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High shoulder shot with crossbow

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Coleman011

New Member
Joined
Jul 14, 2019
Messages
39
I was just wondering if anyone has had any success with using a high shoulder shot on deer with a crossbow. I know rifle hunters have been doing it for years but I've just never heard of anyone doing it with a crossbow. I would think that you would want to set up your arrows for that type of shot by using heavy single bevel heads and maybe adding some inserts up front. I would also keep my shots close <25 yards. The only reason I am asking about this is because I have some urban hunting spots where I have very little room and being able to drop a deer in a short distance could prevent some future headaches. Just curious on everyone's thoughts. Thanks in advance
 
Unless you can ensure that bolt and broad head won’t fail I think it’s a bad idea. I’d still rather shoot for heart. Plus you decrease your entire lethal zone now trying to achieve a high shoulder shot. Greater room for error. Plus deer ducking.
 
You’re correct- Typically it is used for the “shock” effect. Same with a neck shot. But there’s a lot more going on there than just the shock to the spinal column. The larger issue I have is that so many people don’t have a good understanding of deer anatomy.

This video does a really good job breaking it down.


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Ah gotcha. Thanks for your guys’ input. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock of the spine that killed the deer or the loss of blood from all the blood vessels and arteries in that area. Obviously if it’s the shock that does the damage then a crossbow would not work for that type of shot
 
Just for thought. I was watching a channel about high FOC on crossbows. To much was really changing the flight of the arrow. So just loading 200gr + on the front may not be as beneficial as one would hope if it affects arrow flight.
 
Coleman011 said:
Ah gotcha. Thanks for your guys’ input. I wasn’t sure if it was the shock of the spine that killed the deer or the loss of blood from all the blood vessels and arteries in that area. Obviously if it’s the shock that does the damage then a crossbow would not work for that type of shot
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Id bet a paycheck there are more deer lost by bow to a high shoulder shot than gut shots.
 
I lost one last year to a high shoulder shot. Not sure what I did. But he survived just fine. Broke the top of the shoulder. Neighbor saw him. A month later with a knit on the shoulder getting around fine.
 
Nutterbuster said:
What ever happened to just shooting at a big ole squishy pair of lungs?
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Yes I know that shooting them in the lungs is the best shot overall and I was not suggesting that everyone starts shooting deer in the high shoulder. I was purely asking the question because I have spots that I’m doing herd control in where I’m literally hunting in peoples yards and if the deer runs 50 yards (a lot of times less) in the wrong direction then I have a problem on my hands.
 
Coleman011 said:
Yes I know that shooting them in the lungs is the best shot overall and I was not suggesting that everyone starts shooting deer in the high shoulder. I was purely asking the question because I have spots that I’m doing herd control in where I’m literally hunting in peoples yards and if the deer runs 50 yards (a lot of times less) in the wrong direction then I have a problem on my hands.
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About the only way you can keep em from running is a spine shot. That gives you another set of problems. I have spine shot a few deer but it was never intentional and they were all very steep or weird angle shots. Crippling a deer can be traumatic and is not easy. I almost gave up hunting after one. I don’t recommend.
 
Coleman011 said:
Yes I know that shooting them in the lungs is the best shot overall and I was not suggesting that everyone starts shooting deer in the high shoulder. I was purely asking the question because I have spots that I’m doing herd control in where I’m literally hunting in peoples yards and if the deer runs 50 yards (a lot of times less) in the wrong direction then I have a problem on my hands.
Click to expand...

In that situation, I would shoot for the lung/heart- keeping that video & the anatomy in mind.


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