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The Shoulder Shot

blake

blake

Life Member
The Shoulder Shot

I have had this article stashed away for a while, but I kept forgetting to post it. Sorry I do not remember who wrote the article. This new post reminded of it:
Shoulder Shot


sholder-shot.bmp


It is critical for every hunter to master the shoulder shot, as it is the most effective and humane means of killing a deer with a firearm. The shoulder shot is so effective because it destroys three main parts of the deer’s body. First the bullet hits the shoulder blade, which results in immediate physical disablement of the deer and an immediate crash to the ground. Second, the bullet will destroy the brachial plexus, which is a hot spot around the shoulder blade of nerves, muscle, veins and tendons. Destruction of the brachial plexus typically results in paralysis. Lastly, the bullet should penetrate both lungs, which will quickly and effectively end the deer’s life. All hunters should strive to put this kind of hit on every deer they fire at. It is speculated that most hunters tend to aim behind the shoulder at the main vital area of the lungs and heart. This shot will kill the deer effectively, but it will not be as quick and sudden as the shoulder shot. But as a word of warning, some hunters complain that the shoulder shot damages more meat. Opinions differ, as some say the shoulder meat loss can be as little as two pounds or as much as fifteen.

This post does not necessarily reflect the opinion of iowawhitail.com, IW sponsors, or any staff members other than me.
 
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One of my favorite posts ever!

[QUOTE If you can manage it, I think a head shot is the way to go! No wasted meat there. :)[/QUOTE]

Your street cred and swagger is growing by the minute. This is AWESOME!:drink2:

What the hell do you have in store next? I can't wait!
 
We used to head shoot a lot of does when I was in college just so they would drop in one spot. That was in Missouri and we were using a 22-250 and 25-06. (22-250 seems a little small to hit them in the body anyways but would anchor them quick in the head). The occasional 300 Win Mag did the trick too but would leave a large cloud of debris essentially beheading them. Best spot we found to head shoot one is between the base of the ear and the eye as they are looking to the side or right in the back of the head as they are walking/feeding away.

Only downside is harvest pictures are a little horrific.
 
Head shot? Please tell me you are kidding. Ever seen a deer with its jaw shot off because someone was trying a head shot? How about the nose shot off? Not a pretty sight. And not a quick death. If you dont want to waste meat, just punch the lungs and be done. Head shots are for video games, it is not ethical for wild game.
 
huntemup said:
Head shot? Please tell me you are kidding. Ever seen a deer with its jaw shot off because someone was trying a head shot? How about the nose shot off? Not a pretty sight. And not a quick death. If you dont want to waste meat, just punch the lungs and be done. Head shots are for video games, it is not ethical for wild game.
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Being from MO ive seen the blown off jaw more than once found acouple that has starved to death and we shot one that didnt have lower jaw that looked like she was about to dye of starvation, pretty much all she was, was skin and bones even her hair was starting to fall out, id punch mine thru the lungs, majority of the meat is in the hind quarter and loin dont see much meat getting wasted by a shoulder shot JMO
 
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While gun hunting I have shot plenty of does through the years right in the old noggin and not one of them did anything other than drop straight to the ground. No tracking over to another property, no wasted meat, no running to the bottom of a steep multiflora rose covered ditch and then dying, etc. (I do acknowledge Shredder's point about the harvest photos being a bit of a challenge though. :grin:) But other than that, this is a very good route to go, provided you have the right conditions to take this shot and an accurate weapon. Most of mine have been with a scoped muzzleloader that could drive tacks.

Now then, I have never taken that shot at any distance longer than about 25 yards, most times about 10-12 yards, and the animal has been stationary and for the most part, unsuspecting.

At any distance greater than about 25 yards, I go with the shoulder shot and it also is quite effective, as has been indicated in this thread, but there can be some meat torn up. That is why I prefer to go with a head shot if they are close enough.
 
I'd have to agree with Daver's point of view on this one. At greater distances, head shots are very low probability and wound-only factor is a horrible thought. We owe the game we hunt/harvest more respect and dignity than that, IMHO. Having said that, I typically only take head shots at the feral/wild hogs in south Texas because its the best way to anchor them. With that huge cartilage plate covering their ribs/shoulder area, it can be tough to anchor them with a shoulder/rib shot. I've seen too many take one to the boiler room and get up and run off never to be found again in that thick thornscrub and if they cross fences, forget going to get it. But shooting a pig in the head at 100-150 yards is pure, primal fun and either way, it just a nasty, non-native, habitat-destroying animal that I have no respect for anyway. But this thread is about harvesting deer, not pigs and they are totally different! With deer, I typically go for the lung/heart shot, but I certainly like the high-shoulder shot, too. The bottom line is that we owe them the best, most effective, ethical end of life possible.
 
I wouldn't recommend a head shot unless the deer was lying on the ground suffering. I've seen plenty of examples of people taking bad shots like that and it really ruins the mood.
 
I've found this shoulder shot extremely effective and even forward of it to the base of the neck. The shock alone puts them down for the count, on the spot.
 
I usually shoot my deer about 4" below that "yellow" x with a bow, straight up the leg, and agree with the marking for a rifle/slug. That vertical line is the quickest way to seal the deal IMO.
 
Thanks for the thread Blake.

I can see where the shoulder shot would definitely work for me.

Punching them through the lungs is nice in flat country but in the hills

up here I want them down in their tracks.
 
Just a bit more comment...I too have seen deer that were apparent head shot victims, only the shot didn't get the job done and there is an injury to the nose/jaw/etc. Although I have no way of saying for sure...I do have a strong feeling that a good majority of those injuries trace back to the 4th or 5th shot in a 5 shot volley at a running target v. a 1 shot, close range, stationary target.

In other words, just because someone sees an injured, head shot deer on the hoof does NOT mean that the hunter was aiming for the head and made a poor shot. I think it is more likely the result of some "hail mary" shot(s) hitting them in the bean.

Again, I have no proof that my theory is accurate, but down through the years sitting on a stand in one timber while listening to a drive in the neighboring timber or section I have thought many times that there is no way that the 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc, shot in a volley is a high probability of a good hit. I have probably shot at least a dozen deer in the head and none of made it 6 inches away from where they were standing. I am comfortable with it in the right situation.
 
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