How many prefer high shoulder shots?

bow_dozer

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Aug 16, 2016
Messages
290
If I want to anchor an animal I will go high shoulder. I’d say it’s a situation by situation. Still shoot plenty broadside, behind shoulder. Have had nothing but positive results with high shoulder tho. Shooting VLD’s
 

11boo

WKR
Joined
Feb 24, 2016
Messages
2,461
Location
Grand Jct, CO
If I am within effective range, I break the shoulder and drop them where they stand. Even the lowly .308 will do it.
 
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
476
If the situation calls for it. I’ve used it on two bears that anchored them right where they were shot. Hunt a drainage where everything runs downhill into very difficult terrain
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
16,174
Location
Colorado Springs
For cows I've always preferred neck shots so I don't waste any meat except the neck meat. The last bull I shot with a rifle years ago, I tried to anchor him with a shoulder shot because there was a blowdown between him and me and all I could see was high shoulder. But he still turned and ran towards me just off to my left. Second shot at about 8 yards quartering to me through the same shoulder a little lower. Then he turned and ran away so the third shot was quartering away through the ribs and again right into his left shoulder. When I found him still standing about 100 yards away, again he was showing me his left shoulder broadside, so one more 175gr Partition and he was done. Tough bull. That left shoulder was toast, and most of the right shoulder was too. All four shots under 30 yards.
 

GSPHUNTER

WKR
Joined
Jun 30, 2020
Messages
4,585
For cows I've always preferred neck shots so I don't waste any meat except the neck meat. The last bull I shot with a rifle years ago, I tried to anchor him with a shoulder shot because there was a blowdown between him and me and all I could see was high shoulder. But he still turned and ran towards me just off to my left. Second shot at about 8 yards quartering to me through the same shoulder a little lower. Then he turned and ran away so the third shot was quartering away through the ribs and again right into his left shoulder. When I found him still standing about 100 yards away, again he was showing me his left shoulder broadside, so one more 175gr Partition and he was done. Tough bull. That left shoulder was toast, and most of the right shoulder was too. All four shots under 30 yards.
I hit a cow at 185 yards with 180 gn TTSX out of my .300 Winmag. shoulder shot, which was confirmed by friend with binoculars. Never found her. I'll take heart and lung shot any day. Neck shots are killers, if you make it just right. I know a guy who shoots everything neck shots and he kills lot of big game.
 

5MilesBack

"DADDY"
Joined
Feb 27, 2012
Messages
16,174
Location
Colorado Springs
I hit a cow at 185 yards with 180 gn TTSX out of my .300 Winmag. shoulder shot, which was confirmed by friend with binoculars. Never found her. I'll take heart and lung shot any day. Neck shots are killers, if you make it just right. I know a guy who shoots everything neck shots and he kills lot of big game.
I've dropped lots of cows in their tracks with neck shots. That has been the most 100% reliable for dropping them. But I shot a cow back in the 80's from about 75 yards with a heart shot, and there was no blood on the foot deep snow where she was shot. Found the first drops about 100 yards in, then a pool, then some more. She went an estimated 1/4 mile before I found her slumped over a blowdown. When I cut her open, there was no heart.......just soup. I'm still amazed by that to this day.
 

GSPHUNTER

WKR
Joined
Jun 30, 2020
Messages
4,585
I've dropped lots of cows in their tracks with neck shots. That has been the most 100% reliable for dropping them. But I shot a cow back in the 80's from about 75 yards with a heart shot, and there was no blood on the foot deep snow where she was shot. Found the first drops about 100 yards in, then a pool, then some more. She went an estimated 1/4 mile before I found her slumped over a blowdown. When I cut her open, there was no heart.......just soup. I'm still amazed by that to this day.
My friend did the same thing, his only went about 100 yards. Not sure how that happens with virtually no heart????????? But, I have friends who tell me I'm heartless and I'm 72. ;)
 

Wrongside

WKR
Joined
Jun 3, 2012
Messages
719
Location
AB
Depends on the situation, but mostly I avoid that shot. My family loves the Rinella slow cooker blade roasts too much.
 

Rich M

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2017
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5,582
Location
Orlando
I was raised/trained to shoot for high shoulder or at least the opposite shoulder on a broadside or quartering shot. You need to have enough gun for it - shot a 300# muley with .243 high shoulder shot and he stayed on feet and got a shot thru lungs that dropped him. My 3006 woulda ended it all with the shoulder shot. I don't shoot deer in the shoulder with .243 any more.
 

MTNHUNTER76

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Mar 16, 2022
Messages
135
Best place to shoot any animal in my opinion. Animals can make it a long way even with proper heart or lung shots. I prefer to shoot trophy animals high shoulder. Meat hunting, mostly does, prefer neck shot with no meat loss. I shot a 7STW for a period of about 10yrs. Shot lots of white tail on highly managed ranches, never lost a single one and most fell where they stood.
 

WCB

WKR
Joined
Jun 12, 2019
Messages
3,640
Straight up the leg (middle or front edge of the leg) ...mid way up.
 

Like2hunt

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 24, 2021
Messages
197
I’ve been dang lucky and had been able to shoot lots of deer, speed goats and elk. At a pretty young age too. I’ve shot high shoulder, heart, lungs, neck and head. Once shot a speed goat through both eyes. But anyways I think it all depends on where your hunting and what gun/caliber your shooting. How confident you are with the set up that your shooting affects that too.
 
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