I process my own deer. I usually have to do about 10 of them a year between myself and family. If we all did high shoulder shots on all 10 we would probably be wasting 50 lbs of meat between all of them and spend a lot of time cutting blood shot meat and bone chips. I think the high shoulder shot is great if you have a lot of time to get set up for a really good accurate shot and you really need to anchor the animal, like if it’s heading across an unfriendly property line. I’m going to keep taking double lung/ top of the heart shots because it makes my life a lot easier processing.

@bigdaddy4691

9 ай бұрын

Sometimes more. I work in a processing shop. I have processed 2 comparable large deer. Counting the wasting of the front part of the backstraps, both shoulders(caliber matters), and part of the neck meat. The 2 people who hunted together were flabbergasted when the guy who blew up half his deer meat got nearly 30 lbs. less meat.

@themegasexybasterd

9 ай бұрын

@@bigdaddy4691 cal. matters but doesn't the bullet matter more?

@bigdaddy4691

9 ай бұрын

@@themegasexybasterd Sometimes is does. I've used high end ballistic tipped .270 WSM and blown a hole I could fit my hand in in a deer's chest with a heart shot. I now only use bonded soft points.

@wdtaut5650

9 ай бұрын

Yes. I would like to see an illustrated explanation of how the high shoulder shot has "very little meat damage" (3:32), and how the traditional shot has "a very high likely hood of major meat damage" (7:28). I plan to keep relying on the double lung, through-and-through.

@themegasexybasterd

9 ай бұрын

@@bigdaddy4691 soft points is what I have always used but I think Im going to try some solid copper this year.

I don’t think anyone will ever convince me to change my shot placement. Double lung shot. Follow the leg straight up to middle of the body then move back about 2 inches off the shoulder. Dead every time. No meat wasted other than a couple ribs. I have lost a shoulder a couple times but it is very rare. More often than not no meat wasted. Sometimes the deer will drop in their tracks, sometimes they’ll run 20 yds with a massive blood trail, sometimes they’ll run 50 yds with no blood trail at all. But they always die within 50 in my experience and I’ve become a pretty good tracker. To me it’s just logically and ethically the right shot.

@TomR61

16 күн бұрын

I like lung shots in most situations, but I do high shoulder shots in my area due to really heavy brush. I'm sure you can relate to that type of conditions.

I’ve taken multiple deer with all 3 shots mentioned (high shoulder, heart, and double lung) plus high neck shots. The high shoulder does anchor them in their tracks often but damages the most meat no question. Heart shot little tougher to make but they run a little less than a double lung. Double lung biggest margin for error least chance of meat loss they run a little ways. My shot placement is often dictated by shot angle and distance. Inside 100 yards I like the heart shot if the angle permits, as distance and difficulty increase I gravitate towards the double lung shot. I just think high shoulder damages too much meat unless your literally on the edge of a cliff and need them to drop. Otherwise I don’t care if they run a few dozen yards.

@Andrew-jm4tp

9 ай бұрын

I couldn't have said it better. Thanks for writing this and saving me the time.

@jimk59

9 ай бұрын

Agree, except if it's my target buck (wall hanger) I'm going high shoulder as I care less about the meat. Does get the heart shot.

@danielsooon8128

9 ай бұрын

How does caliber dictate your shot? I’ll be hunting with 223 this season and I’m thinking double lung is likely best.

@DrewEdwardBacklas

9 ай бұрын

@@danielsooon8128 .223 is more capable than people give it credit for. I’ve killed 2 whitetail with 223 and they were double lung shots. I’ve killed 2 deer with a .22hornet and shot one in the neck just below the base of the skull and one in the heart. Bullet choice is more of a determining factor in my opinion. If it’s a copper solid in 223 it shouldn’t matter within a couple hundred yards it will punch through a shoulder if that’s what you want to do. If it’s a lighter construction bullet then maybe avoid big bones. That said the two whitetail I killed with 223 were with 55g vmax bullets and had full pass through on both. Doesn’t take much to kill a deer.

