Here is one for the rifle hunters

[Guest BCBOY]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

Don't think the subject of ruined meat is off topic, as I know that is 'Why' I was raised doing heart/lungers. To guys like my ol' man, even though that shoulder ain't the greatest cuts, he wanted the least amount of damage just behind the shoulder does that.

Really each to their own. If you are a compatant shooter and you can make that headshot, they do drop like a ton of bricks. In my neck of the woods, it is very rarely that you can ever find a true, clear, shooting lane. Brush shooting is a must. A twig can cause some major deflection even at close range. That is why headshots ain't a great idea around here. Would hate to blow the jaw off a deer and have it suffer while it starved to death.

[hutchies]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

Well last year the neighbor shot a small buck with a .30-06 and gave it a set of swivel arms. He lost a bunch of meat on that deal.

[BowtechTurkeyHunter]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

I just shoot em in the front shoulder they always die I will always take the high percentage shot.

[horst]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

Thanks Iminrut, so its because it does to much damage that they wont aim for the shoulder with this round.Like I said, I know very little about rifles and it probably shows

One more observation, you guys keep refering to the shoulder as a smaller kill zone than behind the shoulder.Arent the vitals the same size regardless of where you aim If I hit the shoulder, or hit right behind it, Im still taking out lungs, right

[AJ]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

Horst, the 243 Win and the 25-06 will break through the shoulder just fine. Deer are not armour plated. I know as I have done it often enough. The high shoulder shot usually takes out the spinal column. Hence the drop on the shot reaction. Usually I shoot for the lung shot behind the shoulder. So I track them a little ways. No biggie. If I shoot the shoulder, usually both shoulders are gone if its a perfect broadside shot. If I only have a front quartering shot, I will take it. I prefer the lungs though. I will also not hesitate to shoot a running deer. I practice at moving targets and the behind the shoulder gives the most room for error.

[johnf]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

Every deer I've shot has been a behind the shoulder shot. I was told as a kid that if you take that shot then the deer bleads out into the chest cavity and the meat taste better. When I gut the deer the body cavity is full of blood, so I've never questioned it.

So is this wrong?

If not not, when you take the high shoulder shot does the deer bleed out the same?

[TexasDeerHunter]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

I hunt mostly with a 55gr, .223 Remington 700 and a Leupold VX 2 scope. Anything within 200 yards is a dead deer. I have had no problem with it penetrating a shoulder if the shot is less than 100 yds. and for some reason I choose that area to shoot. Like I said earlier, I shoot for the neck. If the shot is'nt there then I shoot for the shoulder unless it's far off, then behind the shoulder. I do recommend using a pointed soft point instead of a ballistic tip because I want the penetration. When I hunt in Kansas it is illegal to hunt with anything under .24 caliber, so I shoot either a 120gr .260, or a 150gr .30-06. And it is the neck shot first choice, but if I am shaking or it is really windy then I shoot high shoulder. I take into account the situation of each shot before I choose if, when, and where to shoot.

[ranchand99]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

They do that because that's how most people are taught.Lungs are the biggest kill zone.You have to acquire shooting skills to make spine shots.Beginners are apt to make mistakes.I shoot them in the shoulders with a gun.Generally he will go 30-40 yds.You're right about the other two shots.Anywhere close to the spine will drop them.I still don't recommend neck shots though,but if your shooting a 22-250 or something like that....that's where you should be aiming IMO.

[joebobhunter4]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

i kinda like trailing them except if it was a huge buck id rather have it drop so i could see it and not let it get away

[popgun]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

I do not enjoy having my heart in my throat for the normal length of time it takes me to find a deer by following a blood trail.

Here, where I hunt, every leaf on every bush, brush, shrub, tree, or weed, either turns red when it hits the ground or spotty red.

My eyes aren't as good as they once were, and I usually carry a spray bottle of peroxide in my truck....just in case.

It is sometimes easier for me to find a spot of white bubbles than another spot of red.

I also use this peroxide to clean up the deer a little before photos are taken.

....popgun

[Guest Finn]

Re: Here is one for the rifle hunters

I usually shoot for just behind the shoulder. Tracking lung shot deer has never been a concern for me.

Last year, my Dad neck shot a doe at about 50 yards and she went down right there. That doe's meat was blood shot just about everywhere.