Rifle Shot Placement-Teaching youth

[elhefe]

Dead center of the shoulder for kids and new hunters. On trophies that is the spot for me. Meat deer I shoot them in the neck but I’ve killed a lot of deer and yes I have missed a few neck shots but those misses completely missed the deer so no wounding.

Those pictures posted are great. Thanks for those references.

[rladner]

My b-i-l leads Cross Trail Outfitters, so he has taught countless kids how to shoot and hunt. Since their hunts are donated, they can’t afford to have kids wounding deer. The way they teach them is with this instruction tool.
1. Draw 2 vertical lines up from where the front legs meet the body.
2. Draw 2 horizontal lines at the top and bottom of the body.
3. Aim right in the center of this grid.
Hit them there, and they will drop in their tracks.

This is great. I would love to get a copy of that handout. laminated and kept in the blind would be a great resource. Thanks all for the info. Sounds like definitely not a neck shot. I just wasn't sure because you tend to hear a lot about neck shots. I'll skip that lesson. They mostly bow hunt anyways but still would like to teach em up right.

[simek]

Another vote for dead center of shoulder. Several years ago, my son was drawn for a TYHP hunt. They also were advocates of this hold.

[Dale Moser]

We have told all of the kids and inexperienced adults we've had in camp over the years, "follow the front leg 1/3 the way up the body". Out of several dozen, we've never lost a deer. Most of our rifles are sighted in an inch to 2 1/2" high at 100, so it works really nice. Most kids miss high and back if they miss. Make sure their trigger finger side elbow is resting on something, or stuff a pillow under that arm...night night.

Also, use real bullets, save the ballistic tips for coyotes.

[RustyArmadillo]

I shot my first deer at 6 and am 26 now. I've rifle hunted for 20 years, bow hunted for 14. With rifles, I've always aimed at the base of the neck and that always puts em down in their tracks. That or center of the shoulder is what I plan on teaching my daughter when she's old enough to shoot. You can't go wrong aiming for the shoulder - if you don't hit the heart, you'll hit lungs and it will still be an effective shot. For a young hunter just starting out, I'd teach them to shoot only when broadside. Later on they can take other shots hard quartering away/to or frontal shots if they/you feel comfortable. I shot a lot of deer growing up with a 22-250. Making sure they're comfortable with the caliber they shoot is important as well so they don't anticipate big recoil, especially in the heat of the moment with buck fever adding to it. I saw a previous comment about center of the shoulder giving more room for error and I'd definitely agree. For beginners that's probably the best aiming point.

[SaintBlaise]

I like a broadside neck shot when possible, they drop in their tracks. 50 yards or less, neck for sure. 50 to 100 yards possible neck shot. Beyond 100 yards, wait for broadside, in-line with the leg, 1/3 up.

[Geezy Rider]

I’m generally a shoulder shooter and that’s what I taught my son but this season I’m doing lung shots because I’m training a tracking dog and she needs the practice.

[Greenheadless]

Teach them proficiency in shooting first and foremost. Also, teach them when to and when not to take a shot.

I have killed 100’s of deer with rifle, and can count on one hand the ones I didn’t take by shooting them in the neck.