@Andrew-jm4tp

9 ай бұрын

@@danielsooon8128 don't let anyone tell you .223 isn't good for deer. It works just fine if you choose the right bullet. Don't use full metal jacket or varmint bullets. Get a soft point or a copper expanding bullet.

I think it is extremely important that you only take some of these shots depending if the deer is broadside. If you can't consistently produce 1 moa or better you need really consider taking the shot at the largest kill zone. Also type of bullet can seriously dictate where your aimpoint should be.

My last deer taken was at 98 yards with a single broadside traditional double lung shoot between two trees using my 30-06 rifle. The deer ran about 25-30 yards straight ahead and died. Massive blood trail to follow and an easy find in the fall leaves. Inside 100 yards I may start trying the high shoulder. Beyond that I'll probably stick to double lung to give more room for error.

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

What rifle were you using

Very good information. It would be great if you could talk more about what you mean by very little meat loss with a high shoulder shot. That high shoulder is one of my favorite cuts on the front half of a deer. Maybe make a video butchering a shoulder shot deer to demonstrate meat loss?

@JefferyAshmore

7 ай бұрын

Agreed.

Double lung shot is traditional because it has worked, still works, and will continue to work (kinda like the good ole 30.06) no matter what you are shooting. Within reason of course. Bigger margin for error as well. I’m picking double lung every time. And if that high shoulder shot does “stun” it and it gets back up, guaranteed a deer isn’t getting up from a double lung shot.

@operationNOBO

9 ай бұрын

There is no animal that can survive a hole through its lungs. That trapper in AK that used a 220 swift to kill grizzlies shot out their lungs. I recall seeing a poacher kill a bull moose with a .50 cal pump air rifle and shot it in the lung.

@exothermal.sprocket

9 ай бұрын

Just so long as it's actually all the way through, and not a single lung or not a blow-out.

@paulstaney325

9 ай бұрын

Tried and true, you let the air outa them with a double lung shot and they don't go far!

@paulstaney325

9 ай бұрын

06 fan too.

@johnstruewing1164

9 ай бұрын

You’re right. The key is to stop oxygenated blood from reaching the brain. That big hole through the lungs interrupts that blood flow. Even if the heart is still beating it is pumping blood into the “boiler room”. The brain shuts down in the matter of 1 - 2 minutes. After that, it doesn’t go anywhere. Besides, the only way to truly bleed out your deer is to shoot it through the lungs. You want the heart to pump all of that blood out of the muscles. Old butchers don’t destroy the heart first, they stun or destroy the brain, they cut the carotid artery and let the animal bleed. Generations of old hunters used to cut the throat of their dead deer which accomplished absolutely nothing but to ruin good neck roasts. If the heart is destroyed, the deer can’t be bled. That’s why I won’t take a heart shot.

Top of the heart for the win. Very good results for my 46 years shooting them.

Thanks for another interesting video. I have always gone for the "boiler room" shot, aiming about 1/3 up the chest along the back edge of the front leg. My goal is to take out the lungs and hopefully also get the top of the heart. This is a forgiving shot that allows for deer movement and a less than perfect shot. I use Nosler BT ammo, which makes a small hole going in and a big hole coming out and the deer rarely moves more than 50 yards after the shot.

@cwebb07

6 ай бұрын

Thats not “boiler room”. That would be a headshot

First deer of the year this weekend. 60 yards away slightly quartering high angle (i was 35 foot up on top of a cliff) small deer still walking in a shallow river. Traditional double lung slightly high posterior through liw anterior behind the opposite shoulder with 45-70. Massive blood loss, went 25 yards tops and frankly I was impressed he made it that far. No meat ruined just ribs, which was my intention.

