ORIGINAL: Charlie P
No but it is nice to know that the extra cut is there if things DO go wrong......you are more likely to make a marginal hit BACK than you are in the large bone of the shoulder.
How do you come to that conclusion?
It's pretty obvious isn't it? The shoulder is high and forward and in actuality doesn't cover up much of the vitals to begin with on a broadside shot (Unless you are at a steep angle) and basically nothing on a quartering away shot.
However everything from the diaphragm back is a vital organ.... liver, stomach, kidneys etc.
Are you seriously going to try and argue that the shoulder is more of a consideration at about the size of your hand vs EVERYTHING that lies from the diaphragm to the hindquarters? (including possibly the femoral artery IN the hindquarters).
The shoulder is the exception if you are taking responsible shots and is a much smaller surface area when compared to everything behind the lungs.
We shade away from the shoulder when we aim for a reason......
In 40+ deer shot with a bow I have never hit the shoulder blade yet.......I have made a couple not so stellar hits the other way, liver, liver/guts, guts, liver/1 lung by just pulling a little too far off the ribs or having an animaltake a stepforward at the shot.
They generally don't take a step backwards..........they move forward at all and the arrow goes BACK, not front.