A very good question. Where I hunt, it's important to avoid having the deer run off because of what it 99% of the time runs into. So I break them down, if the deer had any size to it. I do a high shoulder shot, break them down and plant them where they stand. The smaller ones, I will sneak in behind the shoulder as those don't seem to run too far and are light enough to pick up and carry out of the thickets I hunt.
When I was younger, I used to do head shots. I gave up on them. One year in fact a group of us decided to make only head shots on doe. We agreed to this because a person hunting with us, used to get sick when he saw head shot deer. Never seen so many bug eyed, split skull deer that year. Granted, a head shot will plant the deer but I have seen too many deer with missing jaws. People trying head shots and not hitting the center brain. That is why I only use they as a last resort. Spine shots, another good plant. But again, a smaller target then center mass.
If your confident in your shooting ability, and you have a good accurate load, there are lots of planting shots, but deer will fool you and move. So for the most part I go for the high percentage shoulder shots. On the quartering shots, again, behind the shoulder but coming out the off side shoulder.
OK guys, here is the scenario. Your in thick woods but have a clear view to the deer. He is well within your accurate shooting distance you have set for yourself. And your bullet is a real well made bullet, able to penetrate well and expand.
The deer is walking in, straight on to you. Its a real nice shooter buck. But he refuses to turn, and if he does, will probably disappear between trees. In fact, he's twitching his ears, throwing them forward at you, his tail is up and he's starting that foot stomp. You do have a clear view of his brisket/chest. What are you going to do?
....karl