I am a Professional Hunter and a Photographic Safari guide here in Africa for the last 30 years , I have seen more wounded and miss shots from international hunters who go for the high shoulder shots on African game then any other shot. High shoulder shots have more meat damage than a lung shot to on African game. We, local hunters hunt mostly for meat, the majority of us will shoot , for example’ a side on animal… come straight up on the front leg, go one third up from where the breast ( body) starts. I hear the some people say that a deers heart is further back than African game, that I don’t know.But like I said, I saw more wounded animals and miss shots from people who take high shoulder shots then any other shot. Also, I hunt a lot of game for meat on my African farm and process the meat myself, I got 18 different rifles, from muskets, .22 LR up to 458 Lott, but most of my hunting here on normal plains game is with a modern 7 mm Mauser ( 7x57) with 160 gr Speer Hot Core ( flat based ) bullets…… my brother loves his 308, ( we both reload ourself)…… just for those who are interested, lol,…… have good hunting!

@backfire

9 ай бұрын

Good info.

I enjoyed the follow up video, and I appreciate the feedback I received on the shot placement graph. I've had great results with the heart shot, and yes most of the time the deer will run about 15 to 20 yards before going down. Now I have a disability, and don't get around so well. If I get the opportunity to go hunting, I need the deer to drop where I shoot it. I plan to try the high shoulder next time my son in law and grandsons take me out hunting.

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

My first deer was taken with a british.303 Enfield mk 3 with a weaver scope using Remington ammo

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

You have a good son in law apparently.

@MarkSmith-bd5zv

8 ай бұрын

The best

Awesome! More shot placement videos please. Like cover other scenarios and angles.

@novicereloader

8 ай бұрын

Agreed. Also, covering more species would be helpful.

Last deer I shot was a high shoulder. Bullet went in just below the spine and it dropped like the strings were cut. It was just like the first shot you showed in this video. Made me a believer.

Over 30 years of whitetail hunting with basically every "type"(archery, slug gun, handgun, muzzy, rifle) tool, I have taken so many "types" of shots. I have most generally tried to take the traditional double lung. I have had poor shot placement and sadly lost a few. When I have taken high shoulder or neck shots they have all absolutely dropped where they stood. I still typically try to get the traditional shot for various reasons but if it isn't the best option a shoulder or neck shot might be. We have found that certain bullets heavily fragment in the shoulder and make a real mess causing us to lose more meat than necessary. I think this is a factor to consider in this equation also. Thank you for good content. Happy and safe hunting you all.

@terryslaton5582

6 ай бұрын

Like Berber’s bullet ?…shrapnel city.

showing the examples of the shots in the beginning was eye opening. absolutely fantastic video

For nearly 40 years, 99% of the deer I've taken went two feet to the ground from my shoulder shots. Excellent video!

Tried this high shoulder shot yesterday. Worked amazingly well. 100% lights out, not a twitch. Upon processing, we found about 3 inches of the spine was absolutely mangled on the bottom. No waste on the forelegs. I'm sold on the high shoulder shot. Great info, thanks for sharing.

Hi Jim! Am glad that you included that last little cautionary note at the end of your video - mentioning the possibility of hitting too high and just stunning the deer. I've seen this happen - when my hunting partner's buck dropped instantly I told him to chamber another round and get ready. Good thing he did! Buck got up, and got shot again, putting him down for good. Good video. Typically I go for the high shoulder as well, but any of those good vital area hits work well.

Best point made at the very end. No matter what, be prepared to shoot again. I shudder to think how many animals are lost due to overconfidence in the first shot.

You need to do survey not before mid Dec. Here in Midwest (Mi) we don't start until Nov. 15th and surrounding states focus around that time.

Excellent, excellent, excellent video and perfect timing for hunting season. I've become a big fan of the channel in the past few months. Great info as always, Jim!

Every heart shot I have ever made resulted in a lot of blood for about 20-30 yards. Every high shoulder shot required no tracking as they dropped instantly. I made one gut shot which was horrific and took hours to track. I know a person who takes neck shots with a 62gr TTSX from a 22-250 and says he has never needed to track and loses little to no meat. He is however an exceptionally good shot and is very patient.

@WinnieThePugh

7 ай бұрын

Shoulder shots drop instantly because you've physically crippled their front leg(s) not because you necessarily hit a vital organ

On a full broad side shot, I aim middle of leg and 1/3-1/2 way up. Drops them right there. Curious on the feedback, I was always told high shoulder you lose alot of meat.

