Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go?

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Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: vanguard] #2556920 09/04/11 02:34 AM
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 32,601 Hickory Creek, Fannin Co. Texa... sig226fan (Rguns.com) duck & cover
sig226fan (Rguns.com) duck & cover Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 32,601 Hickory Creek, Fannin Co. Texa...	Hope I can get a better shot.... My question to follow up, if a head shot is unethical, how is a neck shot ethical? There's lots more kill area in a head shot than a neck shot.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: Gravytrain] #2556924 09/04/11 02:36 AM
Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 32,601 Hickory Creek, Fannin Co. Texa... sig226fan (Rguns.com) duck & cover
sig226fan (Rguns.com) duck & cover Joined: Nov 2005 Posts: 32,601 Hickory Creek, Fannin Co. Texa...	Originally Posted By: Gravytrain I agree with just about everyone, thanks for your answers. I have one more question: with a well constructed .308 bullet, would a shot just below the tail (into his exit if you will) pass all the way through to vitals at under 150y? Bullet's I'm considering are: 165gr Nosler Green Tip have 150gr Speer Soft Point Boat Tail have 165gr Barnes TSX Boat Tail would have to buy 155gr Berger Hunting VLD would have to buy Don't rule out the factory load FEP308C from Federal, a Federal Premium with a 165 gr Sierra Game King boat tailed soft point.... a very accurate and very effective whitetail round. And after the client clipped an Axis high, the texas heart shot was perfect as a day ender....

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: vanguard] #2565889 09/07/11 10:50 PM
Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 273 Denton , Texas B BIGTEN 155 7/8 Bird Dog
BIGTEN 155 7/8 Bird Dog B Joined: Sep 2011 Posts: 273 Denton , Texas	I would agree with just about everything that has been shared so far , if its a doe fire away , if its a spike fire away , if its a hog definitely fire away , but taking the risk of injuring a trophy buck that could very well be the only chance of a lifetime is not worth an unethical attempt.However as stated the choice is yours I love the Great State of Texas and the opportunities to enjoy the outdoors, "All things are possible through Him that strengthens me!"

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: BIGTEN 155 7/8] #2565948 09/07/11 11:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,484 Right behind you B BowSlayer Veteran Tracker
BowSlayer Veteran Tracker B Joined: Feb 2010 Posts: 2,484 Right behind you	Originally Posted By: pigkiller1 I would agree with just about everything that has been shared so far , if its a doe fire away , if its a spike fire away , if its a hog definitely fire away , but taking the risk of injuring a trophy buck that could very well be the only chance of a lifetime is not worth an unethical attempt.However as stated the choice is yours I disagree with that. Last season I was hunting with my 11 year old son and a doe came to the feeder. I could instantly tell that she did not look right. She kept sticking her nose to the corn on the ground but could not pick any up. I told my son that he needed to use his last tag to take out that doe because something was wrong with her. So, he did. Turns out that deers bottom jaw had been shot off. That was enough to convince me to never shoot at the head whether it's a doe or a trophy buck. If you would have seen that doe trying to eat I'm sure you would agree.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: BIGTEN 155 7/8] #2566049 09/08/11 12:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 866 Kerrville R redseal Tracker
redseal Tracker R Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 866 Kerrville	Originally Posted By: pigkiller1 I would agree with just about everything that has been shared so far , if its a doe fire away , if its a spike fire away , if its a hog definitely fire away , but taking the risk of injuring a trophy buck that could very well be the only chance of a lifetime is not worth an unethical attempt.However as stated the choice is yours I don't understand how it's unethical to shoot a trophy buck in the head but not a doe or spike to me if i only saw that buck that one time i'd probably put it right between the eyes

