[fabsroman]

Generally, a whitetail deer is shot right behind the shoulder so that you will get a lung and heart shot. If you place the bullet correctly, about the only meat lost should be a couple of ribs. If the deer is a buck, I usually try to shoot it right in the front shoulder so that I can break its shoulder and stop it from going anywhere.

Head shots can be taken, but they are rather tough and they will definitely destroy what a mount looks like. Since I have never even tried a head shot on a deer, I do not know if they are always fatal when they connect. I know deer have pretty small brains, but I would think any bullet with some oompf behind it would do the job if it hits the deer anywhere in the head. One scenario that I can think of that would prevent me from trying a head shot is where you shoot the deer's lower jaw off and then it will starve to death if it does not die from loss of blood.