TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 I never did it but I was just reading a post about it. I have always(with a bow anyway) shot behind the shoulder and been successful granted even with double lung shots, I have chased them 200 yds already. But my question is, if you hit a deer in the shoulder with an arrow(usually a gun shot there puts them down QUICK), what would happen. Would the deer drop or would it run off with no chance on finding the dang thing. Just wondering. I know a spine shot would put them down, but how about a shoulder shot. Your thoughts please... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam16 Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I think it might work occasionally, but not a high percentage kill shot. I'd stick w/ the double lungs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Bama Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow It is all about penetration and shot angle. If you dont penetrate the shoulder into at least one lung you will probably not take the animal. To kill a deer lungs, major vessels, or arteries must be damaged. The shoulder on any animal is tough and it wouldnt be very ethical to hit one there. just my opinion. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fisherguy Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow The only shoulder shot i have seen was on a bull moose...well as you can guess it didn't go too well. From what i have read it is not a good shot to take. The bone will stop teh broadhead before it reaches teh vitals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrud Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I shoot my doe too far forward last year. I busted both shoulders and missed the vitals. That was with a bow only producing about 44 foot-pounds of KE, with a real light arrow and only 240 FPS. I did get a complete pass through though. Both shoulders busted and the doe went about 40 yards. She dropped three drops of blood, that was it. I wouldn't take that shot again. I really just screwed up and shot her a little too far forward. It worked, but I wouldn't do it again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow like bama said--it's all about penetration. not a shot that i would purposely take---but this was discussed a few months ago and a couple guys actually like the shot---I think AJ said he is comfortable taking a shoulder shot with his set-up. todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I dont know if you seen the pictures of the buck i got this year but i got a complete pass through with it. It hit just in front of the right front shoulder and exited just behind the left shoulder. My arrow went through like a hot knife through butter. And I always though it would be hard to get good penetration in front of the shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bow Hunter Derek Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow It's definately not the best shoot, but I've done it with success. Two years ago, I shot my first P&Y 8 pointer through the shoulder. He was slightly quartering to me. It was the only shot opportunity and he would be gone. I let a razor sharp Steelforce fly into his left shoulder. Blew clear through the deer. He went about 80 yards and fell over. Not a lot of blood. Fortunately, it was a picked bean field and I saw him go down, so tracking was no problem. It all comes down to how comfortable you are in shot placement and your equipment. Would I take the shot again? I don't know. Maybe. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I have shot deer through the shoulders with good results. I typically shoot for behind the shoulders but if thats the shot I am offered and I want the deer, I will take it. I shoot heavy draw weight (80#) and shoot 420 gr arrows at a decent speed (280 fps). Even with this momentum, I would not shoot the shoulders if I was using mechanical broadheads. I made that mistake before and did not recover the deer. Using strong fixed blade broadheads or better yet, cut on contact broadheads, the shoulder shot into vitals is as good as any. The entire shoulder is not bone. Taking a front quartering shot from the ground is higher percentage shot than from an elevated stand. Look at the anatomy of a deer and you can see there is a relatively small bone in there. Deer anatomy On a front quartering shot from a treestand, you can hit the shoulder blade and if you penetrate it you have a clean shot to the lungs. This is not as easy to get through. The bones are bigger and the bigger the deer is the harder the bones are. Heavy draw weights, heavier arrows, strong broadheads are needed to do this job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dartonman Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I shot my swamp buck this year directly in the lower shoulder, and it passed through and blew out the opposite shoulder, you can see the location of my hit in the pics...it severed the aorta, the largest vessel to the heart, and both lungs...he lived 5 seconds, and traveled 40 yards....stick with the behind the shoulder, but I am confident my bow and arrow set up will drop Illinois whitetails if I connected on the shoulder....al Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanH Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I would not purposly make a shoulder shot!!! I have made one where i just missed where i was aimming!! It was a pass threw! And had no prob finding her! But i shot her there cause of bad shot placement! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeramie Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow [ QUOTE ] I think it might work occasionally, but not a high percentage kill shot. I'd stick w/ the double lungs. [/ QUOTE ] I agree 100%. The angle of the shot, poundage of the bow, area of the shot, etc will have a HUGE factor. I hit a doe a couple years back in the shoulder, she flinched when I shot. I didn't get the penetration I wanted and she ran. I never found her and im about 90% sure it didn't kill her. Had I been back about 4" it would have been a double lung and another photo to add to my collection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carbonhunter Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow The two deer i have in the fridge right now didnt have much for shoulders, and the doe i took last year didnt have much of a shoulder either, both shots went straight threw both of them. I think the shoulder shot depends on all the things listed above. But i think what matters the most is the deers age. A big buck, NO way, i shoot the one of the biggest deer ive ever seen on the hoove two years ago with a bow. I say on the hoove because thats how he remained, the arrow only went in about 5 inches and never came close to hitting anything important. I've shot at least half a dozen does where the arrow at some point either on the entry or exit hit the shoulder. That