High shoulder shots are popular, but one of the most unforgiving and high risk shots to take. I preach this from the rooftops and try to discourage it. It works great if you hit the spine and anchor the deer. It is a disaster if you’re 1” high anywhere in the top of the shoulder. The deer receives enough spinal shock for temporary paralysis, and by the time you get to the deer you’re wondering where it went. I’ve seen a lot of deer not recovered from high shoulder shots. 2-3” behind the shoulder, center mass, is double lung and a dead deer 100% of the time. He may run 40-50 yards but he’s going to be there dead.
Agreed. High shoulder shots result in a lot of wounded deer.
I like to put the bullet in the crease behind the shoulder, or between the O and P in the photo for a broadside shot. Another thought is to aim for the exit hole, and on quarreling shots this is the rule for me. I prefer a deer to be slightly quartered away, aim a little further back and exit on the offside shoulder.
