Shot Placement

[Uncle J]

I appreciate everyone's response! Always enjoy reading on this forum - hope y'all have a great weekend!

 

[younggun308]

When I started deer hunting as a youth, that was the shot I almost always opted for. But I found myself lacking confidence in it past 50 yards—at the time the trigger pull on my rifle was awful.

Since then, I've generally aimed for the top of the lower 1/3, just inside the leg bone's curve. The deer usually "drain" and black out within 10 seconds, usually with catastrophic heart and lower lung damage.
Had a doe run an impressive semicircle of 50 yards and an 8-point buck that made it just shy of 50 yards last ML season in that timeframe. But with a high powered rifle, I recover them all within 20 yards of where I shot them.

With my trigger pull significantly improved, I'd opt for a shoulder shot at last shooting light.

 

[megalomaniac]

I always shoot high shoulder. 90% of the time I hit exactly where I aimed and the drops instantly and is dead by the time I get there. The other 10% are hit a tad lower so they run, but are dead within 100y.

 

[tahtah]

Related to the original question, for those that frequently execute this shot, what's the smallest caliber you'd feel comfortable with? I've seen several mentions of larger calibers or high fps, but what'd be the least? Would you take this shot a 243? 6.5 CM? 25-06?

 

[Remi]

Related to the original question, for those that frequently execute this shot, what's the smallest caliber you'd feel comfortable with? I've seen several mentions of larger calibers or high fps, but what'd be the least? Would you take this shot a 243? 6.5 CM? 25-06?

I've done it a bunch with a 243 Winchester and a 260 Remington I've seen it done with a 223.

Stoutly constructed bullets in the 22-24 cals are definitely recommended.


.26 cal when you get into the 120gr range of bullets it's hard to find one that won't punch though the shoulders. I've used the 129 Hornady Interlock, 140 Sierra, 140 Partition, 140 Corelokt and 120 Nosler Ballistic Tip

243 I've used 95gr Ballistic Tip, 80 GMX, 80 TTSX, 95 Gr Federal Fusion, 105gr Hornady BTHP Match

 

[Joe2Kool]

I usually go for the heart/lungs, but have had a few high shoulder shots and they dropped in their tracks. Shotgun slug, 50 cal ML, and 7mm Mag, results were the same. Dropped.

 

[deerhunter10]

Related to the original question, for those that frequently execute this shot, what's the smallest caliber you'd feel comfortable with? I've seen several mentions of larger calibers or high fps, but what'd be the least? Would you take this shot a 243? 6.5 CM? 25-06?

A 25-06 is a hard hitting round and very underrated. The other 2 not a fan of at all.

 

[Uncle J]

Related to the original question, for those that frequently execute this shot, what's the smallest caliber you'd feel comfortable with? I've seen several mentions of larger calibers or high fps, but what'd be the least? Would you take this shot a 243? 6.5 CM? 25-06?

 

[Uncle J]

Y'all are making me want to ask the big question on what your preferred / favorite go to whitetail only cartridge is! Lol I know better than to ask this due to the fights it may cause and the fact that there are so many great calibers that will all do the job….

 

[agelessssone]

I've been shooting the high shoulder shot for the last 15 years.
I shot a buck there years ago ( just a lucky shot as he was running). When I covered the 70 yds, he was still alive but immobilized, finished it with a pistol.
Next day I had a standing target (and a hay roll for a rest) at 90 yds so I took the high shoulder again (.280, 140 gr HP) and again, dropped right there and had to finish.
Since then, if I have the right rest (I mostly hunt from a hang on) and a slow or stationary deer, that's my shot placement of choice.
No tracking needed, just want to get down and finish the job.
Muzzleloader the same. Pistol, center mass in the ribs, no more than 40 yds though.

 

[agelessssone]

I always go for a heart/lung shot with lungs favored, have heart shot bucks and had them run 100y or more, it's surprising how far a doe can push themselves with 2 broke shoulders, and I shoot a 300wm lol

Saw a buck that my brother shot run for 100+ yards with the bottom third of its heart shot off.
30-06, 165 Spitzer boattail HP.

 

[Gravey]

For a doe where I'm wanting as much meat as possible it's behind the shoulder. If a buck that I'm wanting to drop in its tracks the high shoulder gets the nod if possible.

 

[UTGrad]

I reload and shoot precision rifle year round so I like to shoot them directly in the heart. It's a smallish target so it's a challenge and obviously kills them very quickly. Also, heart shots are low and often have immediate blood on the ground. I've never had to track one though.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Neck shot 2.5 year old doe. No tracking necessary.

 

[Lt.Dan]

I reload and shoot precision rifle year round so I like to shoot them directly in the heart. It's a smallish target so it's a challenge and obviously kills them very quickly. Also, heart shots are low and often have immediate blood on the ground. I've never had to track one though.

Pickled heart is the best eating part of a deer for me. I call it deer Candy.

 

[Bell3wv]

I am curious if anyone uses or aims for the high shoulder shot on the forum, and if so what your experience has been. I've used the behind the shoulder (double lung) for decades with the occasional center of the front shoulder shot only a few times depending on scenario with great success, but never intentionally aimed for a high shoulder (tip of upper front shoulder). Videos are impressive watching this shot but always curious on first hand experiences. Obviously this question is geared toward the rifle hunters out there and not archery. Thanks in advance!

If I'm public hunting with a rifle it'll drop them in their tracks.

 

[Omega]

Neck shot 2.5 year old doe. No tracking necessary. View attachment 195530

Yup, hunting 7.2 acres make me use this method, only tracked two and a blind man could have tracked it, didn't go far.