@raytyre750

9 ай бұрын

High shoulder, low shoulder, anytime you hit big bone you lose considerable meat. Low BEHIND the shoulder is your best body shot for meat loss. Unless you have zero woods skills and can't track a heart shot deer.

love thinking about a deer as 3d. it's critical with a bow, but if i have a choice, i always go for double lungs. they can't run with no air. the muscles lock up. maybe a 60 yard track at most, includes elk. great video!!!

I took 2 whitetail last year with a high shoulder shot. Both went straight down with the same results in your video. Works for me!

Your video address hunting deer, therefore I think it is a very fair and reliable presentation. You make a good point on knowing anatomy, there are many, many, many blue wildebeest and gemsbuck (oryx) to name just two who are running around with scars on them attesting to failed attempts on high shoulder shots. The high shoulder shot has very little room for error and mostly leads to hitting the spinal processes, and only knocking them out temporarily.

The center of the lungs is where I generally advise people to shoot because it gives you the greatest margin of error in all directions. I tell people to visualize a basketball inside the front of the Deers chest and aim at the center of that

@jonquirk9582

9 ай бұрын

Excellent way to help new hunters visualize the kill zone!

My brother has been preaching high shoulder for years. After hitting a gut shot by just a bit behind the on a quartering away last year. I took the next high shoulder after my brother announced he would no longer help on any deer gut shot when we process or have to drag it a 100 yrds uphill on a 30 degree slope. Thanks for the vid Jim!

Good info, thanks. Hadn't really heard of the high shoulder so I'll keep it in mind

Excellent video! I would like to add another shot placement, which is the high-lung shot. It's just a bit behind and below the high-shoulder shot. It drops game in their tracks, loses very little meat, and offers good margin for error. I have shot many "lights-out" animals with this shot!

@johnmead8437

Ай бұрын

Risky and very frustrating shot if loss happens. The gap between top of lung & spine is not fatal, they can leap back to life & gone. Mostly big ones (150kg liveweight up), but worth knowing the risk.

Gary here from the UK thank you so much for the info, it's difficult to make the perfect shot you just makes it a lot easier, I will try this technique from now on, please keep the videos coming 10/10 for the info

I love your deer hunting videos, it’s really satisfying to watch and learn more about Rifles and tips about hunting. I’m looking forward to getting my first budget rifle soon (probably the standard Ruger American) and going places to hunt soon!

@cowelk

9 ай бұрын

I bought a 270 Ruger American a few years ago. It is not an expensive rifle but it is accurate. You can pay more and the salesman said paying more would get you an accurate rifle. However, as a shooter, I am the weak link. So, taking shots of 150 yards or less it is plenty accurate. Good luck.

Going for my first hunt tomorrow. Super excited

I'm like you on the high shoulder shot,it's lights out every time.

I love your videos. Very informative. Thank you!

Thanks, new info. I appreciate this.

Opening day for gun season was this past Saturday in Missouri. I hunted with my two friends and we had all watched this video. We all shot a deer on Saturday and we all used the high shoulder shot. All three deer went down immediately and all of us were impressed. Thanks for sharing your experience. We are all impressed and will continue to aim for the shoulder.

My very first deer was a frontal neck shot in the white patch. Thought I missed it dropped out of sight so fast.All the old guys at camp with 30-30 levers stopped making fun of the kid with that bolt action .308. Still have it.

Older solo hunter here and for my entire life been using traditional double lung shot. Rifle, Muzzleloader and Archery. Living in FL with brush growing 7x24 and swamps. Will try this high shoulder shot. Gets tiring tracking thru chest high brush. Running .270 Win with 140 gr. Nosler reload. Looking fwd to results from end of yr survey.

This was a great video. I need to do a hunt one of these day. I feel like I watch your hunting videos the same way Canadians watch my videos. Lol.

@yangionet8116

9 ай бұрын

💀

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

Canadians use a 303 british

@mittim6629

8 ай бұрын

Head shots only. Either ita a clean miss or clean instant kill

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

@@yangionet8116 a British 303

@novicereloader

8 ай бұрын

I almost died last December and this year was my first hunt in 28 years of saying, "Maybe next year." You're not getting any younger and your goal is a noble one.

