Muley Hunter

I never saw a need to shoot edible meat when I can be patient and get the lung shot I want.

Sluggunhunter

All my shots have been towards the vitals, I would not be afraid to take a shot with the deer facing at me, even away if it's close enough. I use a slug gun though, a 64 caliber hole isn't something to mess with

johnnyo

Poke a hole through the vitals and go find em!

Breechplug

I always aim for the Lungs, I Hunt Only with a MLer through our Rifle Season and Late ML Season. I know I Only have 1 Shot and take the Best Shot I have, 99% of all My Deer have been Double lung Shot, the Rest have been in the Heart.
I have never shot a Deer in the Neck, it's too risky, if you dont hit in the right spot your just going to wound the Animal, a Quartering Twords You Shot, Never...you'll only usually get 1 Lung and Lose the Deer. A Straight on Chest Shot is Iffy Too, I've Tracked a few that have been shot in the Chest and found only about half of them. Come to think of it I've also never even taken a Quartering Away Shot, even with My Bow, and this is a Good Shot to take.
Now I have never done this on a Buck but I have taken a few Head shots on Big Does...we Hunt areas that have Deep Thick Ravines, and if it's getting to be 4:30ish and I have a Big Doe come in I have taken a Head Shot to Drop Her where She stands to avoid a Long Night Looking for the Deer that ran over and down the Ravine into the Thickest Stuff you ever saw, then the Drag back out would make the Best Man turn into a Sweaty Tired Cold Hurting Hunter. So in Rare cases I have taken a Head Shot, and with that you either Hit or Miss, I have'nt Missed Yet but in the event of a Neck or Head Shot I'd take the Head, and again on a Doe Only
(BP)

bronko22000

I shot a lot of deer in the neck and every single one of them dropped where they stood. Of course this was with a .243 and at ranges <50 yds. But now that I am older and wiser, I only shoot for the vitals. With a centerfire .270 and up, I don't care about angle. There is enough energy to drop a whitetail where it stands if bullet placement is correct. However, with the ML, I wait for a broadside or qtr away shot and slip the projectile of choice behind the shoulder. They usually don't go far with that placement. With the ML I try to avoid hitting the shoulder.

Boonechaser

I would never take a head shot as stated earlier but, to address the either you hit or miss. I am here to tell you, I used to have a hunting partner that did this one year ( actually the last year we ever hunted together) he took a head shot on a doe and took the whole lower jaw off. We were close to each other and she came by me about a minute after he shot with her jaw almost completely off, I was able to put her down. You just never know so, why take chances, there is always tomorrow.

As far as the slughunter that takes head on and would shoot at one headed away. Well there are no words for you, that wouldn't get me banned!!

WV Hunter

Vitals for me. High percentage shots are the only shots I will take.

My son passed a NICE buck last week on our annual opening week trip, because it was facing directly at us. I told him I was proud of him. He ended up shooting a doe a few days later. He didn't get a buck at all....but was happy with his decision to pass the iffy shot.

Breechplug

The few Head Shots on Doe I have taken were Close, 20-30 yds, I'd never shoot at one further, I'd pass. there's ececptions and Im 100% Confident Im going to Hit where Im Aiming at 20-30 Yds. The shot was Your Buddies Fault if it was a Bad One. Also I have seen Lung Shot and Heart Shot Deer travel 200yds+ after the Shot and leave No Blood, anything can Happen on any shot, even when placed in the Vitals. I have found Deer that left No Trace of a Hit even after a Track Job that were hit with Well Placed Shots, the Hunter just assumed He Missed, he looked for Blood, None, Hair None, looked for a 100yds in the Direction the Deer ran and Nothing.....then the Deer was later found so you just never know.
Simple as this, You know when and when you should not take any shot, if it's a bad one it's Your Fault. I have also seen mabey a Dozen Deer that were shot in the Hind Quarters, they were All Recovered and did'nt go far, would I take that shot, NO, but there's actually More Major Veins and Arterys in the Hind Quarters than anywhere else on a Deer. Is this a Ethical Shot?? It's a Fact that More Deer that have been shot in the Hind Quarters have been Recovered than one's shot in the Lungs, look it up. The Femoral Artery is one Major Artery.
(BP)

Breechplug

What about the Guy's that were Aiming for the Lungs and Hit the Shoulder and Lost the Deer, or were Aiming for the Heart and Hit the Leg, or just missed there Aim and got the Stomache. Anything can happen on any shot and there's too many outcomes that ar'nt good. Im sure Every Hunter was Aiming for the Vitals when they Shot, if it was a Bad Shot it was just that a Bad Shot, You can Aim where ever you want that you think will take out the Animal, but if your off there's nobody to Balme but you and it was'nt because you were aiming for the Heart, Lungs, or Neck that caused the Misfortune, it was your bad Shot.
(BP)

Boonechaser

Guess I have been fortunate enough to never have a BAD SHOT. But it is common sense that aiming at a 10" vital area is a lot better than aiming at a head or neck for that matter. But your right what ever makes you feel good, go for it.