Small game are very fun to hunt, but to put an ethical shot on them can be hard; and even harder to learn where to aim. So you don’t have to go out and try it yourself as I did, I will tell you my experience with shot placement. 

Here is the short answer:

The best shot you can take on is a head or brain shot. This aiming point is between the eye and the base of the ear. This hit will ensure instant death anchoring the animal in its tracks.

Now that you have the short answer, let’s take a closer look at how the shots kill, and other forms of shots you can take.

Where to aim

As covered in the short answer, the best aiming point is between the eye and the bass of the ear. This is where the brain is but you can’t always get a perfect brain shot on small game. Sometimes there are obstructions, and you can’t get a clean headshot, in that case, you need to know where else you can aim. 

The brain shot

A brain shot is my favorite for many reasons. But there is some murkiness around this shot, some people think that you just have to hit the animal anywhere in the head and the animal will die, but this is not true by any stretch of the imagination. I have hit rabbits and squirrels in the head but not hitting the brain and it never ends well. A shot landing in any spot except the brain will always require a follow-up shot. But follow-up shots can be easily avoided, as long as you place a good shot between the eye and the base of the ear.

The white dot is where to aim for a brain shot.

The lung shot

Second to the brain shot is the lung shot. The lung shot is best used when the head is obstructed by brush. The downside to a lung shot is that it does not always result in instant death, like a brain shot. A lung shot small game animal can run 50 yards, and if you are hunting rabbits in thick cover it can be nearly impossible to track them.

The black dot is where to aim for a lung shot.

The neck shot

A neck shot should only be taken when you have a clear shot, as you can easily screw it up. The neck shot is best taken when the head and lungs are covered. This shot should only be taken by someone who knows what they are doing. With a bad hit, you risk wounding the rabbit and having to track it and take a follow-up shot. 

The black dot is where to aim for a neck shot.

The spine shot

This shot should seldom be taken. If you have a rabbit or squirrel facing away then this might be the only shot you have; this shot will be fatal but may require a follow-up shot. It is a good idea to stay away from a shot like this.

High shoulder shot

This shot is often overlooked for small game because a lot of people think it’s only for big game. The high shoulder shot will often anchor a rabbit or squirrel in its place by hitting the spine and the lungs. If you are looking to get the maximum meat yield, then you may want to look for a neck or brain shot as this shot will waste some shoulder meat.

The black dot is where to aim for a high shoulder shot.

Conclusion 

There are a lot of different places to shoot when it comes to hunting small game, so you shouldn’t feel limited. Next time you go out for small game you will have a lot more opportunities for a shot.

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