"Where to Shoot a Deer with a rifle." If I see a deer with a rifle, I'm not shooting, I'm running!

Just love this channel🙌🏽

I agree position matters heavily on where you place a shot. Also ensuring you have the shot as well. I will be trying high shoulder this season on at least 1 deer and see the meat loss and damage difference. I hunt with a 308 so could be interesting.

When you shot the deer using the high shoulder shot, what did the shoulder look like after it was hit? The two things that I envision is that the bone shatters and causes additional trauma into the chest, and the shoulder being hit is like a hip being shattered, immediate immobility.

@MrDan1509

9 ай бұрын

Lots of meat wasted! High Shoulder shots are for Horn hunters!

I liked this and will try it this season.

That was an awesome video on high shoulder shot. I want to try it but have never come across a good enough video explaining exactly where to shoot! Thanks so much!

I am one of the 8% guys , I have been hunting for over 50 years and the high shoulder shot is by far my preferred shot unless you like to practice your tracking skills. great video Jim.

@gradyhernandez4699

9 ай бұрын

Can a 222 Remington do the job when shot there

@joeyd4079

9 ай бұрын

I've never double lunged a deer and it go more than 50 yards. No tracking involved I think with your full of shit or possibly a shitty shot

@johnstruewing1164

9 ай бұрын

Then you missed learning about how newer bullets can help prevent your deer from running so far. Even with your experience, there have been improvements. Double lung hits usually drop most deer within 30 - 50 yds. Mostly within sight or hearing of the hunter. I use a Winchester Classic Featherweight in 6.5X55 Swede. I did have a Douglas barrel installed. I prefer a Barnes 120 gr TTS. My load chronographs at 2780 fps. No magnums, no cannons. None have gone 30 yds. Always double lung at quiet deer

@gradyhernandez4699

9 ай бұрын

@@johnstruewing1164 yes! I have read articles stating that the 6.5 x 55 mm swede takes down moose in Scandinavia!!

@gradyhernandez4699

8 ай бұрын

@@johnstruewing1164 I have read that in Scandinavia they use a swedish Mauser { 6.5 x 55} on Moose .

High shoulder for the win every time. Excellent video

Hey so I tried the high shoulder shot this weekend and will say that having the deer drop without a step is nice considering the situation. I shot in some very thick vegetation/timber which I made the decision for the high shoulder. I would have favored a little lower in the vitals but I think for my preference my shot placement is dictated by the situation presented. Thanks for the video and the info provided.

I have been thinking about the high shoulder shot for quite some time and will be my target if I get any opportunities this year. Not having to track a deer is always the best. I like to consider myself a good woodsmen and blood trail tracker, but I'd rather be a better shot and have instant confirmation.

I’ll try it this season!

Great idea!

Super excited for this season. This video just encouraged me to finally try the shoulder shot. Been double lunging for 26 years

I knew I recognized you. Watched a lot of your project 24 videos. Shot 3 this yr. Always aimed for heart shots. Usually high heart. Small doe heart shot dropped in spot Large doe, clipped top of hesr and lungs. Ran 20yrds crashed into tree. Spun around hit another tree and dropped. Medium size doe (I was 30" up a tree on a hill and deer in ravine) so I aimed higher lung. She ran her ass off. Hella blood trail (blood everywhere) say she ran a solid 150 to 200yrds. Was honestly shocked based on blood loss how far she made it.

High shoulder is fantastic. It anchors the deer. If your a little off in any direction it still works and they never go far. It is also very forgiving on the type of bullet you use: hollow point or polymer tip. I think it is the go to placement in Europe. I prefer to anchor the deer and traditional placement doesn’t seem to get that result.

Traditional has always worked for me I normally pull a inch to the right when I shoot

My man knows how to make a good video. States the question and answer in first minute and great timing of the video

I’m a big fan as of late to shooting them right below/behind the ear

Good video. I liked the dog running after you on your ebike.

