Deer Shoulder Shot

Packerfan2600 · 06-24-2009, 04:00 PM

I saw an a few forum posts and articles about shot placement and the shoulder/shoulder blade. They say that when you aim for the middle-top of the shoulder the deer will drop on the spot due to the bone breaking and wont last much longer. Usually i aim for the traditional 'Kill Zone' and track the deer maybe 10 to 75 yards usually. Would a shoulder shot offer as much forgiveness if your off an inch or two and would it drop the deer in its tracks?

Lng Rng · 06-24-2009, 04:09 PM

In the few times I have done it, it has worked excellent. Deer dropped dead, on the spot. However, you do ruin some decent meat when you take the shot. I would rather put it right behind the shoulder most of the time. If you are off behind the shoulder, you have a good chance of killing the deer via the lungs/spine. If you are off to the front, it could possible just be a flesh wound, depending on what you hit.

tamalpias · 06-24-2009, 04:32 PM

There are many places you can drop a deer dead on the spot, base of skull, spine, neck shot, right behind the ear, head shots, but those are all hard to hit unless you are very good at shooting accurately in hunting conditions. I shoot mine where I have room for error because I know I am not that good with shot placements. Lung and heart shot for me is where i like to aim.

mx308250 · 06-24-2009, 04:53 PM

I always aim behind the shoulder for the kill zone vital area. I know several people that always do neck shots.
Also I know one guy that actually aims dead center in the shoulder and shoots. His reasoning is he is too old to track a deer and too old for good shot placement and they can't go far with their shoulders both shattered to peices. Not my choice obviously but he said it works every time.

Midas · 06-24-2009, 04:57 PM

I have used the shoulder shot to great effect over the course of the past few years, you may ruin a bit of meat, but it makes the tracking job simple.

Archetype_wyo · 06-24-2009, 05:18 PM

I know a guy that shoots right through the shoulder as well, it actually kinda irritated me when he told me that. In hunter-safety class they teach you that an inch or two off the point of the shoulder will drop him and he "might" run anywhere from a few feet to 75yards. My furthest shot 2 years ago at 325yds with my '06 was through the vitals (no specific organ) ran about 30 yards and my first deer I shot at about 250yds with a buddy's .257 Roberts was through the lung and he ran in a circle and dropped where he started. To me I'd rather walk an extra bit than ruin up to 15 lbs of meat and what if the bullet goes straight through both shoulders? Thats a good bit of the meat.

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2009, 05:21 PM

A shoulder shot is my prefered way to kill a Deer because there dead before they hit the ground.
I personaly think it's more humane to make this shoot and you rarely if ever have to track a Deer that has been shoulder shot.
You'll often times find piece's of lung, heart and bone on the ground after makeing this shot and that to me means I've made my very best shot.
Because We own it to the Deer, Bear or what ever large game were hunting.

Lastly haveing enough gun helps to...A.H

mx308250 · 06-24-2009, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

We owe it to the Deer, Bear or what ever large game were hunting.

Lastly having enough gun helps too...A.H

I agree, shots should always be carefully placed if the situation permits. Too many people every year catch a glimpse of an animal and just point and shoot before it gets behind a bush or something to that effect. In turn wounding the animal; not quickly ending it.

The round used should also be considered for the type of game being hunted. I have heard that some states have laws on certain types of game. Here in tx as far as i know it is anything but rimfire can be used. I usually use my .308, but I have found myself every once in a great while using a 7mm-08, 7mm rem mag, or .257 roberts.

Tack Driver · 06-24-2009, 05:31 PM

The shoulder shot is simple, offers a little forgiveness, and most importantly, it kills deer quickly and humanely.

Archetype_wyo · 06-24-2009, 05:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx308250

The round used should also be considered for the type of game being hunted. I have heard that some states have laws on certain types of game. Here in tx as far as i know it is anything but rimfire can be used.

Here in Wyoming its a minimum of .243 for Big Game.
Big Game here in Wyoming is Antelope(Bug-Eyed Goats or Stink-Goats), Mountain Goat,Big Horn Sheep, White-Tail, Mule-Deer, Elk, and Black Bear. I'm pretty sure theres Grizz up in the mountains but you dun hear much about them gettin taken. Coyote, the occasional Wolf and the like are all predators and can be taken on sight. Well Wolf can be if you have live-stock regularly being slaughtered by them.

ArkansasHunter · 06-24-2009, 05:43 PM

This happend last year::: A nice 6pt Buck is at 9 oclock of me. He was angeling away from me so a broadside shot wasn't going to present it's self, yet he was close enough where a shot like Archetype wyo prefers to make for a few seconds.

