Just curious what everyone's thoughts are. Where is the best place to dart a deer? The shoulder or the back hams?
If I can I always go for the shoulder. If not I'll go for the hinds. Shooting for the front shoulder gives you a MUCH bigger target.
Joined Feb 2013
780 Posts | 1+
Markleville IN
there is not much muscle over the shoulder blade, I saw a producer break one darting there.
Too many vitals around the chest and neck for me, not to mention if they would turn into the dart
we always dart ours in the rump, we use a pistol, adults and fawns
Too many vitals around the chest and neck for me, not to mention if they would turn into the dart
we always dart ours in the rump, we use a pistol, adults and fawns
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
Halfway up the neck from the shoulder, puts them down quick if you hit the right spot. I most prefer front shoulder/lower neck and I also shoot for the rump when it's my only chance.
I sometimes help a local preserve owner dart his deer, he usually has to move 45 of his own deer from his breeding pens to his preserve starting every August, he likes to keeps his preserve as empty as possible all summer for the foliage to recover. So anyway between helping with his deer and my own, I dart a lot each fall. With the number of deer I shoot at, I do have some mishaps pop up. Some of my pens and the preserve owners pens are pretty thick, and that's a challenge in its self so It's pretty much unavoidable to have less than ideal hits when doing a lot darting. It can be anything from equipment malfunctions (very rare) to twigs, or other deer deflecting the darts. So I have hit chest, lower legs, even the gut before, and just a few weeks ago I hit a buck in a pretty sensitive area if you know what I mean. The weird thing is, it sometimes it surprisingly will put them down when you think it wouldn't.
I seriously do my best and try not to rush or do anything stupid when darting ( it's too dang expensive to miss) but it's one of those things that if you do it enough things do happen.
I sometimes help a local preserve owner dart his deer, he usually has to move 45 of his own deer from his breeding pens to his preserve starting every August, he likes to keeps his preserve as empty as possible all summer for the foliage to recover. So anyway between helping with his deer and my own, I dart a lot each fall. With the number of deer I shoot at, I do have some mishaps pop up. Some of my pens and the preserve owners pens are pretty thick, and that's a challenge in its self so It's pretty much unavoidable to have less than ideal hits when doing a lot darting. It can be anything from equipment malfunctions (very rare) to twigs, or other deer deflecting the darts. So I have hit chest, lower legs, even the gut before, and just a few weeks ago I hit a buck in a pretty sensitive area if you know what I mean. The weird thing is, it sometimes it surprisingly will put them down when you think it wouldn't.
I seriously do my best and try not to rush or do anything stupid when darting ( it's too dang expensive to miss) but it's one of those things that if you do it enough things do happen.
I agree with matts tactics... Except for darting the bucks in the balls... I don't agree with that one... Lol Better him than me
But I also go for middle of the neck down to the front of the shoulder. If I only can get a shoulder shot, I try to go high in the shoulder... Or sometimes the rump. I will tell you, in my experiences, they go down way faster if they are shot in the shoulder vs the rump. Jmo
But I also go for middle of the neck down to the front of the shoulder. If I only can get a shoulder shot, I try to go high in the shoulder... Or sometimes the rump. I will tell you, in my experiences, they go down way faster if they are shot in the shoulder vs the rump. Jmo
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
I ALWAYS go for the rump. Lots of muscle mass, most generally use 3/4 inch, tri port darts, on some of the big bucks, I'll use 1 inch needles. I just moved 4 on Saturday, mixed 5:1. 2cc each and they were snoring.
I just today ordered 2 kits of BAM, and will be TB testing in a couple weeks. Hopefully I'll love it as much as everybody else does.
I just today ordered 2 kits of BAM, and will be TB testing in a couple weeks. Hopefully I'll love it as much as everybody else does.
Joined Feb 2013
780 Posts | 1+
Markleville IN
Todd,
I would recommend using along with your reversal tolazoline. Same amount that you use of the bam. They took it out last year and several people have had issues. I have kept using it from they day they took it out and not had a problem. This dog don't like new tricks when the old tricks work, especially when there was nothing wrong with it when the tolazoline was in it. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT FOR THE SAKE OF SAVING A FEW DOLLARS. They say you don't need it that antipamazole/naltrexone is all you need. Without tolazoline you get a rebound sedation in some animals, bad enough people have lost their animals.
We're all here to help each other and I would hate to see people lose their animals.
I would recommend using along with your reversal tolazoline. Same amount that you use of the bam. They took it out last year and several people have had issues. I have kept using it from they day they took it out and not had a problem. This dog don't like new tricks when the old tricks work, especially when there was nothing wrong with it when the tolazoline was in it. IF IT AIN'T BROKE DON'T FIX IT FOR THE SAKE OF SAVING A FEW DOLLARS. They say you don't need it that antipamazole/naltrexone is all you need. Without tolazoline you get a rebound sedation in some animals, bad enough people have lost their animals.
We're all here to help each other and I would hate to see people lose their animals.
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
So are you saying to ALSO use tolazine along with the kit reversers? Or only tolazine by itself? Thanks for the heads up!
Joined Feb 2013
780 Posts | 1+
Markleville IN
Use kit reverser plus tolazoline. Same amount tolazoline as you use to knock buck out. IF you use 1.5 cc bam add 1.5 cc tolazoline to 3cc antipamazole/1cc naltrexone.
Joined Oct 2011
359 Posts | 0+
Columbia City, IN
Joined Apr 2009
1,562 Posts | 0+
cental Pennsylvania
redgolds975691410783105
I agree with matts tactics... Except for darting the bucks in the balls... I don't agree with that one... Lol Better him than me
Haha, I was picked on when I delivered him. They told me, "better stay back from the trailer Matt, this guys is going to remember WHERE you hit him, and he will want to take you down" it was all in good fun though, they had the right to joke, it's not everyday you see a buck hit in that area.
I still can't figure how i hit where it did, he was broadside to the shot when it hit him!. However to my defense it was a long shot (35 yards+) in the woods and I aimed for the center of his hind quarter, i felt fine and I was sure I had him, but I think he stepped out of it because of the distance( he was always a nervous deer anyways), and you know how" those things "can be hanging from the swelling associated with testosterone changes this time of year, just wasn't his lucky day I guess (poor guy). There, I tried to keep my defense statement as PG as possible as this is a family forum, lol.
I agree with matts tactics... Except for darting the bucks in the balls... I don't agree with that one... Lol Better him than me
Haha, I was picked on when I delivered him. They told me, "better stay back from the trailer Matt, this guys is going to remember WHERE you hit him, and he will want to take you down" it was all in good fun though, they had the right to joke, it's not everyday you see a buck hit in that area.
I still can't figure how i hit where it did, he was broadside to the shot when it hit him!. However to my defense it was a long shot (35 yards+) in the woods and I aimed for the center of his hind quarter, i felt fine and I was sure I had him, but I think he stepped out of it because of the distance( he was always a nervous deer anyways), and you know how" those things "can be hanging from the swelling associated with testosterone changes this time of year, just wasn't his lucky day I guess (poor guy). There, I tried to keep my defense statement as PG as possible as this is a family forum, lol.
Joined May 2009
1,166 Posts | 0+
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
I've shot them just about everywhere imaginable. . Hit in the boys works pretty good. Lol. Shot one a few years ago inside the nostril. Went down fast. Lol