Home Forums Hunting & Shooting General Big Game Informal poll- do you shoot through the shoulders on deer?

Just curious.

I don't. I HAVE, once, when it was the only shot I had. It worked fine other than losing some meat.

I can certainly see how it makes sense in some situations. Like if you don't care about the meat, or if the critter is located such that if it went 50 yards it could be a real problem. Mountain goats... bears... dangerous game come to mind. Perhaps elk.

But deer? Not me... I try to tuck it right behind the shoulder.

What say you?

I dont purposely try to shoot the critter in the shoulder but if that happens so be it.
I would much rather have a dead deer on my hands with some wasted meat than a wounded deer running around with a poor shot on my behalf.

I aim for off side shoulder. Has always worked for me.

Through the shoulders with bullits.
Double lung them with broadheads.

Back edge of the shoulder where the bones V aka top of the heart and both lungs.

where else would one shoot - neck?

I tend to try to hit both shoulders,but it is often not where I hit them because they are often moving or in thick cover or dim light or all of the above.

Britt

A bud shot a deer in the Cheeri O once.......killed him too.

I am for the heart, no matter the angle or how the bullet gets there, shoulder, bone or butt.

I generally have to Cheerio them because they are generally running straight away the moment I'm spotted.

Wonder why?

Now that is kinda funny, If you think about it.

Honestly?

Diarrhea of the mouth; constipation of the brain....

I will but won't if I can help it.

BCR

Shooting slugs here in Iowa, I shoot right behind the shoulder.

shoulder or behind the shoulder suits me, depending on the offer, prefer behind the shoulder, but there is precious little meat on a deers shoulder..Neck or head is good if circumstances are such to make the shot easily..

I will also take a going South shot if need be, its a deadly shot and puts them down in a hurry as it actually destroys a lot more stuff...As to ruiningn the taste of the meat with a gut shot or going away shot, thats just pure BS, wash them out within a reasonable time with water or snow and they are fine. Heat is the killer.

Not if I can get a clear shot at the neck.

I like the lungs. Good sausage meat on the shoulder. miles

I generally have to Cheerio them because they are running straight away whilst I chamber a round.
Sometimes I have to Cheerio them twice because I only shoot a .22 centerfire.
Sometimes I Cheerio them just to watch them flip over frontways, if I'm using a really big caliber.
And sometimes I just shoot them, and yell, "Cheerio!"

The Malice between you two is eternal- TFF




Oh, I forgot to add- I have seen more capes ruined by this and neck shots than anything else. Too many bullet come to pieces or blow bone chips out the far side. I don't "try" for this shot but occasionally it happens!

I have had good luck with "hump" shots on elk.