For most of my hunting experience it just depends on the situations I generally use the double lung shot but have used the high shoulder. But it really depends on the bullet type. So it really comes down to the actual position of the deer and the distance and remaining calm and as my dad always preached to me was to bear down boy.

@danielsooon8128

9 ай бұрын

If you are hunting with 223, almost certainly better to go for a lung shot right? Need a bigger caliber for shoulder shot I’d figure?

@JamesSmullins

9 ай бұрын

​@@danielsooon8128that's my thinking as well, I use hand loaded speer gold dot 62g bonded soft points. Great for Texas deer and deadly on double lung and heart shots. But I'm not sure it make it through the bone to hit the spine. I do know a few that neck shoot for the spine for fast drops but they're really good shooters.

@bruceyoung6112

9 ай бұрын

@danielsooon8128 I have killed deer with a 223, and yes, it's legal in Kentucky, and my late father did also. Shots were under 75 yards, and it worked. Now that said, my normal rifle is a 25/06 with Hornaday Whitetail 115 grain. I agree with your comment. I refrase my statement depends on the caliber and the situation for shot placement.

Good stuff Jim, I listened to the podcast with John McAdam when he interviewed you, I enjoyed it.

With the classic double lung shot. From an elevated stand. Often the heart is hit in the process.

This is good information. I've always gone for the heart shot on deer, and usually have to track some distance, which in the steep canyon country I hunt can get problematic in a hurry. After having this information presented in a logical way, I may just try the high shoulder shot this year.

@toaster3822

8 ай бұрын

Gunna lose so much meat. It's just not worth it

@calvinruggles732

8 ай бұрын

@@toaster3822 rather lose a little shoulder meat than a whole deer

i was taught to aim at that shoulder with the 270 and have put many down on the spot. As i got older, i started experimenting with aiming at vital organs and i have had similar experiences with the heart shots. They run a bit. I think if you have a fast gun with knock down, the shoulder is fine. A smaller caliber, not so much.

I've always been a fan of the neck shot. I've taken quite a few deer and elk with it and found you either dispatch the animal very quickly or miss completely with only damaging neck meat.

Tonight!! High shoulder was lights out brother!! 300 blackout 60 yards!! In tight woods in my normally archery stand. High shoulder was perfect bagged a medium 6 poin

The thing about the "double lung" shot is I like to tuck it just a little low above the heart and that will deliver trauma if not damage to the heart as well while still giving a really good margin of error. Center mass is the ticket for me, which is why I wont go right at the heart or a high shoulder shot.

In my prep for hunting season, which is already underway, I came back to this video. It's a really interesting topic. I wonder if a good percentage of those who said they preferred a double lung or heart shot were bow hunters first. I started as a bow hunter and eventually graduated to using a firearm and the notion of a should shot just seemed out of whack for me, but now that I've studied it and become more familiar with my firearm and ballistics, I'll definitely try the high shoulder shot.

Shot choice should depend on game type, cartridge, distance, wind, etc. but I agree that the high shoulder shot usually anchors the animal in place which is especially valuable if hunting on public lands with other hunters nearby. I have seen animals tagged by the first hunter to find them whether or not they made the shot so dropping them in their tracks is a big plus.

Absolutely agree! with the exception of archery but any gunshot hitting the scapula anchors them in their tracks!

Great video Jim. I vaguely remember Jack O’Connor writing about how a high shoulder shot would just drop game.

Very interesting! I had no idea... I have an A Tag for deer and elk in MT. I hope to have an opportunity to put this to use. Thank you and God bless, Miles

Tried a high shoulder this year for the hell of it. It really does anchor them.