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: BowSlayer] #2568035 09/08/11 09:07 PM
Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,410 Fate, TX M Mud Shark Pro Tracker
Mud Shark Pro Tracker M Joined: Aug 2009 Posts: 1,410 Fate, TX	Originally Posted By: BowSlayer Originally Posted By: pigkiller1 I would agree with just about everything that has been shared so far , if its a doe fire away , if its a spike fire away , if its a hog definitely fire away , but taking the risk of injuring a trophy buck that could very well be the only chance of a lifetime is not worth an unethical attempt.However as stated the choice is yours I disagree with that. Last season I was hunting with my 11 year old son and a doe came to the feeder. I could instantly tell that she did not look right. She kept sticking her nose to the corn on the ground but could not pick any up. I told my son that he needed to use his last tag to take out that doe because something was wrong with her. So, he did. Turns out that deers bottom jaw had been shot off. That was enough to convince me to never shoot at the head whether it's a doe or a trophy buck. If you would have seen that doe trying to eat I'm sure you would agree. Absolutely. That's my biggest argument with this whole topic, trophy or not. It's about respecting the animals we hunt enough to take ethical shots. Someone said it earlier in the post, but the deer's head moves so much and so quickly, you just never know. Sure, if you shoot them perfect in the head, they'll die, but you've got no room for error, none. Certainly to each his own, but if you've ever seen a deer without a bottom jaw because some drunk jackass hillbilly can't shoot or thought it'd be cool to do it, you'd feel the same way, I promise. Mud Shark

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: vanguard] #2568079 09/08/11 09:27 PM
Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 268 U urbnat Bird Dog
urbnat Bird Dog U Joined: Nov 2010 Posts: 268	Wouldn't take the head shot for sake of, as mentioned, blowing off a jaw or destroying an antler. Wouldn't take the rear shot because, reaching the vitals or not, you will more than likely explode the guts and have one heck of a nasty mess on your hands. Not to mention, destroy the hams or to high and bye-bye tenderloin. On a tropy, broadside or quartering behind the shoulder is your best bet. On a meat deer, the head or neck or behind the shoulder. Please respect the deer you hunt.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: urbnat] #2568863 09/09/11 02:32 AM
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,782 Burleson/Lipan, Texas L Lazy L Pro Tracker
Lazy L Pro Tracker L Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 1,782 Burleson/Lipan, Texas	Head shots are not my thing, but do have friends that have taken them and they do get the job done. Ahh the Texas heart shot, effective? Yes! Messy? Oh Yes! "Hey running' buddy what'll say to a twelve pack"

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: don k] #2568868 09/09/11 02:35 AM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 877 San Antonio area F fishhound Tracker
fishhound Tracker F Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 877 San Antonio area	Wide range of replies and probably all correct in different scenarios. Alot depends on how confident you are at taking a head shot at 75 yds. I wouldn't think twice if he was a true trophy and standing still and I had a good rest. Free handed....Different story. Last edited by fishhound; 09/09/11 02:35 AM.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: fishhound] #2568873 09/09/11 02:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 11,739 Saginaw, Tx P passthru THF Celebrity
passthru THF Celebrity P Joined: Dec 2006 Posts: 11,739 Saginaw, Tx	I would never try to hit a deer in the head with my bow. I work hard, drink a little and hunt when I can. NRA Life Member https://sofalasafaris.com/

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: Texas Dan] #2568881 09/09/11 02:41 AM
Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 10,496 Western Parker County H Halfadozen THF Celebrity
Halfadozen THF Celebrity H Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 10,496 Western Parker County	Originally Posted By: Texas Dan Originally Posted By: Mud Shark I think it's unethical to take head shots at deer, but that's a whole different story. But I'd take my chances at a neck shot if I think I could get a clean kill. To me, it's about respecting the animal, nature, and ethics and morals of hunting more than taking the "trohpy". I sure do get excited when I've killed my big bucks, but that's not why I hunt. It's all of the other things that you're able to experience during the process. If that makes sense. That's my opinion as well. And mine as well. Like turkey beards, I only keep the antlers of any buck that I take for the memory of having done so. Freedom is a fragile thing ...Those who have known freedom, and then lost it, have never known it again. -- Ronald Reagan

