When I started processing deer, I was amazed at how little meat is on an average white tail deer's shoulders.
The only time I will hit them in the lung now, is to beak the shoulder on the off side. Otherwise, I shoot them through the shoulders. I have had deer run 200 yards shot completely through both lungs. In some cases, lung shot deer were very difficult to in thick woods. I learned my lesson on lung shooting deer.
If you are concerned about the meat on the shoulders, you should be saving the meat on the neck, and almost everyone throws the neck in the garbage.