Been doing high shoulder for years in South Texas. Not fun tracking in thorns so we like to anchor them

A little over a week ago, I got a pronghorn at 296 yd (I estimated it to be 280). It was not quite full 1/4 to me, showing left flank with a 5mph wind almost directly from its rear toward the head. I went for a high shoulder, hitting about 1.5 inches low and left of my point of aim. I completely forgot to account for wind in my excitement. I ended up catching the top edge of the left lung, severed the aorta, destroyed the top forward third of the right lung. Entry cost me about 1 lb of left shoulder and the exit was about two ribs forward of the diaphragm. The heart was intact. I'm very glad I watched this video, since it reminded me not to automatically aim exactly where I'd programmed myself to see "the perfect aim point" on the hide, which would've earned me gut damage on my first hunt in 28 years. The animal definitely did not suffer a long death, as it landed in the deep hoof marks it made when impacted. Thanks for great content, Sir.

Can Confirm, the high Shoulder shot works very well. Prior to this my preferred shots were neck shots or double lung usually avoiding the scapula. Now I just aim for the scapula and have taken 4 Deer with that shot placement or attempt. In all 4 cases the deer went down immediately with no tracking or trailing required. In one case, with my Muzzleloader, using iron sights at 100 yards I did miss about 150mm forward. In this case it turned out to be a neck shot which is also highly effective.

I made my first intentional high should shot last season. Previously I always aimed for heart or lung. It was an Oklahoma 9 point buck standing broadside, 170 yards, using .308 150 grain Remington core lokt. The buck fell where he should and did not take even a half step. A very effective shot but when uncertain of the shot, I will always go for heart/lung. I say intentional because in past years I have sometimes hit deer and had the drop where they stood and in retrospect they high shoulder shots. I did not know about the mass of nerves in the high shoulder area.

Been thinking about this. Going to try the high shoulder. It also takes Dow the nervous system to the entire body.

Sounds great for long gun hunting, I always end up drawing archery ( when I do draw out) and getting the hunters choice archery elk every year. I'm not so sure an arrow through the scapula is such a good idea.

Great video. I've heart shot numerous whitetail and no longer purposefully take the shot. I once shot the top of the heart off (it literally fell out during gutting) with a muzzleloader and the deer ran almost 200 yards and died mid stride (know this due to snow). High shoulder anchors them every time. Maybe a touch more meat loss than a lung shot, but if there's no snow or I need to anchor them I go high shoulder every time.

I showed this to my wife (fist time hunting last fall), she took a 6 point with a 6.5 Creedmoor at appx. 60 yards with this shot, I was at the other end of the field (430yds appx) watching with binoculars, perfect 'freeze and drop' shot. I took a doe near the same spot with the high shoulder shot, and I had to do a 'quartering towards me' shot with a 6.5 Grendel on another doe - she went about 18 yards, both lungs were taken out, I aimed slightly to the right of the 'v' graphic in the video near the end.

Ive been using the high shoulder method for years, and i can unequivocally say that if you like to watch them fall in the scope, its the ticket. I have had some meat damage in the past, but it was mostly when i was still shooting lead bullets. Since I've switched to copper, it's just not much of an issue. Shoot light for caliber bullets and push them as hard as your rifle will allow while maintaining good accuracy. 3000 fps is the floor for me, and theres not a ceiling. As a side note, if you can catch a deer with its head down, the high shoulder shot is even more devastating.

@Dusdaddy

9 ай бұрын

Couldn't agree more. I'm shooting 130 grain Barnes in my .308, light and very fast.

@robertmajors1737

9 ай бұрын

@Dusdaddy Yup, I shoot that same load in my 308. Fill it up to the neck with Win 748 and I'm getting just over 3100 fps in my 20" R700. Whitetails hate it.

Here in New Zealand we have lots of ferel goats. My highshulder experiment has been 8 goats- that didnt take one step with the shots. Its almost comical how their legs go stiff and they’re down. Im sold!

I shoot a 30 30 after hunting many years with a bow , high shoulder shot is lights out! Every time !

Sometimes neck and head shots are not out of the question. I know many will disagree but it takes practice. And it is something I have worked on over the years. But my shout of choice is absolutely unequivocally the high shoulder shot. I stumbled on to it by a mistake one day and learned from there. Somehow I missed the distance of the deer and the shot was very high up in the shoulder and it dropped like a rock.