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: vanguard] #2575393 09/12/11 03:08 AM
Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,095 Plano, Tx M Mountain hunter Pro Tracker
Mountain hunter Pro Tracker M Joined: Oct 2009 Posts: 1,095 Plano, Tx	Seen at least two animals with jaws that were jacked up from a poor shot and the animals ended up starving to death.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: don k] #2575612 09/12/11 04:26 AM
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 723 mesquite tx B bigbuck1 Tracker
bigbuck1 Tracker B Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 723 mesquite tx	If I want to take the deer then I take the shot. Who decides it's not ethical???? I would never try to tell someone to pass up a big buck because some one thinks it's unethical.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: urbnat] #2575656 09/12/11 05:02 AM
Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 19,498 Dollas,Taxes Bluff Dale Tx E Erathkid THF Celebrity
Erathkid THF Celebrity E Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 19,498 Dollas,Taxes Bluff Dale Tx	Originally Posted By: urbnat Wouldn't take the head shot for sake of, as mentioned, blowing off a jaw or destroying an antler. Wouldn't take the rear shot because, reaching the vitals or not, you will more than likely explode the guts and have one heck of a nasty mess on your hands. Not to mention, destroy the hams or to high and bye-bye tenderloin. On a tropy, broadside or quartering behind the shoulder is your best bet. On a meat deer, the head or neck or behind the shoulder. Please respect the deer you hunt. urbnat,I like your answer. Life is too short, as is. Don't chance it. Don't text and drive.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: urbnat] #2578370 09/13/11 03:56 AM
Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 373 Portales, NM S Scooterb Bird Dog
Scooterb Bird Dog S Joined: Jul 2009 Posts: 373 Portales, NM	Originally Posted By: urbnat Please respect the deer you hunt. x1000 "I have too many guns," said no one, ever.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: don k] #2578437 09/13/11 04:56 AM
Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 102 Spearman tx 2 22_mag Woodsman
22_mag Woodsman 2 Joined: Sep 2007 Posts: 102 Spearman tx	I have hunted for along time and took many different shots. I thought a neck shot was the best way for yrs because they where lying where you shot them. I was shooting a 7mag and shot a nice deer in the neck,Im disabled drove up to the deer got off my atv and pick him up and looked at his horns went and got my 2 nephews to help me and when we got back no deer just a little blood .never seen that before or again Eddie Whitefield

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: bigbuck1] #2578496 09/13/11 07:43 AM
Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 11,681 Houston, TX D DSST_Construction THF Celebrity
DSST_Construction THF Celebrity D Joined: Nov 2007 Posts: 11,681 Houston, TX	Originally Posted By: bigbuck1 If I want to take the deer then I take the shot. Who decides it's not ethical???? I would never try to tell someone to pass up a big buck because some one thinks it's unethical. good point, i know people that try to shoulder shoot deer and end up blowing a leg off or gut shooting the deer and never finding it. Its all up to the hunter, if he feels like he can make the shoot all the power to him. i would feel confident with shooting a deer in the head because ive done it without a problem befor, but if its a true trophy i would wait him out see if he would show me his neck so i could drop him. We work anything an everything masonry,we have been in this trade for over 40+ years of experience. We fix/repair/build anything masonry DSST Construction Services Deputy (713) 826-4451 Office (713) 417-7167 Email k5blaser88@yahoo.com

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: DSST_Construction] #2580131 09/13/11 09:36 PM
Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 924 San Antonio J Jordanp252 Tracker
Jordanp252 Tracker J Joined: Oct 2008 Posts: 924 San Antonio	I have always thought head shots were a faster kill shot, I won't shoot a wall hanger in the head though. I came up hunting in NC, a lot different than here in TX. I look at it as if you hit it in the head you most likely kill it asap. If you miss the head in most cases you will miss the deer. If you miss the lungs/heart in most cases you hit a leg or guts and it will run off and never be found.. Just my opinion... BTW I have learned no head shots on deer with a bow.. Last edited by Jordanp252; 09/13/11 09:41 PM.

Re: Would you take a close distance shot that ruins the trophy, or let him go? [Re: Jordanp252] #2580202 09/13/11 09:59 PM
Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 35,891 Mansfield, Texas txshntr T-Rex Arms
txshntr T-Rex Arms Joined: Sep 2010 Posts: 35,891 Mansfield, Texas	Like many others, I don't like head shots. Seen too many deer with nothing left to hold their tongues in. Like many other methods of hunting, there are people that are highly capable of executing the shot but when it goes wrong, it goes way wrong. Never had an issue shooting one in the neck. I have killed many deer with a neck shot and never lost one. Texas Heart Shot...no way!!! As far as being unethical, I guess it would depend who is behind the gun.

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