I need a little help understanding why a hunter takes head shots on deer.
I have been reading more and more accounts of head shot kills. In fact on the "other" board there is a new member relaying accounts of numerous deer kills this year with most being head shots. Why select this shot.
Is the selection of a head shot an ego driven shot selection? It appears that a hunter relaying an account of a head shot is in someway, in his mind, proclaiming himself to be a great hunter when in fact in my mind it reduces his prowess as a hunter.
Most all have worked with the Savage, and other MZ's to achieve MOA accuracy or better, however this is from a bench in ideal conditions. Does this accuracy carry over to the field with less than ideal conditions, I think not.
I have way to much respect for the animal I hunt to ever take less than the highest percentage shot available. By highest percentage shot available I do not mean to limit the selection by only what is presented. I would never take a head shot only because that was all that presented itself. I would try and utilize hunting skills to obtain the shot I want rather than try and rely on shooting skills and settle for what is available, or I wouldn't shoot.
I am now 50 years old. I clearly remember the hunting ethics and respect for the animal I hunt that my father instilled in me as a young man growing up. I have passed these same personal ethics on to my son. In our mind, it is our obligation to make a clean one shot kill. If anything reduces that opportunity below an acceptable certainty you just pass the shot. You don't alter this standards for the last day of season, a big buck, or the it's only a doe attitude.
I can see no basis to take such a low percentage shot unless driven by ego, bravado, testosterone or peer pressure.
I'm sure there are some members on this board that views on this subject differ greatly from mine. That's what I want to understand. How can anyone justify such a low percentage shot, knowing the potential outcome of a slightly off target shot.
I apologize if this has been discussed here before, I couldn't find it if it had.
Kim
I have been reading more and more accounts of head shot kills. In fact on the "other" board there is a new member relaying accounts of numerous deer kills this year with most being head shots. Why select this shot.
Is the selection of a head shot an ego driven shot selection? It appears that a hunter relaying an account of a head shot is in someway, in his mind, proclaiming himself to be a great hunter when in fact in my mind it reduces his prowess as a hunter.
Most all have worked with the Savage, and other MZ's to achieve MOA accuracy or better, however this is from a bench in ideal conditions. Does this accuracy carry over to the field with less than ideal conditions, I think not.
I have way to much respect for the animal I hunt to ever take less than the highest percentage shot available. By highest percentage shot available I do not mean to limit the selection by only what is presented. I would never take a head shot only because that was all that presented itself. I would try and utilize hunting skills to obtain the shot I want rather than try and rely on shooting skills and settle for what is available, or I wouldn't shoot.
I am now 50 years old. I clearly remember the hunting ethics and respect for the animal I hunt that my father instilled in me as a young man growing up. I have passed these same personal ethics on to my son. In our mind, it is our obligation to make a clean one shot kill. If anything reduces that opportunity below an acceptable certainty you just pass the shot. You don't alter this standards for the last day of season, a big buck, or the it's only a doe attitude.
I can see no basis to take such a low percentage shot unless driven by ego, bravado, testosterone or peer pressure.
I'm sure there are some members on this board that views on this subject differ greatly from mine. That's what I want to understand. How can anyone justify such a low percentage shot, knowing the potential outcome of a slightly off target shot.
I apologize if this has been discussed here before, I couldn't find it if it had.
Kim