High shoulder shot on sika stag

tomcat220t

As a discussion came up recently on this shot, i taught i might post up some photos on a small sika stag that i shot yesterday evening .About half an hour before dark this stag presented himself broadside to my ,close to the edge of a forest .Normally i would take a neck shot but he was at a bit of distance and petty windy, so i took a high shoulder shot .Either of theses shots hit correctly will drop game on the spot ,as would be needed close to dark with the stag against a wooded bounds .Stag dropped on the spot completely immobilised .The photos show the bullet broke his back bone , front shoulders and top of the lungs were mushed .This is only one shot of many ,that will kill game and is used world wide !Tomcat.

podge.243

Nice shooting there tomcat:) wot cal are you useing?

tomcat220t

6xc

poulo6.5

tomcat220t wrote: »

6xc

great shot placement. i would have done the same as you in that situation, there is a lot to be said for knowing where to put the bullet and what will happen if hit correctly.

how is the 6xc working out for you

tomcat220t

Works great ,real multi role caliber ....target ,varmint and deer shooting .Really happy with its accuracy and hitting power for deer ,aswell.

poulo6.5

tomcat220t wrote: »

Works great ,real multi role caliber ....target ,varmint and deer shooting .Really happy with its accuracy and hitting power for deer ,aswell.

thats how i feel about the .243. wide range of bullets available and capable of a lot more than people give it credit for.

cant beat the 6mm for versatility

.220 swift

nice shooting,how do you find ammo availabilty

tomcat220t

poulo6.5 wrote: »

thats how i feel about the .243. wide range of bullets available and capable of a lot more than people give it credit for.

cant beat the 6mm for versatility

Too true ,light recoil accurate round

tomcat220t

.220 swift wrote: »

nice shooting,how do you find ammo availabilty

Norma makes a good few rounds for them

browning 12 bore

great shooting there fella nice lump of a stag as well had the same problem the other evening shot my lad in the fillet spine area but not the gun fault i moved at the last second hence such a very bad deer damage on my half however its all bout getiing to grips with my gun ha ha ha ha

tomcat220t

browning 12 bore wrote: »

great shooting there fella nice lump of a stag as well had the same problem the other evening shot my lad in the fillet spine area but not the gun fault i moved at the last second hence such a very bad deer damage on my half however its all bout getiing to grips with my gun ha ha ha ha

Unless your selling meat, damage to me comes second to an on the spot kill .But i agree, high shoulder bullet placement does cause a good bit of meat damage !Im sure your well to grip with your .243, bud;)

FISMA

tomcat220t wrote: »

so i took a high shoulder shot .Either of theses shots hit correctly will drop game on the spot ,as would be needed close to dark with the stag against a wooded bounds .Stag dropped on the spot completely immobilised .

TomCat,
Fair enough and well shot. However, are there any benefits to purposely taking the high shot as opposed to the boiler maker/rib cage shot? Seems like shoulder shots are going to waste more meat.

Other than the lungs, what else was mushed? Was the heart still edible? How about the other internals that get used?

I usually like to see the lungs to inspect for pneumonia or the like.

Personally, I like to take the lower shot. I sacrifice the rib cage area for two reasons: (1) there really isn't a lot of meat there - maybe two pounds and (2) the chances of contamination are highest in this area. On a risk/reward basis, I usually forgo the ribs.

Also, I pass on the neck shot. There's a reason why many dealers will not take deer that have been shot in the head.

For me, it's the boiler maker - or at least that's where I am trying to hit...:o

tomcat220t

FISMA wrote: »

TomCat,
Fair enough and well shot. However, are there any benefits to purposely taking the high shot as opposed to the boiler maker/rib cage shot? Seems like shoulder shots are going to waste more meat.

Other than the lungs, what else was mushed? Was the heart still edible? How about the other internals that get used?

I usually like to see the lungs to inspect for pneumonia or the like.

Personally, I like to take the lower shot. I sacrifice the rib cage area for two reasons: (1) there really isn't a lot of meat there - maybe two pounds and (2) the chances of contamination are highest in this area. On a risk/reward basis, I usually forgo the ribs.

Also, I pass on the neck shot. There's a reason why many dealers will not take deer that have been shot in the head.

For me, it's the boiler maker - or at least that's where I am trying to hit...:o

As you probibly agree ,heart &lung or lung it self can cause the deer to run a little .Not a big issue if the deer is in open ground but at the edge of dark ,close to heavy cover i want him stopped him in his tracks . Heart was not damaged.Back was broken and front shoulders were gone.High shoulder ,does exactly that !The stag was dropped where he stood ,on a kick !Heart /lung sometimes has that effect but more times ,not .I dont sell meat so damage is not much of a concern to me .Im not saying heart/lung is a bad shot ...... this is just another option .