@timothywilliams2021

9 ай бұрын

Agreed. My last deer was a neck shot just bellow the head. Taking out the spine drops them in there tracks. If or where you shoot really depends on the situation. Distance angle obstructions movement equipment competence and confidence.

I have learned to use high shoulder shot 10 years ago. It requires an accurate shot not always available. I've taken game on 3 continents that never took a step. My friends are amazed when they drop straight down. Very ethical as well.

Just high shoulder's an 8pt yesterday.....drops em. Lost a little shoulder/backstrap from blast injury. I'm convinced they get spinal shock and drop and can never get up. Need to go high, BehindShoulder,shot

Wonder what you think about the texas heart shot?

@Just_Samson

9 ай бұрын

😂

I have always used the heart shot with a gun but this past year i went hi shoulders it dropped in its tracks definitely trying it some more .thanks

the high shoulder always seemed like the best, but its a harder shot imo. depending on the distance and angle, i generally go for the double lung because i am more comfortable with the margin of error in my shooting dropping them in one shot. i may just have to practice more and get comfortable going high shoulder.

I like a slightly high heart shot due to how I zero my gun. I use the "maximum point blank range" method. I only want bullet to hit 3 inches high and 3 inches low before I adjust elevation. This allows me to not even think about elevation within 300 yards (with the load I use).

Good, Thx

My only problem with this video is that you have proper guns, sighted and tested. You are pretty good shot and you're training all the time. 98% of your viewers are not and they shouldn't be encouraged to take risky shot that you have 2" margin on elevation with gore consequences if missed. I've seen spine shots gone wrong and hunters emptying 5 additional shots into a kicking and screaming animal and fail to finish it. Lung and heart shot carries a lot less risk and pretty much the same result. I do heart only for the last few years, most of the time they don't even know what happened, they just take a few steps and fall.

@johntrammell4033

7 ай бұрын

The no track drt.. back of front leg up just where front shoulder moves and down from back bone small caliber bullet 115 to no more than 130 bullet size is important that all it takes field dress withing five minutes a must if not meat will be a bloody mess u will see the difference when cooking safe hunting be blessed

Good morning Jim from cold northern Ontario. I only have ever taken a shoulder shot on one animal I hunted. It was a dry cow moose no calf with her. She was 190-200 yards away and I decided that didn’t want the moose to take off into the bush towards a swamp. I took the shot and the cow dropped where she stood as the shot went through the scapula and hit the spine. This year I had an 8 point buck standing in my lane 60 yards away facing me. I only shoot double lung shots on deer because there is little to no waste of meat. With the double lung shot I have found that the deer seldom go more than 50-75 yards before they hit the ground. The buck I had in my lane this year stood facing me for over 13 minutes before he finally turned broadside walking away and I had to quickly get on him and fire with my Tikka T3X 7mm-08. It was an off hand shot but I felt good about it. There was no blood at the spot I shot him or in the bush that I could find. I kept walking in the bush and found the buck about 50 yards away. There was zero damage to the meat and I hit the lungs. No high shoulder or neck shot for me. Broadside is a nice big target!

I will try this high-shoulder shot.

My son made a nice quartering away high shoulder shot at about 40 yards this year. 308 Barnes 150 copper at about 40 yards, dropped immediately. Took out a few ribs, pinched a hole through the opposite shoulder blade and was recovered!

I was one of the eight percent that said definitely high shover to anchor the deer right where it stood. Had a friend who wasn't the best shot but he was decent, And he always shot tradditional area area for killshot. I watched him flinch badly when he fired at a deer and it dropped like a rock. When we got to the deer, he hit it. Perfect high shoulder, I looked at him and said. I know that's not what you were aiming when you flinched. He said No, but it sure dropped him back legs first. He said that was his shot placement from now on. Of course I said...told you so😂

I hope to be able to get out to Overland Expo East this year. I will be mostly hanging out with the Coddiwomple Overland group and the xgrid campers booth. If so I will stop by to say hello.

I've always gone for dead center mass of the chest cavity, whatever angle. Haven't had many get away. Been doing that since the 70's. Works for me.