Bowhunters / Shoulder Shots
- Thread starter CJD3
- Start date
Msn is full of shit on everything else. This can be added to the list
I will swear to it! Your odds are much better if you stay at least 4" behind the crease on the back side of the shoulder. Your shot also needs to be in the lower horizonal half of the deer.
These two pics above show how the shoulder is longer than many people realize. It acts as a shield/reflector on a lot of bow shots.
Add that shape to this cavity and many shoulder shots are in "No Man's Land". Those shots create a lot of blood and even bubbles in the blood from the muscles working so hard to get away. But that's all most of them turn out to be......blood.
Big_Holla
Senior Member
If I remember correctly this picture was submitted by a dog tracker and his results from the season. Been all over FB and the tracking pages.
I'm not sure how many people would argue in the first place that shooting a deer thru the shoulder blade...ON PURPOSE is a good idea to begin with.
Alot of bad shooters on this survey. BOX 8, 3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM, the absolute place you should be aiming...only has 1 red dot in it.
Alot of bad shooters on this survey. BOX 8, 3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM, the absolute place you should be aiming...only has 1 red dot in it.
You would be absolutely FLOORED to see the things I see. Many pretty much admit (eventually) that they hurried the first shot opportunity offered. "I know the shot wasn't a very good one, but..." "The angle was really shitty so I........" "Not sure where the arrow hit as he was behind a bush" YES, THEY HUNT AMONGST US!I'm not sure how many people would argue in the first place that shooting a deer thru the shoulder blade...ON PURPOSE is a good idea to begin with.
Alot of bad shooters on this survey. BOX 8, 3 UP FROM THE BOTTOM, the absolute place you should be aiming...only has 1 red dot in it.
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Stressless
Active Member
Here's a question, where do you aim, "Behind the Sholder?".
I've had great luck, vertical line back of the leg, horizontal line 2/3 down but this chart shows nobody either shoots there or hit there.... interesting.
I guess I kinda visualize that dot in the center of that thoracic and regardless of angle thats where the tip of my broadband goes thru - don't think about it any more, just instinct when shooting at a cloven hoofed critter.
LoL- Update pls see Brocks obvious answer below. Perfectly done.
I've had great luck, vertical line back of the leg, horizontal line 2/3 down but this chart shows nobody either shoots there or hit there.... interesting.
I guess I kinda visualize that dot in the center of that thoracic and regardless of angle thats where the tip of my broadband goes thru - don't think about it any more, just instinct when shooting at a cloven hoofed critter.
LoL- Update pls see Brocks obvious answer below. Perfectly done.
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Exactly. The 2 best locations to shoot have Exactly 1 red dot on them out of all those dots. Seems hard to believe. Which is why I dont.
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That’s because an arrow through that spot does not require a tracking dog to find.
Stressless
Active Member
Bowhunter57
Senior Member
I see a lot of bowhunters with a lack of knowledge, on deer anatomy. By that I mean, knowing where to put an arrow, at any angle OR...when to pass on the shot altogether. 
Archery equipment can be very lethal, but only if it's used by the shooter, to obtain its' best killing attributes. 
Switching to a heavy arrow setup with a high FOC, cut-on-contact broadheads and a well tuned bow has lead me thru a lot of shot placement and deer anatomy videos and photos. I'll admit to learning more than I thought I knew, in years past. I've killed my share of deer, but honestly, I wish I had the current/information knowledge that has been made available, in the last 5 years or so, about 40 years ago. 
Archery equipment can be very lethal, but only if it's used by the shooter, to obtain its' best killing attributes. Switching to a heavy arrow setup with a high FOC, cut-on-contact broadheads and a well tuned bow has lead me thru a lot of shot placement and deer anatomy videos and photos. I'll admit to learning more than I thought I knew, in years past.
I've killed my share of deer, but honestly, I wish I had the current/information knowledge that has been made available, in the last 5 years or so, about 40 years ago. 
I've seen deer do crazy shit on perfectly placed shots. I've also seen deer die within sight of less than ideal placement. Deer do deer shit. That map should solidify that.
steveOh
Junior Member
Hats off to Xbowguy. I quit taking tracks for some of the reasons he described. I was beginning to have a horrible opinion of hunters. That said, even with practice and knowledge of shot placement. . . There are so many things that can go wrong with archery gear. I've been guilty of "less than ideal" shot placement. Nerves, tree limbs, jerk trigger. . . Blame it on whatever you want. Sometimes even the best miss their mark. (And I am definitely not saying I am the best. I am human and have screwed up more than once.)
Even when gun hunting, I never went for the shoulder.
It was always hold a little behind the shoulder,1/3 the way up.
It was always hold a little behind the shoulder,1/3 the way up.