I have always tried to take a behind the shoulder shot on a deer but wondered what everyone else does. I've seen the shots that drop them in their tracks and want to know if that is a common shot? If so, what is the landmark to aim at. It looks like a spine shot but I'd be concerned of shooting high and missing. I've never lost a deer but with the new area I'm hunting, tracking could be tough. occassionally.

I've dropped several in there tracks with a direct shoulder shot, but you do loose meat that way and you had better be shooting a big enough gun to penetrate the shoulder bones. if you really want them DRT (dead right there) I would neck shoot them they don't take a step.

Many on here prefer head and neck shots, head shots on does or when the antlers don't matter, neck shots on bucks.

I have taken a few that way, but it is not my preferred shot.

I like heart/lung, behind the shoulder shots or when in doubt, shoulder shots and try to break the animal down on the spot.

I spinned my deer last year and it didn't take a step but I should be able to make a cleaner shot this year and hopef tracking doesn't become an issue.

arrow, always behing the shoulder for me, no matter the animal.

rifle, neck choot does. Behind the shoulder on bucks.

I ONLY take the neck shot if I feel comfortable and the deer is perfectly still.

ac

I always aim for right behind the front leg of the deer, right behind the "elbow" of the front leg. This should get almost 100% of the heart.

sorry right behind the "arm pit" deer dont have elbows! duh.

trophy in the front of shoulder break both and get on the ground drt, not worried about losing a little shoulder meat if it is a true trophy.

I've dropped 2 in their tracks, one was on a trot and I was 12 years old. The old 30-30 in the shoulder at 50 yards knocked him down. The other was all luck, I hit him right in the spine behind the shoulder and he did a back flip. I just saw multiple drop shots on the hunting shows and wondered if it was the norm. Behind the shoulder/armpit is my shot of choice for now.

HEAD or NECK "behind da ear" no better place.

I personally like neck shots when I can. I've never personally had or seen a neck shot animal do anything other than DRT though I understand others have had different experiences.

Many of my heart/lung/shoulder shot animals have ran various amounts. Never the neck shot ones though. Just plop. Maybe a little meat is lost but I didn't have to look for the animal so it was a good trade to me.

For me it usually comes down to distance. Inside of 75 yards, I like the neck. Over that and it's the bigger heart/lung shot.

Earl

Bucks: I punch them through the shoulders.
Does: I head shoot them.
Hogs: I head shoot them.

I second the head shot on pigs. I lost one a couple weekends ago because of a high shoulder shot. From now on its the head. Never shot a deer in the head/neck, I dont know that I'm that accurate at the distance my stand is. Maybe I'll give it a try this year.

My son shot a doe in the head this morning twenty yds . I take the shoulder shot puts them right down.I take the head on hogs and does.That is with a rifle.

Is it youth season? My girls are a little young for the rifle yet so I dont really pay attention. Congrats to him though.

My favorite shot with a bow is slightly quartering away. Go in a little back, come out next to the shoulder. Lungs, heart and a good blood trail. With a rifle, neck if it a meat shot, heart on a keeper.

must be mld, youth season opens the weekend of 10/24.

spine shot...you'll get into your backstrap..NOOOOOOOO u wanna drop em, Neck shot with a 30-06 .270 or similar make em DRT (dead right there) 99% of the time, I've only seen one that didnt drop and it was a .223 to the neck that didnt break the neck, the normal deer calibers will fracture the neck and drop em