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Post by span870 on Dec 9, 2021 11:56:55 GMT -5
Had a discussion about shot placement on deer with bow and gun, mainly hpr's but shotgun and slug got brought into it. The topic came up about high shoulder shot with either firearm. A guys that runs a tracking service said that shot is one of the most seen shots in the tracking business. I asked him exactly how sure he is that the shot hit there because we've all heard the double lung shot that ran 2 miles. He said with trail cam pics and seeing the deer at a later date. Now I get one offs and such but he even said it's more common than gut shot deer. So in my experience, except for one deer, all with a high shoulder shot went down right now. Does this make sense to anyone. Again I get the one off, maybe above spine or whatever but his claim, even with proper shot placement, he's tracked many deer that were hit perfect.
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Post by jman46151 on Dec 9, 2021 12:27:00 GMT -5
I shot 3 deer this year with a high shoulder shot using a 350 Legend. They all dropped immediately but 2 of the 3 required a second shot. One even got up and started staggering away after 30 seconds or so. Both shots hit the spine and ricocheted off and exited same side as entry. My reduction zone buck was shot just above the joint between the shoulder blade and humerous. He ran about 30 yards and piled up but had a minimal blood trail. I even tracked it back from where he lay and the middle 10 yards I only found a few small drops.
Next year I plan on aiming just below the spine to see if that helps.
So based on my experience this year I could see if the shot was above the spinal column, the deer could run away with minimal blood.
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Post by boonechaser on Dec 9, 2021 13:17:50 GMT -5
I learned a long time ago with BOW its broadside or quartering away shots only. With gun broadside, quartering away or quartering too. (Aim point is always same heart lung area only.) If I do not have a unobstructed shot at heart or lung, it is a pass for me.
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Post by esshup on Dec 9, 2021 14:31:56 GMT -5
For me, archery is broadside only. Gun that is a different story since I am a LOT more accurate with the gun and have more confidence with the gun than any other weapon.
Gun here is my go to shot placement, but it all depends on the demeanor of the deer.
Broadside over 80-100 yds on any deer I try to put the bullet behind the shoulder blade to miss the bone, but high enough so that the bullet goes beneath the spine (there is no "no mans land" under the spine if it goes thru the ribs). With a bullet, that shocks the CNS and the deer drops right there, and doesn't recover before it dies from blood loss in the lungs. I never try to hit the shoulder because to me it ruins too much meat.
150+ yds it's heart/lung shot and I know I will be tracking a bit. Now I always use a bullet that will exit the deer so I have a good blood trail.
Less than 80 yds, if the deer is calm and I don't need the skull it's a head or upper neck shot. The guns are accurate enough, I am accurate enough and since I am typically shooting from a seated position with the forend of the gun supported by some sort of rest, it's lights out for the deer.
I try NOT to shoot at a deer that is walking. All I need is 1, maybe 2 seconds after a deer stops to get a bullet headed its' way. If a deer was walking and stopped, then it's the high shoulder/heart lung shot.
I've shot deer facing directly at me with a gun, if the bullet enters at the base of the neck going through the heart/lung area, then for me typically the inside of the deer is a mess because it continues through the diaphragm into the guts. I've shot one where the deer had it's head down facing me, the bullet traveled the whole length of its body and exited. I've also put a bullet basically up a deers' nose with it facing me and the deer didn't take a step.
I have shot one buck a wee bit high on the high shoulder shot, the bullet clipped the top of the spine and the deer needed a 2nd shot to kill it, but it couldn't move from where it dropped. There was a tremendous amount of meat loss from that hit.
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Post by span870 on Dec 9, 2021 17:00:13 GMT -5
I guess my question is more, how. This is exact shot placement and not I think I hit it there. No argument that you're losing some meat. That shot puts an immediate shock to the central nervous system taking out lungs. Let's just say somehow you miss lungs it's still breaking at least one if not two shoulder blades. Deer isn't going far if anywhere. How is it possible someone needs to even track. Is it more misplaced shot and thinking that's where they hit it or what. This was a real civil discussion but came away with more questions than answers. Has anyone here ever 100% know they made that shot and had issues. I'd guess with a smaller round anything is possible and this was from a state that allows 22 caliber but his statement was across the board all calibers.
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Post by titanium700 on Dec 9, 2021 17:03:14 GMT -5
I just double lung regardless of the weapon. It’s big and they can’t go too far without lungs. If I get a perfectly broadside shot and I’m shooting a Barnes bullet I try to take out the front running gear too.
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