I know it happens sometimes but it amazes me why so many guys like to shoot an animal in the shoulder! One, it causes a good deal of meat damage. Two - you run a higher risk of inadequate bullet penetration (i.e.: this post and several others).
Maybe its the way you were taught when you were young. I've been hunting close to 45 years and have taken a lot of deer and other game with rifle, bow, and ML and I can only recall3 that I did not recover (2 archery - 1 ML). One of the archery shots and the ML shot were shots I never shouuld have taken and I still kick myself for them.
Now - I for one never try shoot for the shoulder but just behind it on broadside or quartering away with the bow or ML. With the centerfire, I imagine a basketball setting between the shoulders its vertical centerline up from the rear of the front leg and aim for the center of it. This usually results in a dead right there deer.
With the ML, you punch a 50 calbullet behind the shoulder (hitting a rib at worst) you will puncture both lungs and the animal will not go far if anywhere. If you don't see if fall, give it some time, track slowly and carefully and you will recover it.
I know a lot of you guys are good hunters and decent shots. So please don't take this as a criticism but think about it and it is up to you to make the shot placement decision.
Merry Christmas