Shoulder or lungs

[elkhunter1234]

I have to agree with fish on this one. It's always the point of the shoulder for me. I have had to follow a few elk into some dark ugly places after a lung shot.

Jim..

[top predator]

I prefer lungs, don't like to waste meat.

However, last winter I shot a Moose at the end of legal time on the last day of the season at the edge of a large dark swamp in the shoulder.

[1965BB]

Since no one is relying on the animal to keep them and their family alive for the winter the only ethical shot is heart and lungs. I have found numerous carcasses on my property from poorly placed shots.

[Skybuster]

Another vote for lung shot. Big target and as long as you sit for a bit after taking the shot, your animal won't go far. I like to eat my lunch at that point.

[bb356]

Lung's

[southernman]

Well, I am not with most of you guys, on the lung and heart shot.
Most likely because off different set of hunting conditions, were I started out,
I am a threw the shoulders, with the object to use enough gun to break both shoulders, or a center brisket shot, or as someone else said shoot for the far shoulder, there is lots of vital blood work in between the shoulders, a little far back and a heart or lung shot, perfect, bit high, spine shot.
I spent a few years deer/goat culling and meat hunting in New Zealand, and the last thing you wanted, is aminals running any were, shoot a mob of three deer in the lungs in steep country and have each one run 50-100m then try find them. esp given that at least one will be at a running aminal.
Or a goat, thar, sheep or trophy stag/bull, run or kick them self, off a bluff and smash to pieces below. Or a deer getting into a dirty patch, of thorns or stinging nettle.
I know there is good reason for the lung heart shot, that most recommend, but its also generally Flat ish, here. and most everyone I know, who hunts is trying to maximise the meat from game harvest. There is no perfect single place to shoot all of the time,
I dislike head shots, as have probley shot 15 plus deer with jaw shot away, and for a overly excited new hunter, the shoulder is a much better place to recommend when you notice the barrel isn't so steady.
practice lots, shoot straight and keep the knife sharp.

[sns2]

LUNGS. LUNGS. MORE LUNGS.

Always has been and always will be for me.

I hunt for meat. Lungs have no meat.

[gunsight]

Originally Posted by JD 848

If out passed 175 lung or heart ,closer in back head or neck specially when they stop to look back,back of the head, in sometimes thick bush and all you see is the hump on a moose break his back if close up ,just walk up and finish your job.95 Percent of my kills stay where there standing,lights out.
I know the proper way is lung and heart,but if you trust yourself and your gun the back off a bull's head is a big target,and the higher up you can shoot less chances of deflection from small poplars etc.
I would not advise young hunters to go for head shots 'until your able to concentrate and your mind gets into a zone where nothing else is on your mind and no nerve issues,buck fever etc has gotten toldlly out of your system,for some people they have nerve issues when confronting to kill for life and never get rid of buck fever etc,stay with lung and heart.
Once your mind becomes the weapon,the rifle is only a tool that finishes the job.

the most sound advice I've herd in a long time I would say that mentality should be for heart,head,or lungshots.

[Lefty-Canuck]

Lung/heart pass through is way more reliable than a head/neck pass through...first hand experience.

Larger target and greater probability of a clean kill IMHO, I used to be a 100% behind head/neck shots....but I matured

LC

[sns2]

I shot a bull moose in northern BC that took more lead to his head than you could believe. I shot him in a cut block. I was at the top and he was down a steep hill. Hit him in the spine. He went down. I walked back up to the truck and drove down to access the cut block from the bottom, so as to make gravity my friend. Anyhow, I walk to where I had marked him go down. He's not there. I look around and see him pulling himself away with his front legs. I'm about 100 yards away and he's moving. I have no rest and don't want to wreck any meat, so I am aiming for the head. I emptied my magazine on him. When I got up to him, he was missing a good portion of his head from the three bullets that went through him, but he was still alive. It was not nice.

Head shots don't always kill the way many people hope they do.

LUNGS. LUNGS. AND MORE LUNGS.

[Sharpie]

elk at a few hundred yards = Lungs. Big rutted up mule buck at the top of a 500 foot coulee = Shoulder. I think you have to utilize different shot placements in differerent situations.

