Have we become so worried about hitting shoulder bones and losing penetration that we are convincing hunters to aim too far back? I am just curious how many hunters have hit the shoulder blade and still found their deer? How well do most hunters understand the sweet spot above the knee joint that many people seem to aim behind? Thoughts? I have never lost a shoulder hit animal, except one hog. My broad heads have always busted through the shoulder bone just fine. (I don't try to hit it but it has happened)
I aim directly above the front leg about halfway up. I agree many don't realize that the joint is a couple inches forward and the shoulder blade is up more not a plate covering the are a above the leg. Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
I always aim about 4" directly above the front leg. it's nothing but meat and vitals. The shoulder blade is easy to passthru unless you hit that ridge square on. The knuckle of the shoulder which is a low shot anyway will stop most arrows like a brick wall. That's the shot that I believe most people have when they say they hit shoulder and only got an inch of penetration
I think that most shoulder hits that are lost are just too darn high anyway (unless you are shooting downward at a steep angle) About half of the paddle of the deer's shoulder blade is above the rib cage.
That sweet spot is pretty big. I have hit that knuckle on the way out a few times and that is one of the few times I have had a deer prevent a Muzzy from hitting the ground. Brisket bone sometimes stops them as well.
Very good point. I get a lot of hard down angles and hit the edge of the shoulder blade as often as not. It isn't stopping a good fixed head with sweeping blades.
Here's a doe that I shot down through the shoulder blade at a steep angle. My muzzy tipped arrow had no problem busting through and getting plenty of penetration. (out of a 41 lb bow) The arrow did bounce back up right away as she ran off, so it looked like I didn't get much penetration. She only went about 70-80 yards.
Very good post, I have had this exact same thought cross my mind time an again. I've seen a lot of people recover their deer shot through both lungs but I've also seen deer go a hell of a long ways being lungshot. I've never had a problem with deer going a long ways shot through the shoulder. I've taken two deer so far this year and hit both square through both shoulder blades. One of them dropped on the spot and the other made it a total of 50 yards. The worst part about it is both arrows were broken from the deer kicking but I have plenty of arrows and the Hellrazors are indestructable...didn't even dull them. Didn't even ruin more than a couple oz's of meat on the front shoulders. I love front shoulder shots, don't give a crap if I get clean pass throughs and into dirt or not...I'd rather have a broken arrow and find the deer within 100 yards or less...maybe I'm stupid but I'll keep doing what gives me clean results and shoulder shots always have. One exception, several years ago I had a mechanical broadhead kick out at a severe downward, quartering away shot but that was purely broadhead design and most modern mechanicals have solved that problem since then. I guess I should note that I shoot 75# but shot 70# for years and years.
[ View attachment 39396 View attachment 39397 [/QUOTE] The Vanes are the only thing that stopped my arrow... it center punched through shoulder blade, rib cage and brisket.
I will admit I am very afraid of hitting the shoulder after losing a deer last year due to doing so. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Well, don't hit it on purpose. Shoot solidly constructed broadheads, from a well tuned bow and think about your shot angle. My concern is that people are waiting for perfect quartering away or broadside shots and they end up hitting stomach or liver instead.
Sometimes I do think people run into trouble more often when they are purposely going for that heart shot. Don't get me wrong, a heart shot is awesome - it's just that the margin of error on that shot is smaller.... That's why my target is usually the middle of the lungs... IMO - gives me more of a cushion and I generally never run into issues with that front shoulder or leg....
I hit the shoulder I assume, right in the knuckle. I only got a tiny bit of penetration and and he got away with a limp. He's still kicking too.
Cmon man! I think most people are afraid of the shoulder. I like to crowd it very tight. Aim for the "v". Even more so on elk.
