headshot vs vitals

I always shoot vitals. Years ago- decades, actually- I took a 200 yard shot on a standing coyote and decided to be a hot-shot and shoot him in the head so as not to hurt the pelt. Shot his jaw off. The ensuing chase ended with a shot to the body of the running dog which resulted in a big hole that I had to sew up. Had I just shot him in the heart in the first place, I would have a) dropped him right there, b) probably not even gotten an exit hole, c) been better off all the way around. Besides all that, it's a mess skinning head-shot animals, IMHO.
 
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It’s hard enough just getting a round into the boiler room. Why would you willingly make your job twice as hard and aim at the head. The odds of a horribly wounded animal escaping are much greater when aiming for a tiny brain. No doubt there’ll be somebody come on here and tell you that they’ve shot twenty Deer in the head with a 22 rimfire (and they probably did) and not one of them got away. Personally I consider this a stunt and less than ethical for the average shooter.
Bottom line, the average Joe is always better off taking the high percentage shot and leaves the head shots to showoffs.
 
Body shots is the only way to go, larger target area! Now if I got a coyote peeking through the brush and the head is all I got, then I wouldnt hesitate!
 
If you slip one in beside the eyeball a ballistic tip will explode leaving no external damage. This is the best shot ever, I had to take a pic it did crack the skull.
Generally though coyotes get small fast at any distance so the vitals are an obvious spot.
 
Originally Posted By: pieeyedIf you slip one in beside the eyeball a ballistic tip will explode leaving no external damage. This is the best shot everpieeyed,
Would you suggest placing the bullet on the medial or lateral side of the eye?

Nyhunter,
Check out the pictures on this thread and notice how small the brain is compared to the heart and lungs.
http://www.predatormastersforums.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1151083#Post1151083

The last time I shot a Coyote in the head it was pure chance on a running Yote way out there that had busted me.
The last time I tried to shoot a Coyote in the head on purpose was a complete miss. It was all I could see and I took the chance and screwed it up.
 
You take whatever shot you can get. When calling I have very seldom got a perfect shot ever. I take head shots vital shots ars shots what ever I can get. I use a 243 mostly with the 55gr Bts with great success. But why argue take what you get and be happy. HAPPY HUNTING
 
Well I usually just let the wind pick which side. That was such a memorable shot because it didn't even disturb the eyeball. We looked for some time before figuring it out.
Unlike the one that I shot the top teeth out, and while he was shaking his head, shot his bottom teeth out, then shot his nose off. All to find when we got there he had mange.
When a head shot is all you get the ballistic tips help to get the small brain.
Wish I could repeat some of the best shots but that is hunting.
 
I'm not a good skinner at the best of times, and even less when we're talking about a dog with a large hole in his head that I have to work around.

Even ignoring that, take the heart lung shot. Its a much bigger target, and will put them down just as fast. Not to mention with a decent bullet your left with almost nothing to skin around, or stitch, as far as exits go.

I think I took my last called head shot 10 years ago, and won't make another. Heart lung shot is much easier to hit, and will put them down just as fast.

Right now I want a coyote sitting, looking at me. That gives me access tp what I call the "pocket" That area in the frontal chest, above the sernum, that offers vital access, without bone, with the whole body as a back stop.
 
Ethics man, ethics! When given a choice with a rifle, always take the chest shot. Leave the head shots to the blowhards. As noted above, you risk taking the jaw off a coyote with a head shot. Even a coyote deserves better than this. The amount of miss from the brain to the jaw is a dead coyote with a chest hold.
 
I'm sorry guys, but some of you sound like a bunch of "Liberal Crackpots" (Don't get offended now) that are always wondering why the police don't shoot the gun out of the bad guys hand, instead of shooting "Center of Mass",,,

I have to agree with the quick and clean safe kill, using the most massive target area that I can get...regardless of the type of predator...or even in an egg shoot...

I can just see the comments now, using Soft Boiled Eggs and having to eat what you shoot...."Oh Boy, I get Breakfast cause I just nicked off the top of the egg"...
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.... To, "Man, I'm really hungry cause my egg got hit at the base"...
cry.gif
 
Originally Posted By: yoteaddictEthics man, ethics! When given a choice with a rifle, always take the chest shot. Leave the head shots to the blowhards. As noted above, you risk taking the jaw off a coyote with a head shot. Even a coyote deserves better than this. The amount of miss from the brain to the jaw is a dead coyote with a chest hold.
Agreed.

Though I must say with a close shot on an approaching coyote I would not hesitate to aim for the head area if I were using a shotgun.
 
Originally Posted By: OldTurtleI'm sorry guys, but some of you sound like a bunch of "Liberal Crackpots" (Don't get offended now) that are always wondering why the police don't shoot the gun out of the bad guys hand, instead of shooting "Center of Mass",,,


People who make these types of comments are beyond clueless.

The ones who say, "Why didn't he just shoot to wound him? Why did he have to kill him?" are just as clueless.
 
Originally Posted By: 4949shooterOriginally Posted By: OldTurtleI'm sorry guys, but some of you sound like a bunch of "Liberal Crackpots" (Don't get offended now) that are always wondering why the police don't shoot the gun out of the bad guys hand, instead of shooting "Center of Mass",,,


People who make these types of comments are beyond clueless.

The ones who say, "Why didn't he just shoot to wound him? Why did he have to kill him?" are just as clueless.

maybe the cops should start taking head shots... you either take him out or shoot his jaw off so he can't plead insanity.
 


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