Aiming Below the Belt

I was wondering where is the best place to shoot a deer? Like to stomp it out for good.

Great question, this one really confuses a lot of hunters.

Let me start out by pointing you away from the head. Not only does this leave a bloody mess, but it's sort of a sticking point for deer/human negotiations. You see, deer are very particular about their post-hunted bodily display. The ultimate goal for a buck killed in action is to leave his legacy on a mantle somewhere. For a buck to have his unscarred head, neck and antlers prominently displayed in a busy ski lodge, he would be willing to die honorably on the forest battlefield.

Up to this point, hunters have mostly aimed for the body, but a recent trend toward headshots have left deer suspicious of human motivations and respect for a deer's body. Some deer have resorted to using camouflage as retaliation, even though this violates United Forest agreements. UF officials are working on a resolution as we speak.

Does and fawns, as well as those deer with underdeveloped or retarded antlers, prefer not to be shot in the head just for the pain factor.

Besides the controversial above-the-belt shots, if you're looking to stomp a deer out for good, avoid shooting at the buttocks region. Deer are experts at absorbing rear penetration.