The Dreaded Shoulder Shot

[Deadhunter25]

Hey guys. Im wondering whats your experiences with shooting a deer in the shoulder? Specifically the scapula.

 

I shot a dandy this morning broadside 25 yards and the shot was a smidge high but double lung nonetheless. I would have put money down he was dead. He ran 50 yards with his tail tucked before I lost sight of him.

 

I went to grab the arrow and to my shock I only had 5" of penetration. Im shooting a bowtech prodigy 65lbs carbon express blue streak with muzzy trocars. Im dumbfounded. The only explanation could be his front leg was sticking back hiding the vitals more than I thought. It just happened so fast I dont recall.

 

My father and I gave the deer 2 hours and took up the trail hoping to get another shot off. He ran about 100 yards from the shot and bedded before we kicked him.

 

Im sure he will live but Im wondering what are peoples experiences with these situations? I have shot 2 does this year both through the scapula unintentionally and blew through it like nothing. Is a mature bucks scapula thicker?

 

Anyways thanks in advance for advice/wisdom on this topic.

 

 

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[chrisw]

Is it possible you clipped a branch before it got to the deer? The "ridge" that runs down the shoulder blade is pretty thick and hard. A deer that beds 100 yds from the shot is hit pretty hard, how long after the shot did you jump him? Could you have hit the shoulder knuckle?

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[Deadhunter25]

2.5hrs after the shot. That blood was when we kicked him up he was still bleeding. I didnt hit the knuckle i think because thats more mid body closer to the neck no? My shot was higher


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[The_Field_Ager]

Looks like an over nighter. Back out, come back in the mornin

[Deadhunter25]

With 5" penetration you think he can still die? I hear stories of deer living on one lung?


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[chrisw]

I hit a buck a few years back, my arrow clipped a branch and it still flew true but only stuck in about 5", right behind the shoulder. We gave it 4 hours and there wasn't a lot of blood to go on but we found him bedded and dead about 300yds away. 5" is more than it sounds at times. Hopefully you get lucky!

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[jjb4900]

23 minutes ago, Deadhunter25 said:

With 5" penetration you think he can still die? I hear stories of deer living on one lung?


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of course it can still die, and I bet the stories of them dying with only one lung far out number the stories of them living with one.

Edited November 11, 2017 by jjb4900

[Core]

Are you sure you even hit one lung?

[Five Seasons]

Umm if he’s alive you didn’t double lung him...


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[Robhuntandfish]

Wouldnt come to any conclusion until tomorrow.  Find out when he sits overnight and ypu have daylight.  Ypur answer will be there. Hope it's a down deer.  

[moog5050]

Good luck with the recovery.  

[doebuck1234]

Best of luck on finding him

[Deadhunter25]

Umm if he’s alive you didn’t double lung him...


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Lol i know i said i thought i did until i found the arrow


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[Deadhunter25]

Are you sure you even hit one lung?

No. I am not sure. Only got 5" of arrow in him. Ther were very few air bubbles in the blood but not enough for me to feel confident


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[cdbing]

Hope you find it.  I made a bad shot on a doe a few years back.  The sound of the hit was like hitting plywood.  Did not get much penetration, did not recover the doe.  Wishing you better luck than I had.

[mowin]

I wish you luck. Sounds like you might have hit the knuckle a little which scrubbed enough energy from the arrow to cause the low penetration.  

If you did hit one lung slightly, it could take awhile to succumb. 

I once hit a doe with a razorback 5 early in bow season.  Shot that same doe late gun.  The tell tail 5 star cut through both lower lungs. Entrance and exit we're in front of the diagram. Doe was fat and happy. At least until a 270 hit her...

[Hock3y24]

Not good but good luck, I’ve had it happen once and she lived.... for now 

[ATbuckhunter]

I only have one experience with a shoulder shot and I got super lucky. I shot a doe high and only got about 7 or so inches of penetration. I gave it about 40 min to an hour before I got down to look at the blood. While i was waiting i saw a bunch of crows at almost ground level going crazy for a bit before leaving. When i got down and looked down that trail, the deer was down with in 60 yards. Ended up double lunging the deer anyway. I saw go back after him tomorrow and see what you find. Best of luck!

[Deadhunter25]

Thanks guys. I will keep you posted


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[eagle rider]

Read my post from last week.  Same deal.  Sux!