If you have buck fever, shouldn't you take the shot with the greatest chance of success - IOW, halfway up the body and behind the shoulder? The downside to a high shoulder shot is that you can shoot right over the animal. [/quote]

PostOak picture in our cabin in NM!!!!
Success is watching an animal drop in its tracks
Double lung and hoping you find him is tough!

This.

PostOak picture in our cabin in NM!!!!
Success is watching an animal drop in its tracks
Double lung and hoping you find him is tough!
[/quote]

Using your pic, about 730 or 8 on that circle is very good for me

High shoulder or neck trailing is to risky

Rutted up bucks full of testosterone and adrenaline are definitely a different beast. I once shot one in the Midwest low through both shoulders with a 165 Sierra out of a .30-06. Though his heart and lungs were completely gone, he made it danged near 100 yards. Was definitely a testament in how tough a buck like this can be to put down.

If one loses a double lunged/heart shot deer one is a poor, poor deer tracker......

Nogalus, I'd generally agree with you on most shots under 200 yards or so but I've shot behind shoulder out to 325 lbs. with .30-.06 down in South Texas and out to that distance you often don't get nearly the impact nor blood has been my experience. Thankfully I have found those couple of longer shots behind the shoulder but with more tracking usually through the thick stuff. Under 200 yards, those shots have usually expired the deer inside of 75 yards. Kind of prefer the middle broadside shoulder shot because I've usually broken them down to two back legs with it and they don't generally go more than 30 - 50 yards or so on the longer shots. I know everyone's experiences are different but those have been mine. Shooting them at the top of front shoulder and base of neck has usually anchored them for me but generally requires a followup shot which I prefer to not have to perform; don't like to see the deer suffer any if preventable.

Using your pic, about 730 or 8 on that circle is very good for me [/quote]


Yes. That is the off switch. I shot a deer there by accident a few years ago and she was dead before she hit the ground. Ive probably shot my last five in that area, and the only one that wasn't dead when it hit the ground was a buck that was paralyzed but alive. I do it with a 30-06 and would probably be more tempted to do something else with a smaller bullet. But that is a devastating shot with a good 150 gr 30 cal bullet.

Yes. That is the off switch. I shot a deer there by accident a few years ago and she was dead before she hit the ground. Ive probably shot my last five in that area, and the only one that wasn't dead when it hit the ground was a buck that was paralyzed but alive. I do it with a 30-06 and would probably be more tempted to do something else with a smaller bullet. But that is a devastating shot with a good 150 gr 30 cal bullet. [/quote]

Even though they were anchored, my experience has been that they continue to try and get up even though they can't. Requiring a follow up shot.

I agree with every bodys shot placements, and don't want to take away from OP... but what about straight on shots?

I personally like them, it wrecks almost every organ inside and in my experience DRT

Straight on brisket shots have been devastating for me but have almost always involved about a 40 yard tracking job. Usually some splatter small drops of dark blood at impact, followed by larger drops 5-10 yards or so later. Have never had one get away from me that I middle brisket shot.

I put it in the shoulder every time. I have yet to lose a deer with that shot.

Better not stray much with the head on shots. When placed right its a one and done but a small margin off and can be bad news. All about the shooter though

Yep! Me too...

Absolutely!