Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting The high shoulder rifle shot

This should be a fun discussion. I've never had a deer take one step when putting a hole through them in the high shoulder area with any of my rifles. Always straight down to the dirt and DRT.

Where does everyone else like to hit 'em?

I've shot them there when I wanted them DRT, but I dislike the meat loss. Most of the time I go for a shot through the ribs and lungs which usually results in a short sprint.

If they are headed in the general direction of the truck I like the heart shot.
If they are headed generally away from the truck I prefer the high shoulder shot.

[quote=Featherweight6555] If they are headed in the general direction of the truck I like the heart shot.
If they are headed generally away from the truck I prefer the high shoulder shot. [/quote

Good answer. High shoulder shot puts them down right there. If your worried about some shoulder meat loss. Don't shoot them in the meat.

And if you're a half mile from the truck gut shoot'em and push em hard! LOL

Whatever lethal bit there's a clear path to through the trees, limbs, brush.

😂😂

That’s where we’ve always shot them (Dad/myself/brother/son). As you say, they fall and die, right there. We shoot just a few inches in front of the shoulder/front curve of shoulder, at base of neck.

The one time I’ve had to take a different shot (quartering away, about to take off), and put it behind the shoulder, to hopefully come out in front on the other side, the deer managed to make it a few yards (unfortunately, 20 yards, to a relatively steep canyon rim, that turned what would have been an easy recovery into quite an ordeal)....

I used it this morning to anchor this tiny spike. He was close to the fence and I didn't want him to cross it after I shot him. A 6mm Rem loaded with a 100 grain Sierra boatail driven by H4831 dropped him immediately

If I hit them high shoulder, it’s generally a bit of a fluke. I’ll shoulder shoot a buck or a boar if that’s the shot I’m given. I’m trying to avoid shooting up meat on does and sows.

That’s a pretty rifle.

Been thinking about trying that shot, but it’s seldom that one stands still during our rifle season, and I don’t want to booger it up.

I don't like to waste meat so I always try for right behind the shoulder through the lungs.

Shot a doe like that yesterday morning with my Jambomatic in .308, destroyed the lungs and the top of the heart, she ran about 30 feet and dropped.

High Shoulder aka - Spine - is my preferred

Frontal Center Neck is just as good.


Jerry

Shoulder for me. I'll give up a little meat loss for DRT.

Did it jam? Mb

Depends where I'm hunting pipelines,open woods lung shots if it's thick cover cut over high shoulder. Also time of day high shoulder at or close to dark.

That is my preferred shot, but will neck shoot sometimes.

Usually double lung. If I have to destroy the shoulder, high shoulder it is.

I hunt by the fence, only shot to use

yep preferred shot for deer.