Ethics of the front shoulder shot on Mule Deer

[PhillyB]

This topic has raised a few eyebrows with buddies and others I have spoken with. Some feel it is ethical, others argue that it is not.

I fully understand the concept of double lunging a buck with a complete pass through. I know that it is quick and efficient. But the bigger bucks can still travel quite a ways down a steep canyon after a pass through making for a long, steep hike out from the bottom.

With a front shoulder shot, and enough kinetic energy, you can break both front shoulders and the bucks chin hits the dirt immediately. However, another arrow or other means of 'finishing' may be required. But, there is no tracking required and he will perish right where you shot him at.

So... what are your thoughts. I have seen deer killed both ways and have my opinions, but want to hear what other backcountry guys think as well.

 

[TheRambler]

IMO the chances of just injuring an animal with a shoulder shot is MUCH higher than actually breaking the shoulder, let alone both shoulders. That is why many see a shoulder shot as unethical. It may work out, then again it may not. If you fail to break both your still going to have a long hike out because that animal can still cover some major ground broken shoulder or not. You also may never find them, which is just going to cause that animal to suiffer needlessly

IMO a shoulder shot is unethical, its even one of the things they teach you in hunter ed.

 

[bowuntr]

Are you talking about intentionally hitting both shoulder blades... with an arrow? Arrows don't work like bullets... too many "ifs" with that shot. Aim a few inches back and call it a day. Stay away from the shoulder blade... Ed F

 

[TEmbry]

Are you talking about intentionally hitting both shoulder blades... with an arrow? Arrows don't work like bullets... too many "ifs" with that shot. Aim a few inches back and call it a day. Stay away from the shoulder blade... Ed F

Yeah idk how to take the op either, but if he did seriously suggest aiming for shoulder bone with an arrow my advice mimics above.

 

[Shrek]

I'm a rifle hunter and there is almost no circumstances where I would choose a front shoulder shot over a behind the shoulder double lung shot. No way I would even considered it with a bow.

 

[ontarget7]

Not ethical for me, if its a shoulder shot I will pass everytime.

 

[Craig Van Arsdale]

Very unethical. A good double lung shot and that deer isn't going more than a couple hundred yards.

 

[wapitibob]

I'd shoot in front of the shoulder on a quartering to me animal in a second provided he was close enough.

 

[Rolo]

I tend to aim for the vitals. That may mean aiming at the shoulder muscle, but I avoid specifically aiming at the shoulder blade. I shoot 'below' it, behind it, or in fron t of it on the near side. Don't intentionally shoot at it.

 

[PhillyB]

I am not supporting the shoulder shot nor do I aim for it... but in two of my backcountry hunts last year, one with a guy I know and the other in another state by a guy I met in passing, both aimed for the shoulder and both were successful with no tracking and the deer hit the dirt where he stood.

Having met two backcountry guys that have good success numbers, I am curious if this is a growing trend among backcountry folk. I have spoken with others at shoots and at the range and found this to be more common than I originally thought. Now I dont know if this is a Utah thing, as I am a recent transplant, but I am surprised at the number of guys doing this.

From the response on here, it appears as though the majority are staying away from this thought process... as was my original thoughts on the subject

 

[Xtorminator]

If you're doing it to "shorten" the pack then you're doing it for the wrong reason. The shot choice should be chosen for the quickest kill.

 

[Mckinnon]

If you're doing it to "shorten" the pack then you're doing it for the wrong reason. The shot choice should be chosen for the quickest kill.

agreed

 

[goodgrouper]

I would say not ethical. The odds of disabling both front shoulders is slim. Quickest kill is both lungs.

 

[Trumpkin The Dwarf]

Sounds stupid to me...

 

[Ross]

Not a good idea in my book and one I would not take

 

[wapitibob]

After re reading the post it appears the question is about replicating a rifle high shoulder shot, with a bow. Heavy for caliber bullet, high shoulder , going close to 3k fps is a great shot. Back legs fold up and down he goes. An arrow can't come close to replicating the shock to the spinal column that bullet will do. And hitting the scapula won't break anything from what I have seen over the years.

 

[OR Archer]

Not a wise choice. It may work once but I would be willing to bet it will fail more times than not. Better to just wait for a better shot.

 

[fulldraw1972]

I will stick to vitals till the day I die. Double lungs means dead animal.

 

[RosinBag]

Hard to imagine someone saying they purposely did this. More like he made a bad shot and got lucky results.

I never like these stories when it's "i heard from a couple guys that...."

 

[Jared Lampton]

If you're doing it to "shorten" the pack then you're doing it for the wrong reason. The shot choice should be chosen for the quickest kill.

Well put.

I once shot a big muley with a 180 gr bullet out of a 30-06 from about 100 yds directly in the front shoulder and the bullet never entered the rib cage. Finally got him a couple hours later. No way I would intentionally put an arrow there.