Never been a fan of neck or headshots nor will I ever be. Tracked to many hit or clean missed ones for to many hours in my life. Head is always moving or fixun to move. Neck is a large muscles area with bone that is not very big in comparison still attached to that always moving head. Shoot them thru the heart or lungs when they are completely broadside and you will only ruin a couple of ribs. They will bleed out really well if you are meat hunting. If I shooting to drop them dead right there I shoot high point of the shoulder. But this just my opinion on it.

The percentage of meat "ruined" on a well placed vitals shot is negligible, and I am glad that so far you have been fortunate enough to not be off 1.5 inches, or had a last second movement spoil your shot, but if you take enough, it will happen. But I'm fine with agreeing to disagree. My number is on the post about tracking dogs...

never had to track one of my own deer... but have helped buddies...

dan, i didnt realize 40yrds was a long way for a deer to run... ur buddy needed help finding it???

I try not to think of it and haven't looked at this pic in 6 months, but I shot this one last year with my bow at 25yrds, found 6 puddles of blood and a 150yrd trail of blood......two days later and never found him it was at night and I wish I could go back and would have waited until morning.

Make sure you sight your gun in at the distances you expect to see the animals at. If hunting short and long distances, check both. Take your time,make 1 shot 1 kill. Then make every effort to find the animal. They gave their honor to you for the shot, give them the honor of not being wasted!