I've never been deer hunting with a bow.

I hope to go next year.

I've got a pretty high power set up - i can get 75 - 90 ft lbs of energy.

Is this enough power to break one, or both shoulders of a whitetail?

Thats more than a enough power. I use a Mcpherson bow set on 60 pounds with 100gr.muzzy and it will do the job. Hope you have Good Luck Hunting next year

GSXR7/11
Do your self a favor and try the 2x lung shot. No one worth a scratch tries to take out a shoulder with a bow . I would take a lesson from a bowhunter and shoot 3D before you get to the field.

Back to the kitchen
Turtle

A good behind the shouler shot is better than in shoulder you will get more hart and lungs.GOOD LUCK HUNTING

best shot as mentioned is to take out both lungs ,short tracking job . get into shoulders and high possibility of loosing animal . arrows kill by bleeding not shocking power . --- herb

Listen to the others! I shoot a Pearson Flame at 80 pounds and once hit a doe by accident in the shoulder. I broke the right side but failed to penetrate to any vital organs. I lost the animal and she survived but still limps.

A double lung shot done correctly will drop a deer in less that 50 yards and often less than that. Also the margin for error is smaller if you miss the aming point. If your shooting expandable broadheads, the broadside shot is your only option.

It is our responsibilty as sportsman to make the cleanest kill that we can.

I hit a big buck in the shoulder several years ago shooting a 60 lb. bow. The arrow was left sticking out of the shoulder and did not penetrate to the vitals. I lost him. I've never lost one shot in the lungs or heart area.

I agree its not a good shot, this was more of a "what if" question, but thanks for the advice

It's plenty of power to break one - as long it is the off-shoulder and goes thru the lungs first. I've done that twice.

You'll bring more deer home if you stay out of the shoulders.

[ 01-28-2003, 12:06: Message edited by: ncboman ]

Sorry but no. I can't believe someone actually suggested that it would be. I doubt any bow at poundages pulled by a man would be able to break a deers shoulder, let alone both. You might crack the scapula but then I would be suprised if your arrow made it into one lung as related above.

I have heard the question of shooting animals in the shoulder numerous times and the answer should always be that it is not a good idea. Some years ago I accidently led a walking whitetail that might have weighed 120 pounds to much and hit him on the large leg bone of the near shoulder. I was shooting a 60lb recurve that peaked at 73lbs at anchor with an aluminum arrow tipped with a bear razorhead sans the insert. The arrow weighed about 600 grains and had about a 200fps velocity. On impact the buck was nocked to the ground and jumped right back up. The deer stood in a field about 100yds away for 40 minutes ocassionally lifting the leg that I had hit him in. The arrow lay where I hit him initally--20yds away. I could see a small amount of blood on the wound while I watched him in the field but could not find any blood trail to follow after he walked away, not limping. The tip of the arrow had blood on it back to the rear of the razorhead and no further. On another deer of similar size the arrow penetrated both shoulder blades and exited completely. Shoulder shots are for firearms with sturdy bullets not for arrows. The soft spot just behind them is large and will prove quickly lethal.

I've got a pretty high power set up - i can get 75 - 90 ft lbs of energy.

Big power is not helpfull. It only determines how deep the arrow sticks in the ground after is passes through. Adequate power and pinpoint accuaracy is the ticket. Stick a razor sharp broadhead through the boiler room and that is all she wrote. Back off on the power and shoot straight. Big draw weights will damage your back muscles, in time. It will encourage poor shooting. You won't be able to practice as much. The bow gets noisier and harder to tune. To get the speed use lighter arrows. If you can pull an 90# bow, good for you. That is great for bragging but of no use in the field. You don't need a cape buffalo rig to hunt whitetails. You may have to draw from an awkward position and hold for a long time. If you are shaking, from muscle fatigue, you can make the shot.

[ 04-02-2003, 02:15: Message edited by: scot ]