Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Bad idea

Is it bad idea to dry to break a bull elk down by shooting the shoulders?

No. If you have a bullet that's up to the task.My last one was killed exactly that way.

Why would you think a shoulder shot on an elk is a bad idea?

When is it ever a bad idea to take out the front running gear?

Worked splendidly for me on a very nice 6x6 this past fall. 338, 225 grain North Forks.

DRT.

The first and one of only two Speer Grand Slams I've recovered in what is now 30 years of using them was from a 5x5 bull I shot through the shoulders with a 160g and my 7mm RM.

Both shoulder joints were destroyed and the bullet was lodged in the far side joint, exposed just under the skin. The bull went straight down but required a finisher. That is the only one I've shot through the shoulder joints.

(The second Grand Slam was recovered last year from a 6x5 shot through the chest almost broadside at 411 yards. It was under the hide on the far side.)

I didn't think it was. I am going to hit them with a either a 260 partion or a 250 TTSX out of a 375 HH so I am not worried about the bullet. THanks

No problem shooting them in the shoulders with a 120 BT from a 7mm08 either.

Kent

Think you are in good shape....

Unless there is a real absolute reason to shoot thru the shoulders, just punch the lungs out. Few bulls will walk very far with a 375 H&H "air gap" through their chest. Leave the shoulders alone....don't waste meat.

^^^^^^
this

Beneath the scapula ( shoulder blade) lies a bundle of nerves called the brachial plexus. This junction of nervous tissue when severely traumatized can cause Central Nervous System breakdown and even death. By taking the shoulder shot one will actually present a two pronged approach to humane harvest and timely recovery of the carcass. The highly vascular lung and cardiac system inside the rib cage will hopefully be ripped apart causing hemorrhage and hopefully exanguation. The brachial plexus will be traumatized to a level of hopefully causing a Central Nervous System Collapse.

Wow! No wonder they go down so fast!

Scapula or shoulder joint?

And have you done this?

Not trying to start a fight, just curious.

Either, though I try and get the shooter to aim high shoulder(scapula), and yep my gun and loads have done this plenty.

Kent

My reasoning. I can't see blood. Always have someone who can with me. Just easier to watch them fall.

Never shot one. Shot a few moose.

I shoot ribs for lungs, if given the angle.

I don't like wasting meat, just me.

I don't mind trailing em either. Just me.

If I have to for whatever reason, and there are reasons, anchor the animal, I"m going for a known CNS shot, and high shoulder won't be the one I try for. BUt thats my opinion.

That being said, others use it, and have great luck with it and so it sure seems workable.

The only thing I"ll add, since you are likely close to overshooting the spine with the high shoulder attempt, please reload and stay with the animal for at least 5 minutes to make sure you've severed, and not just stunned....

The brachial plexus is beneath the scapula in cervidae. Remember there are anatomical variations amongst the cervidae and humans. I believe the plexus in a human is near the arm pit region. The human shoulder is something I am not that familiar with. Humans rib cages are oval shaped opposite to cervidaes in that they do not extend ventral and dorsal(top 2 bottom) rather distally. (Side to side). The shoulder is supported by a sling of muscle and fascia. It is not directly connected to the rib cage. Under neath the scapula where it necks down to meet the humerus is where I would expect to find the brachial plexus.

I think a High Shoulder shot would involve trauma to the spine it's self. A mid shoulder shot would be more what would involve the brachial plexus. I think for me using a little more foreword point of aim in the chest has helped. I believe this to be because of involvement of trauma to the brachial plexus and also the anatomical change ruminants have had to make to supply the needed room for the four compartment ed stomach. I.E. the rumen actually takes up a lot of the distal rib cage on the animals left side. If one looks closely the diaphragm on a elk is at about rib number 7. On a side note I think that is why bovine are predisposed to pnumonia. There is simply too much pressure on the thorax by the rumen

Same here, color deficient in both reds and greens and blue and yellow.

I have hit me higher in the shoulder than hoped. Shattered the spine. It is very dramatic and lethal.