The fools advocating headshots for the first shot should have their hunting privileges revoked.
1) you probably aren’t as good of a shot as you think you are, especially on game in the heat of the moment (but your false bravado is cute)
2) a deer can easily move its head very quickly in the split second of a shot
These two things result in crippling loss and slow death.
Shoot the shoulder, or just behind it in the ribs if you are worried about meat - nice big easy target, guaranteed to kill.
If you have NEVER missed a shot on a target or deer, then by all means aim for the fist-sized target on a live animal, but no one can honestly make that claim.

This is very good advice,


if one sucks at precision shooting in the field.