I let the Buck walk because I knew his big brother was around somewhere LOL He never showed up LOL...And I'm not at all disappointed I didn't take a shot at the angeling away Buck...A.H

Archetype_wyo · 06-24-2009, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArkansasHunter

This happend last year::: A nice 6pt Buck is at 9 oclock of me. He was angeling away from me so a broadside shot wasn't going to present it's self, yet he was close enough where a shot like Archetype wyo prefers to make for a few seconds.

I let the Buck walk because I knew his big brother was around somewhere LOL He never showed up LOL...A.H

What do yah mean close enough to make a shot like I prefer? lol

Packerfan2600 · 06-24-2009, 05:49 PM

The Diagram i made shows area 1 the traditional kill zone which has the most forgiveness and usually is a guaranteed kill, thought it might run a few yards.
2 would be a center-top shoulder shot which is what i was asking about. Looks like if you shot a little to the left you would hit the top part of the vitals where as if you shot a little to the right, you would either hit the neck dead on, top of the neck, or bottom of the neck. If you shoot for a neck shot, most likely hit the neck if you had a fairly good idea where the neck is but if you miss it, you would hit the either lower flesh area (4) or the area above the neck (3).

Packerfan2600 · 06-24-2009, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mx308250

I agree, shots should always be carefully placed if the situation permits. Too many people every year catch a glimpse of an animal and just point and shoot before it gets behind a bush or something to that effect. In turn wounding the animal; not quickly ending it.

The round used should also be considered for the type of game being hunted. I have heard that some states have laws on certain types of game. Here in tx as far as i know it is anything but rimfire can be used.

Same here. I use a Federal 180 Grain Soft Point. Cheap, accurate and reliable for the average shot. Probably wouldn't use it for longer ranges 250+ yds.

ArkansasHunter · 06-25-2009, 12:58 AM

Archetype wyo What I meant was a shoulder shot was "not" presented. Yet the traditional shot was possible behind the shoulder "breifly" but I didn't take it either.

rimfirenut · 06-25-2009, 12:12 PM

While the high shoulder shot does indeed drop them in there tracks you will also damage most of the meat on the front shoulders. I just stick to the traditional behind the shoulder shot, those shoulder's are good eatin!!

blaster · 06-25-2009, 07:14 PM

lately I have been grinding those tough cuts of meat. you don't loose much meat that way with a shoulder shot.

TeeRex · 06-25-2009, 07:42 PM

I always for right behind the shoulder hunting with a 12 gauge slug, but more often than not I seem to have the slug try to exit through the opposite shoulder blade and those fall dead in their tracks. I've never had a good behind the shoulder shot go further than 30 yards, and tracking them is not hard.

big shrek · 06-25-2009, 08:13 PM

Since I don't trophy, I go for headshots. It's either a clean hit or miss

I might save a rack now & again...but I'm never going to mount anything. Never liked it.

rebel727 · 06-25-2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by big shrek

Since I don't trophy, I go for headshots. It's either a clean hit or miss

Not really. Have you never seen a deer with his lower jaw blown off? Talk about a slow agonizing death. I usually go for the heart/lung shot but for a long range shot I'll go through the shoulder. I don't eat shoulder meat anyway but I do give it away so it doesn't go to waste.

06-24-2009, 04:00 PM	#1
Packerfan2600 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 208	Deer Shoulder Shot I saw an a few forum posts and articles about shot placement and the shoulder/shoulder blade. They say that when you aim for the middle-top of the shoulder the deer will drop on the spot due to the bone breaking and wont last much longer. Usually i aim for the traditional 'Kill Zone' and track the deer maybe 10 to 75 yards usually. Would a shoulder shot offer as much forgiveness if your off an inch or two and would it drop the deer in its tracks? __________________ Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected become the expected?

06-24-2009, 04:57 PM	#5
Midas Chief Troll B' Gone Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: NW Arkansas Posts: 3,523 Images: 2 Blog Entries: 6	I have used the shoulder shot to great effect over the course of the past few years, you may ruin a bit of meat, but it makes the tracking job simple. __________________ The Second Amendment: America's Original Homeland Security. NRA Life Member

06-24-2009, 05:18 PM	#6
Archetype_wyo Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Buffalo, Wyo Posts: 1,681	I know a guy that shoots right through the shoulder as well, it actually kinda irritated me when he told me that. In hunter-safety class they teach you that an inch or two off the point of the shoulder will drop him and he "might" run anywhere from a few feet to 75yards. My furthest shot 2 years ago at 325yds with my '06 was through the vitals (no specific organ) ran about 30 yards and my first deer I shot at about 250yds with a buddy's .257 Roberts was through the lung and he ran in a circle and dropped where he started. To me I'd rather walk an extra bit than ruin up to 15 lbs of meat and what if the bullet goes straight through both shoulders? Thats a good bit of the meat. __________________ The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able may have a gun. —Patrick Henry

06-24-2009, 05:21 PM	#7
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 16,943	A shoulder shot is my prefered way to kill a Deer because there dead before they hit the ground. I personaly think it's more humane to make this shoot and you rarely if ever have to track a Deer that has been shoulder shot. You'll often times find piece's of lung, heart and bone on the ground after makeing this shot and that to me means I've made my very best shot. Because We own it to the Deer, Bear or what ever large game were hunting. Lastly haveing enough gun helps to...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER Last edited by ArkansasHunter; 06-24-2009 at 05:23 PM.

