds freehand at is head the pictures below shows why I do not like head shots. Imagine although the shot was only 3inches low if it had been the first shot.P1040016.jpgP1040015.jpg
first shot pulled forward second shot 3inches low.

Yes I need something to lift carcass off bottom of tray.
 
No critisism intended here - freehand even at 40yds is not the easiest thing especially under pressure. My impression is that many stalkers do not practice shooting freehand, despite the fact that at some point it might be necessary to shot unsupported.

I think that one of the problem with shots intended to damage the cervical spine or the brain is the terminology used to described them. There's a lot more head and neck than there is brain and spine, and the misleadingly-large head and neck can lead to imprecision of aim.
 
As said above no criticism intended, but what made you think you could head shoot freehand at 40yds, do you do this often, unless the deer actually stood up why would you bother with the second shoot anyway. As to the tray, don,t worry.
 
Point taken, but my bigger concern would be to check my zero......I know from personal experience that when I've had the need for a second shot due to the first not quite going on the intended mark, whilst I accept my own fallibility, my assumption would also be that something wasn't quite right with my rifle for whatever reason, so to chance the second shot on a head shot where the margin for error is so much greater, would not be my choice, even if the body was obscured by grass, I think I would go for engine room shot personally, but agree with the point you are making, and precisely the reason I only head shoot at close ranges and when the animal is facing away from me, high= miss, low=neck, bob on=dead deer, and off to either side and they run off into the sunset unscathed..
 
Three things are apparent from this, neither in a critical way.
One, why try to shoot freehand even at this shortish range. Its all very well doing it at a paper target during competition or test but not sensible on live animals, they can move just enough to make a mess of the shot.
Two, at 40 yds the bullet should just about be going up through zero, (line of sight for the purists and posers). Now were you aiming for the zero or estimating where the bullet path would be?
Is there something wrong with your rifle, zero or you that misplaced the shot.
The moral of this is 'make your shot count by removing as many variables that you can before shooting'.
 
Above points taken I may be getting old done it many time before only been stalking for about 45years:old:
still do not like head shots even supported.
I put this up to make a point.
 
I'm confused! :oops: Was the first shot the shoulder shot? And it was after that shot the buck lifted its head? So you then shot it freehand at 40yds in the head (or jaw by looks of photo) which killed it?

I'd say the title of the thread would be better as "The danger of body shots" if that was the one that failed to kill the animal and the head shot was successful!
 
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Thanks for making the point roedeer it just shows what can happen. It is the easiest thing in the world to pull down any ones shooting abillity no one is perfect except me, lets hope people take your point for how it was meant,
 
Thanks for posting. Head shots though have their place, and certainly for meat culling produce the best carcass, But if you are going to be taking head shots use a rapidly expanding bullet so you cause massive trauma to the head even if you are slightly off. I used to cull hinds with a 25-06 with ballistic tip bullets - a bullet between the eyesand top of the head would come off - not very pretty, but no chance of walking away. All the venison was being butchered and was a requirement of the estate that all were head shot if possible. We were also shooting on open ground so time for a 2nd shot if needs be.

But and its a very big but, such bullets would not work well on the normal behind the shoulder shot, and if slightly off probably wouldn't penetrate the shoulder. Also Red Hinds are substantially bigger than even the largest Roe Buck.

Now I stick with a normal soft point and put it behind the shoulder.
 
Now I stick with a normal soft point and put it behind the shoulder.[/QUOTE]

good point and I'll lay bets you are very experienced and had a good rest a reds head has virtually the same kill area as a roe H&L.
 
a reds head has virtually the same kill area as a roe H&L.

not quite.
main lobes of the brain can be less than 10cm going up to 15cm


one thing about the head/neck shot on your roe
no-one asked about the position of the head when you shot it.

the bullet could have passed straight through the upper spine if the deer was looking at you.
 
Now I stick with a normal soft point and put it behind the shoulder.

good point and I'll lay bets you are very experienced and had a good rest a reds head has virtually the same kill area as a roe H&L.[/QUOTE]

No I was young and stupid in those days. But we were culling as two of us so with back up, so if a poor shot there was immediate follow up. The stalkers I was with were very good shots with very accurate rifles, and I was also shooting much more than I am now. And it didn't always work - a deer turning its head just as you squeeze the trigger and you take its jaw off - not nice, but back up immediately drops it so suffering minimised. Nowadays I like a big target, close up with plenty of room for error as deer, especially Roe always seem to move just as trigger reaches that point of no return.
 
bewsher 500
10cm to 15cm is this not considered kill area according to DSC L1 think when I took mine it was all shots in 4inch circle.
point of putting the post up in the first place was to show graphicly how little room for error with any head shot there is possible consequences thankfully it was only moments before the buck had blead out from chest shot
 
bewsher 500
10cm to 15cm is this not considered kill area according to DSC L1 think when I took mine it was all shots in 4inch circle.
point of putting the post up in the first place was to show graphicly how little room for error with any head shot there is possible consequences thankfully it was only moments before the buck had blead out from chest shot

Wot a load of rubbish

you fecked up a head shot and then put a recovery shot in,
deer on the deck ...dealt with and gathered
endex

just like chest shooting
the bigger the target
the bigger room for error
simple as
pull any of these shots can result in a runner or even lost beast
you had neither but still slate head shooting
Sorry... Just can't see what you are moaning about..
 
bewsher 500
10cm to 15cm is this not considered kill area according to DSC L1 think when I took mine it was all shots in 4inch circle.
point of putting the post up in the first place was to show graphicly how little room for error with any head shot there is possible consequences thankfully it was only moments before the buck had blead out from chest shot


I get your point and it may well be the DSC1 "Kill zone" but as you know any chest shot can often incorporate upper chest/spine, rear chest/liver, lower chest heart and still be deadly. yours was unlucky.
you dont say what kind of bullet.calibre/cartridge combo

I shot a doe at the end of the season and underestimated the distance and as such over estimated the hold.
bullet struck the upper chest passing just under the spine.
dropped in its tracks obviously and died instantly.
gralloch showed obvious spine damage but an equal amount of upper lung damage. pole axed and blood loss in that order

in practice a decent expanding round in pretty much any area inside the chest marked red will kill or incapacitate quickly. (CAVEAT: assuming the bullet passes either directly perpendicular to the axis of the target or is directed further into the CENTRE of the chest cavity. they are not 2 dimensional)

compared to the brain shot on a roe its a ....."no brainer".......sorry


 
bewsher 500
10cm to 15cm is this not considered kill area according to DSC L1 think when I took mine it was all shots in 4inch circle.
point of putting the post up in the first place was to show graphicly how little room for error with any head shot there is possible consequences thankfully it was only moments before the buck had blead out from chest shot
What has the dsc level 1 got to do with anything???
 
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