High Shoulder Shot question

[Nimrodmar10]

A high shoulder shot turns the shoulder blade into a mass of fragments which along with the bullet fragments, takes out the main arteries running into the heart causing very rapid death due to desanguination

 

[Backcountry sports]

Shot placement is 6"-8" below the top of the back dead center aim on the shoulder.

The bullet destroys the spine directly above the lungs and heart. That of course completely disables any mobility in all 4 of their legs or body. The bullet impact on the heavy bone of the spine creates massive explosive energy downward into the vital cavity that rips through all vitals with bone shrapnel and bullet fragments. They are instantly paralyzed so they cant run and it's a quick death because all vitals suffer massive amounts of damage. You could even say it's a more humane shot placement as well because they will not feel any pain with their spine severed.

 

[Backcountry sports]

If you get a picture of a elk high shoulder is great disable the elk from running usually down hill and if you a little off because of wind you will hit the lungs and forward you get the spine doesn't ruin any meat

 

[jrock]

... But, there is also a big void above the lungs and below the spine that might look like a perfect hit, but nothing vital is destroyed, and the animal walks away...

I had this happen during bow season one year. Shot right behind the shoulder but right below the spine. Couldn't figure out what happened until someone explained it to me.
I also shot a cow where the bullet went behind the near side shoulder, right under the spine, and hit the opposite shoulder. Dropped like a ton or rocks but no internal damage to the vitals. Needed a second shot.

 

[Jeffrey Van Zandt]

Last year I anchored a Cow Elk with a high shoulder shot. I was actually aiming for the heart/lung area but ended up high and forward. The Cow went down right away so that was nice. I was wondering if someone could explain what is actually happening to incapacitate the animal with a high shoulder shot? Also, what area on the animal will perform a high shoulder shot?

best shot to do when you can

 

[YZ-80]

In my case the bullet didn't touch the spinal cord. The heart and lungs were not damaged. Could hydrostatic shock have affected the spine?

I think absolutely "Yes". I mean just look at the massive cavitation in gelatin with some of these videos we watch. With that kind of trauma, I don't think you would have to sever or even abrade the spine to render things pretty much incapacitated.

 

[Orange Dust]

A high shoulder shot turns the shoulder blade into a mass of fragments which along with the bullet fragments, takes out the main arteries running into the heart causing very rapid death due to desanguination

Correct. And if you use enough gun to make this happen it will make a mess of the shoulder. Less gun may require a follow up shot. This has always been the preferred shot on dangerous game. Not my favorite in most cases for meat hunting. It is a sure way to anchor and kill an animal if you use enough gun, and make the shot. Lung shot in the ribs is more forgiving and ruins nothing usually. Lung shot is effective with less gun. Makes great TV.

 

[YZ-80]

At the risk of sounding insensitive, I'm gonna say I don't care about the stinking shoulders! I protect the backstraps at all cost and heavens, no one wants to mess up the hind quarters either! Even with textbook thoracic (boiler room) shots I've seen a lot of bruising due to the animal being slightly quartered or just plan shock. It almost always messes up one or the other and I cut them off and let my hound chew on them.

 

[LeddSlinger]

But, there is also a big void above the lungs and below the spine that might look like a perfect hit, but nothing vital is destroyed, and the animal walks away.

Maybe it walks away if you shoot it in the void with an arrow or a bad hunting bullet that doesnt expand. Not walking away if you hit it with a Berger bullet. The terminal energy expended in the chest cavity will still wipe out the lungs and probably still snap the spine

 

[BigDon]

I had this happen during bow season one year. Shot right behind the shoulder but right below the spine. Couldn't figure out what happened until someone explained it to me.
I also shot a cow where the bullet went behind the near side shoulder, right under the spine, and hit the opposite shoulder. Dropped like a ton or rocks but no internal damage to the vitals. Needed a second shot.

Yup! I' ve Had this exact same experience on 400 yd bull Elk. My outfitter saw the same bull 3 weeks later fit as a fiddle with his harem.

 

[Gater]

Last year I anchored a Cow Elk with a high shoulder shot. I was actually aiming for the heart/lung area but ended up high and forward. The Cow went down right away so that was nice. I was wondering if someone could explain what is actually happening to incapacitate the animal with a high shoulder shot? Also, what area on the animal will perform a high shoulder shot?

I have always shot behind the front shoulder and about a foot up from the bottom on elk deer and speed goats not that much haven't had to chase anything. Yet

 

[John Klingenberg]

Ive always had drt results with a high spinal area shot. On whitetail I kind of consider any shot a few inches down from the back line to the elbow pretty much fatal. At least in my experience. I've done deer culling for 25+ years now. I dont have a count but its in the 4 figures. Science says an elk is just a bigger deer. Anatomy is the same. There are a lot of nerves that emanate from the withers/high shoulder area. A hard shock to that area is certainly fatal.

 

[lancetkenyon]

Maybe it walks away if you shoot it in the void with an arrow or a bad hunting bullet that doesnt expand. Not walking away if you hit it with a Berger bullet. The terminal energy expended in the chest cavity will still wipe out the lungs and probably still snap the spine

I will have to disagree with you on that from personal observations. I shoot almost exclusively Bergers as well. I have never personally had this issue. But if there is nothing to hit in there to disrupt.....

 

[greenejc]

Last year I anchored a Cow Elk with a high shoulder shot. I was actually aiming for the heart/lung area but ended up high and forward. The Cow went down right away so that was nice. I was wondering if someone could explain what is actually happening to incapacitate the animal with a high shoulder shot? Also, what area on the animal will perform a high shoulder shot?

A high shoulder shot compresses the spine and the spinal cord, sometimes breaking the cord. It can also catch some of the nerve plexus in the front of the chest. It can damage the vertabrae above the shoulder joint, and hit the humerus artery, creating rapid blood loss with sudden drop in blood pressure. It can also shatter the ball joint and scapula on both sides, destroying the integrity of the skeletal support for the front of the animal. All are pretty much a DRT proposition or at least a Not Going Anywhere proposition. A shot like that with the right weight and caliber of projectile will also put bone fragments into the arteries and veins that run beside the spine and into the lungs. If it passes close enough to the spine, it will break the back of the animal just from the compression shock. Its a very good place to hit if you don't mind losing a little meat.