Question about shoulder shots with a bow

[TreeStandBowHunter]

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...

[Sam16]

I think it might work occasionally, but not a high percentage kill shot. I'd stick w/ the double lungs.

[Bama]

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.

[fisherguy]

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.

[Chrud]

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.

[dogdoc]

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

[Nick]

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.

[Bow Hunter Derek]

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.

[AJ]

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.

[dartonman]

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

[RyanH]

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!

[Jeramie]

[ 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.

[carbonhunter]

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.

[BowtechTurkeyHunter]

[ 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

[VaTechHunter]

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.