[Roughneck Country]

I prefer a lung quartering away shot with the hope of breaking the far leg/shoulder. If this isn't an option then the lung shot, I only shoot a 270 so I go for the sure thing vs trying to break bone with a light calibre

[Tundra Monkey]

Minority member here as well. I'm a direct line guy.......shoulder and vitals if they are quartering. If they are broadside I try for both shoulders.

I'm usually pretty quick with a follow up shot and that one is destined for the boiler room when necessary.

Not my preferred situation but head or arse on shots work as well. Sometimes ya gotta take what they give ya.

[Pathfinder76]

Double lunged. Skip to 4:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcs4w6VArIg

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by chuck

Double lunged. Skip to 4:45

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tcs4w6VArIg

Dude.....you don't even smile in your vids!!!

Great example of this scenario Chuck. Heavy timber and that would have been a gross recovery.

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Minority member here as well. I'm a direct line guy.......shoulder and vitals if they are quartering. If they are broadside I try for both shoulders.

I'm usually pretty quick with a follow up shot and that one is destined for the boiler room when necessary.

Not my preferred situation but head or arse on shots work as well. Sometimes ya gotta take what they give ya.

Yep. Lol. Seen it done once.

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by norwestalta

Yep. Lol. Seen it done once.

What done once?

[Pathfinder76]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Dude.....you don't even smile in your vids!!!

Great example of this scenario Chuck. Heavy timber and that would have been a gross recovery.

As you are well aware, hunting is not an exact science. Even though some claim it is.

The "always" or "never" crowd have precious little experience or are making things up. In my humble opinion.

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by chuck

What done once?

Inside joke Chuck. You should of been there.

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by norwestalta

Yep. Lol. Seen it done once.

OK....I chuckled a lil' at this

Missin' ain't easy Bro.....that was a pretty chaotic coupla seconds

Turned out to be a 20yrd recovery.....glad it came right to us

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

OK....I chuckled a lil' at this

Missin' ain't easy Bro.....that was a pretty chaotic coupla seconds

Turned out to be a 20yrd recovery.....glad it came right to us

Lmao almost got ran over. Great time and good shooting.

[top predator]

Originally Posted by fish_e_o

shoulder when i hold a gun with bullets to do the job

vitals if i lack the bullet weight or bullet build to do the job

i've seen a lot of lung shot deer run. i've seen deer without hearts run haalf a mile then drop like a sack. i've never seen a deer missing their front shoulder go more than a step

I would agree completely normally, however a few years ago I saw a mule doe shot through both shoulders with a 338 Lap (125 yards) run over 200 yards before falling and needing dispatching. Bullet pin holed! Crazy to see.

You are correct though 99.9% of the time.

[elkivory]

Lungs all the way. Why waste all of the good shoulder Sausage and Burger meat? Shooting shoulders is an American thing, from what I have seen.

[norwestalta]

If I'm in my comfort range I'll head shoot. Antlers fit in the truck easier if the skull is broken. If it's a little of a stretch I'll shoot for the lungs.

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by norwestalta

If I'm in my comfort range I'll head shoot. Antlers fit in the truck easier if the skull is broken. If it's a little of a stretch I'll shoot for the lungs.

bs, I saw you shoot that rogue bull elephant in the shoulder with your dirty 06'

He dropped like a stone

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by elkdump

bs, I saw you shoot that rogue bull elephant in the shoulder with your dirty 06'

He dropped like a stone

My dirty 06 works wonders on elfants. Refresh my memory on which time. Been so many.

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by norwestalta

My dirty 06 works wonders on elfants. Refresh my memory on which time. Been so many.

That meat hunt in the Calgary zoo.

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by elkdump

That meat hunt in the Calgary zoo.

Oh yes.

That beech 18 in the air lately?

[elkdump]

Originally Posted by norwestalta

Oh yes.

That beech 18 in the air lately?

Yes it was shaking my house the other day, but I think he ran out gas,

it is parked now.

[norwestalta]

Originally Posted by elkdump

Yes it was shaking my house the other day, but I think he ran out gas,

it is parked now.

Keep a eye on your lawnmower gas. Lol