06-24-2009, 05:31 PM	#9
Tack Driver Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Caswell County, NC Posts: 313	The shoulder shot is simple, offers a little forgiveness, and most importantly, it kills deer quickly and humanely. __________________ If pro is the opposite of con, is Congress the opposite of progress?

06-24-2009, 04:09 PM	#2
Lng Rng Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,096	In the few times I have done it, it has worked excellent. Deer dropped dead, on the spot. However, you do ruin some decent meat when you take the shot. I would rather put it right behind the shoulder most of the time. If you are off behind the shoulder, you have a good chance of killing the deer via the lungs/spine. If you are off to the front, it could possible just be a flesh wound, depending on what you hit.

06-24-2009, 04:32 PM	#3
tamalpias Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 525	There are many places you can drop a deer dead on the spot, base of skull, spine, neck shot, right behind the ear, head shots, but those are all hard to hit unless you are very good at shooting accurately in hunting conditions. I shoot mine where I have room for error because I know I am not that good with shot placements. Lung and heart shot for me is where i like to aim.

06-24-2009, 04:53 PM	#4
mx308250 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 406	I always aim behind the shoulder for the kill zone vital area. I know several people that always do neck shots. Also I know one guy that actually aims dead center in the shoulder and shoots. His reasoning is he is too old to track a deer and too old for good shot placement and they can't go far with their shoulders both shattered to peices. Not my choice obviously but he said it works every time.

06-24-2009, 05:43 PM	#11
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 16,943	This happend last year::: A nice 6pt Buck is at 9 oclock of me. He was angeling away from me so a broadside shot wasn't going to present it's self, yet he was close enough where a shot like Archetype wyo prefers to make for a few seconds. I let the Buck walk because I knew his big brother was around somewhere LOL He never showed up LOL...And I'm not at all disappointed I didn't take a shot at the angeling away Buck...A.H __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

06-24-2009, 05:49 PM	#13
Packerfan2600 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 208	The Diagram i made shows area 1 the traditional kill zone which has the most forgiveness and usually is a guaranteed kill, thought it might run a few yards. 2 would be a center-top shoulder shot which is what i was asking about. Looks like if you shot a little to the left you would hit the top part of the vitals where as if you shot a little to the right, you would either hit the neck dead on, top of the neck, or bottom of the neck. If you shoot for a neck shot, most likely hit the neck if you had a fairly good idea where the neck is but if you miss it, you would hit the either lower flesh area (4) or the area above the neck (3). Attached Thumbnails __________________ Doesn't expecting the unexpected make the unexpected become the expected?

06-25-2009, 12:58 AM	#15
ArkansasHunter Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: South Arkansas. Posts: 16,943	Archetype wyo What I meant was a shoulder shot was "not" presented. Yet the traditional shot was possible behind the shoulder "breifly" but I didn't take it either. __________________ IN GOD WE TRUST NRA MEMBER

06-25-2009, 12:12 PM	#16
rimfirenut Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: michigan Posts: 558	While the high shoulder shot does indeed drop them in there tracks you will also damage most of the meat on the front shoulders. I just stick to the traditional behind the shoulder shot, those shoulder's are good eatin!!

06-25-2009, 07:14 PM	#17
blaster Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: big pine key, florida Posts: 1,286	lately I have been grinding those tough cuts of meat. you don't loose much meat that way with a shoulder shot. __________________ peace through superior firepower

06-25-2009, 07:42 PM	#18
TeeRex Senior Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Central, OH Posts: 312 Images: 1	I always for right behind the shoulder hunting with a 12 gauge slug, but more often than not I seem to have the slug try to exit through the opposite shoulder blade and those fall dead in their tracks. I've never had a good behind the shoulder shot go further than 30 yards, and tracking them is not hard.

06-25-2009, 08:13 PM	#19
big shrek Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Northwest, FL Posts: 3,015 Images: 56	Since I don't trophy, I go for headshots. It's either a clean hit or miss I might save a rack now & again...but I'm never going to mount anything. Never liked it. __________________ In every Unit...there is a Scrounger...