RE: shot placement
 

Depends, 75 or less yards and if it is a buck I don't intend to mount, I will shoot them in the neck. After that it is usually behind the shoulder. I shot a 5 point meat deer last week in the neck and I think if I had of just cut the hide around the neck the whole head would have fell off.

RE: shot placement
 

Heck, I just shoot them in the head...

RE: shot placement
 

I like to put it in the shoulder.

RE: shot placement
 

If it were a perfect world and I had a perfect broadside shot, I would trace up the back side of the crosshairs and shoot about an inch behind the front shoulder. What really happens is I take a shot when I get the opportunity even if the deer is quartering. Then I try to visualize the heart/lungs and put it where it will do the job as quickly as possible.

RE: shot placement
 

I aim a little under halfway up right at the shoulder crease. I usually don't have deer drop on the spot to much but rarely do they go more than 40 yards. Plus, I rarely ruin any meat at all. I low lunged a doe this year and she made it about 100 yards in an open Bean field but that is the longest Ive had one go on me. Ive seen articles and pictures that say more of the vitals are located in front of the shoulder crease than behind, but Ive been aiming at the crease since I started hunting and it hasn't failed me yet!

RE: shot placement
 

Not sure what anatomy book you looked at, but a shoulder shot ain't gonna give you much chance at the heart unless you are at a heller step angle.

RE: shot placement
 

Ditto fastetti shot placement.

RE: shot placement
 

just behind the shoulder.

RE: shot placement
 

You'll learn the benefits of the shoulder shot if you hunt public lands. We've all heard the stories of fatally hit deer being taken by other hunters, 150 yds down the bloodtrail.

With a gun I generally shoot to hit the offside shoulder.

RE: shot placement
 

right in the crease behind the shoulder.