Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Neck Shots

Simple question- if you have a clear shot would you take a neck shot? Several years ago I made a shot on a nice buck. The bullet must have hit a twig b/c a shoulder shot ended up being a neck shot and the deer dropped like a stone. Best buck I’ve ever killed. My rifles shoot very well but I haven’t had the cajones to try one deliberately but I keep thinking about how clean that kill was. Do any of y’all take a neck shot if it’s a clear shot?

Only if it is within about 50 yards, in the open, standing still and not alarmed or as a finisher. It does make for a very tidy carcass with little loss of worthwhile meat.

I hang by the head, so neck shots make things problematic if I'm not hauling it out in a pack.

I'm not a very good shot, so no. 🤷‍♂️🤣

I hit one in the neck and it dropped like a ton of bricks, but it wasn't where I was aiming.

It’s my favorite shot on unalarmed, feeding deer.

Shot somewhere around 10-15 bucks with neck shots, most 100 yds or less. All dropped in their tracks, except 1.
Did shoot one buck at 405 yds in the neck, dropped at the shot. (Wasnt aiming at the neck though!) lol

I have shot 2 in the neck. One as a finisher one as the first shot.

We hunt in pretty brushy areas. So the safe play in the vitals on the chest. No question they work great if you can get a good shot. My dad used to shoot the neck specifically. I don't remember having to trail one he shot.

If that's what I'm presented, heck yes. And I do so knowing it's a guarantee that my taxidermist will have a few choice words for me.

I've shot 3 or 4 in the neck and always had to finish them. I've shot them in the head and that was it. DRT!

Without hesitation....never had one take a step afterward.
I shot one a couple of weeks ago at about 100yds in the neck, he folded like a cheap wallet.

DaveinWV,
As an old friend said to me, “I just shoot ‘em in the ear hole.”

If there with in 40yrds and still ill shoot for the neck, drops them.

I accidentally hit one in the neck that dropped like a sack of chit. The entrance would was really weird and a branch in front of him was broken off so I assume I hit it first, the bullet tumbled and hit the neck.

Other than that, I have purposefully aimed for the neck twice that I can think of because it was the only shot I had. It worked fine once on a whitetail buck and once on a caribou it turned into a total rodeo. I won't take another neck shot on an unwounded animal.

My friend’s dad used to do that. I never knew him to miss or wound one doing so.7x57.

Open shot, deer standing or laying still…yep I’m in for a “necker”. Especially if the deer is calm, I am calm, and I have a rest. Probably have used it about 20 times, none took a step. My biggest buck I ever got was a neck shot with my S&W 500 revolver. The neck was all I could see between 2 trees. He flattened like a Kenworth dropped on him. 😎

Dad's favorite shot.


I take it if close, and I'm solid. I'm not usually solid.

Don't like head or neck shots, small targets, smaller vitals within them,
horrible results when they don't quite work.

Have taken, and will take them if I need to and feel decent about it.


Last head shot, thought I hit a limb.
Saw "dust" fly. Checked, and found her. Whole brain cavity blown out, just a U through
the top of the head, side to side.
Lotta talk, folks will say they did it,
I actually blew her brains out of her head.

Sort of on 99% of my deer in the last 15 years or so.

Point of shoulder/neck junction.

Larger target and just as instant death.

I shot a muley in the ear hole @ 30 yds. with a .338 Magnum 275gr. bullet, with an instant lobotomy he went nowhere. On the farside was a hole big enough to put your fist in, the skull was completely devoid of any brain matter.

Devastating if you don't miss. I get a lot of sheeit for preferring the neck shot. But I don't really, sometimes, it's all you got.

X2! DRT!