^^^^^
This

I aim for the lungs, behind the shoulder, about 1/3 of the way up the body. Many times the deer is not exactly broadside, or my shot is a little off, and I tag a shoulder. Most of my deer drop where standing, however, this year I heart shot a deer, that was standing partially behind a tree, and it ran about 80 yards. Shooting a deer through the shoulders works, I just don't see the point of blasting away some of the meat.

High Shoulder...slight meat destruction for instant recovery and minimal suffering, I am fine with that.

Depends on situation. If I have a trophy hunter and we find a shooter buck it is shoulder shots only. Big bucks in thick cover can go a long way with a lung shot. To easy to loose in thick cover.
Does and culls for meat neck shot.
I used to do head shots on meat deer until I had one move at the perfect moment and shot her bottom jaw off. The poor deer died a slow agonizing death. To easy for that to happen so I quit the head shots.

I had the same thing happen to me on a cull buck about 20 years ago but was lucky enough to see that deer a day later and put him out of his misery.
Hell, when I was younger and had better eyes, steadier hand, and ran 400-600 rounds through my rifles each year I shot all does and culls at the base of head at the neck or in the head. Not anymore. I just don't spend the time shooting I used to and I don't want to risk this every happening to another deer again. My son however makes quick work of the head with the does and culls. lol

Yep on the above.

Took a head shot twenty something years ago near the Medio Creek and the spike ran off with jaw dangling whereupon I shot again only to hit him in the guts. Followed the stomachs and other internal organs as deep into the brush and as far away as you could possibly get a vehicle to. Caught up with him to find him head still up under a huisache, but seemingly pleading for me to put him out of his misery. No lower jaw and pretty much already gutted, it wasn't good.

Shoot enough animals and that scenario will and does happen; had a jaw shot myself at age 12. Not a pretty sight, bugged me for that season but you learn to accept it as bound to happen at some point, learn from it and move on.

On ranches I managed or hunt on, there have been a ton of deer shot. Only a couple had this happen but very few took this shot. Those 2 deer shot in the head ran off with jaw dangling and we tried to track and kill them that day. I was able to kill them in the next 2 weeks trying to eat at corn feeders. Years ago I took a few headshots and luckily not had this happen due to waiting for the deer to present the shot I wanted to take. It is just not a shot I take anymore.

I only do headshots if I'm using my .243 or 22-250, the deer is close and head down towards me.

I will take a head shot once every 2-3 years when the stars align. Inside 50 yards, very calm deer that is not moving much, and with a rifle that is extremely accurate from a very solid rest. But I don't go looking for those shots or thinking that I'm Chris Kyle.

Same for me when I took headshots but it was with a .223 or .270.

Thanks for sharing, good info

Not all shooters are equal, last year I saw one brought into the processor that was shot 3 times, once in the butt, once in the middle and finally in the shoulder.

We never intentionally shoot the shoulders or heart, we always try to double lung them.

If we don’t get a perfectly broadside shot, we don’t shoot.

Hate hitting the opposite shoulder especially.

Deer rarely run more than 30 yards.

Making the brain stem shot, I dang sure check cold bore shot, on paper, a few times before going on a hunt. Fortunately for me, I have a rifle range in my front yard. I just don't want these terrible stories to happen to me. I make sure it will be a clean hit. As soon as they are 200 yards, or more, I go to vitals.

It depends on the situation. Big buck, heavy brush, a long way from the vehicle, high shoulder.

Heart/lung on any deer that has my heart rate up and I have to control my breathing on!!! High shoulder (negative)! I neck shoot does sometimes but I guess it would be really be determined by how confident you are are in your shooting skill and how confident you are in what your shooting!

Same for me because it offers the largest margin for error. Two or three inches low and I'm still in the heart and lung area. Two or three inches high and I'm close enough to the spine.

With young hunters or new hunters I always tell them to follow the leg up and put it square in the shoulder. If you tell them to shoot behind the shoulder they will always shoot behind the shoulder no matter if the leg is forward or back. Depending on how the deer is standing it can and does end up in a marginal shot with a long tracking job.

That how I describe it also.

2/3 way down from the top of the back, behind the shoulder/knee whether I am bow hunting or with rifle.