arrow alwaysed went straight threw that shoulder and out the other side. All the deer found the ground real quick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BowtechTurkeyHunter Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow [ QUOTE ] the bow will no put a deer down if u hit it in the front sholder Bubbly [/ QUOTE ] i have killed 2 does by blowing through the shoulder the arrows puncehed the shoulder and stuck on the inside of the other shoulder ... the deer was bleeding so bad for the hole and the tearing of my arrow in his shoulder he died within 50 yards both times happened twice with 2 does ... it totally depends on the angle penetration broadheads ... **** was said before there are many variables but too say it wont kill em hmmm the steaks taste real good Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VaTechHunter Posted October 20, 2004 Report Share Posted October 20, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow This was my first year bowhunting and i hit a doe a little too far forward and she went right down, but i wouldnt try to hit a deer there, i would think a double lung would be a better place to hit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archerjg Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow It is very rare if a shoulder shot with a bow does work. Archerjg Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
magnatecsteve Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I try to totally avoid hitting the shoulder blade, but a couple of deer I hit in the shoulder after their "Duck-and-turn" move. Fortunately, I shoot Muzzy's, which so happen to be "Bad to the Bone", so I retrieved them all! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow The arrow has to reach the vitals. If the deer is slightly quartering away and someone takes a shoulder shot, it very well may not reach vitals. I have seen deer hit like this with muzzleloaders and rifles. I killed an 8 point that was hit quartering away in the shouder. He was 500 yards from where he was shot and was going uphill pretty well, until I drilled him. The shoulder shot is best when the deer is quartering towards the shooter, where the arrow is going towards the vitals, not away from it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doc Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow One problem with questions of this sort is that there are always a few anecdotal success stories that make these kinds of shots sound like preferred shot selections to new and inexperienced bowhunters. It's like a subject that came up on another forum about "ham" shots. There were so many replies about devastaing rump shots that one would be left with the impression that a deers rump should be considered a viable shot selection. I am glad to see that this "shoulder shot" discussion has not gone off in that direction. Here, it sounds that most agree that shoulder shots should not be the primary target, but if you accidently get one, you should treat that wound as lethal and put forth the same effort in tracking that you would a double lung hit. To me, that sounds like the proper attitude. Doc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow not a great shot, not a shot that would be intentional IMHO. there's just too much margin for error based on the kinetic energy of an arrow. i hit one deer in the shoulder and that arrow clipped the top of the heart and nearly severed the windpipe, but to be honest, the shot was about 1" forward. i only got about 10" of penetration on the arrow. the arrow went thru one shoulder blade. personally, i'd always aim for just behind the shoulder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
buckee Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow I made one accidental shoulder shot on a really nice buck once at 30 yrds from a tree-stand. I saw it hit and also saw that I didn't get much penetration as the deer took off over the fence. I followed the blood trail for over 100 yrds and finally lost it and the deer. Spent the whole next day looking as well. I had a feeling I wasn't going to find it, but was hoping matbe to find it laying down and finish the job. Very disappointing shot. I think I hit, right dead on that high ridge in the shoulder blade, thus, not getting the penetration needed for a kill. It may be true that you might get lucky with one of these shots, but I wouldn't make a shot like that on purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TreeStandBowHunter Posted October 21, 2004 Author Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow Well in since I posted this mess I will follow up on it now that I have a bunch of replies. I would never take a shoulder shot with a bow. No way. I was just wondering because of a post that I read in here. I was just wondering how much more solid is that shoulder bone compared to the spine when your dealing with a arrow. Now I have shot deer in the shoulder with a rifle and every single one has dropped like a rock but of course that's a little more umpf behind it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rhino Posted October 21, 2004 Report Share Posted October 21, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow Like most have said its not the ideal aim point but occasionally you will hit some deer in the shoulder blade when you're trying to shoot right behind it. I have too and some went only a short distance and dropped (one I recall within sight of my stand) and I also recall only one that I never recovered by hitting the shoulder blade. The one I didn't recover was hit with an expandable and that caused me to switch back to fixed blade broadheads. I've never had a problem getting penetration into the vitals with a fixed blade broadhead even with an accidental shoulder shot. Ideally like most, I prefer a slightly quartering away shot and aim for the off shoulder rather than just a broadside shot or a hard quartering away shot. As most of you know you don't always get your preferred angled shot opportunity. No matter how good a shot you are on the range, you will hit some deer in the shoulder from time to time. I prefer playing the odds and use a broadhead that maximizes penetration. In doing so I better my chances of getting penetration into the vitals even when I hit bone. BTW, most of the deer that I recall hitting through the shoulder either broke or bent the arrow. Better placed shots give me the chance to kill another deer with that arrow again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oo_buck Posted October 22, 2004 Report Share Posted October 22, 2004 Re: Question about shoulder shots with a bow Last year, I hit one in the shoulder (on accident). It was less than stellar..... Not a good shot in my opinion. To reuse a reply I made in another post concerning shot placement.... If a doe gets within range, I'm aiming for the back of the head..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.