4gun

Just wondering did you skin the deer in this fashion just to display the wound damage ? I take it you are giving the front end to the dogs most of the meat after a shot impact like that is shredded

I usually go for the heart /lung shot on deer even though some might run after being hit , this year I am trying to go for neck shots where possible...drops them on the spot

poulo6.5

4gun wrote: »

Just wondering did you skin the deer in this fashion just to display the wound damage ? I take it you are giving the front end to the dogs most of the meat after a shot impact like that is shredded

I usually go for the heart /lung shot on deer even though some might run after being hit , this year I am trying to go for neck shots where possible...drops them on the spot

i am only guessing here but he might have skinned it that way so as to save the cape for the taxidermist.

only guessing

tomcat220t

4gun wrote: »

Just wondering did you skin the deer in this fashion just to display the wound damage ? I take it you are giving the front end to the dogs most of the meat after a shot impact like that is shredded

I usually go for the heart /lung shot on deer even though some might run after being hit , this year I am trying to go for neck shots where possible...drops them on the spot

Neck shots are fine out to 300 yards but after that i go high shoulder .As i said heart/ lung is fine in the right circumstances but as you say some run after this .......hardly a good trade off for saving some meat ?

4gun

tomcat220t wrote: »

Neck shots are fine out to 300 yards but after that i go high shoulder .As i said heart/ lung is fine in the right circumstances but as you say some run after this .......hardly a good trade off for saving some meat ?

I not yet comfortable with shooting beyond 300yds not with my CZ anything with in 200 yds... no problem

first two i shot were high sholder, straight through the spine it was getting dark and I over estimated the distance, place the cross hair right on the silhouette of their back and thought the bullet would drop

tomcat220t

What caliber are you using ?

Tackleberrywho

Well Done.
I was tempted to take a shot on a fallow pricket today, I had to use self control, he was standing in front of a doe and did not move until light completely faded.

I was going to go for a high shoulder shot for the same reason, on the edge of a thick wood and almost pitch dark.

I may meet up with you in the next few weeks to get one more craic at a Sika.

Have to shoot a Red first though


I always said the 6XC was se*y

tomcat220t

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Well Done.
I was tempted to take a shot on a fallow pricket today, I had to use self control, he was standing in front of a doe and did not move until light completely faded.

I was going to go for a high shoulder shot for the same reason, on the edge of a thick wood and almost pitch dark.

I may meet up with you in the next few weeks to get one more craic at a Sika.

Have to shoot a Red first though


I always said the 6XC was se*y

Yea , your welcome down any time ;)Stretch the legs of that .308 a bit:D

Mauser 308

poulo6.5 wrote: »

thats how i feel about the .243. wide range of bullets available and capable of a lot more than people give it credit for.

cant beat the 6mm for versatility

Hi Paulo, how do you find the 243 v the 308 you have? on say deer

Tackleberrywho

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Hi Paulo, how do you find the 243 v the 308 you have? on say deer

All I know is he has hardly held the .308 these days

The .243 and 6XC are very good calibres often dismissed without understanding them.

I'm really glad Tomcat silenced the critics by shooting a high shoulder shot,.

I will have to do the same, I said I was going to get a Sika I did, Now Tom will help me get a Hybrid, another sound skin a Big red and then I will suppose have to shoot a Muntie.

Tom, you are my Hero

Glensman

Got permission on a farm today full of Sika. Was driving like an old woman scanning the fields and spotted what I was looking for.
Pulled into the drive and a couple not under 80 came out.

Shoot away! Turns out they own half the mountain.

I'll hopefully get out in the next couple of weeks and post pics

@Tomcat: Great shot. But sure we all knew you could shoot!

poulo6.5

Mauser 308 wrote: »

Hi Paulo, how do you find the 243 v the 308 you have? on say deer

they both kill very well so far

FISMA

tomcat220t wrote: »

As you ... this is just another option .

I got you now. Better to drop them in place and sacrifice a bit of meat than let them run and lose it all. Fair enough, there's always a trade off.

My cousin took one at the edge of a forestry once. The 30-06 at 25ya just went right through and the deer ran into cover. I remember seeing the entry and splash on the ground. Perfect boiler room shot.

I picked up the trail of blood quickly. However, the rain that came coupled with the thick brush gave us 30minutes of search time, 2hours before sunset. Still disappointed in that one.

I'll keep this shot in mind if/when a similar occasion jumps up.

stick shooter

Hi tomcat ,
Nice shot , similar meat damage to what i would expect from my .270 @ 200 yards .If you prefer to take neck shots out to 300 yards why was there not one take in this case .

50cal

tomcat220t wrote: »

Neck shots are fine out to 300 yards but after that i go high shoulder .As i said heart/ lung is fine in the right circumstances but as you say some run after this .......hardly a good trade off for saving some meat ?

300 yard neck shots are irresponsible fullstop.:mad:
Your skinning effort suggests you are new to deer shooting? Is this the case?
Is your background target shooting?

Hondata92

Just wondering has anyone else taken a high shoulder shot on sika deer,so what was your outcome and thoughts of the shot.

@tomcat220t, you must have been at 301yards with that shot so :P:P

Tackleberrywho

stick shooter wrote: »

Hi tomcat ,
Nice shot , similar meat damage to what i would expect from my .270 @ 200 yards .If you prefer to take neck shots out to 300 yards why was there not one take in this case .

A few guys asked him to shoot a deer that way.

50cal

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

A few guys asked him to shoot a deer that way.

So Tomcat took the high shoulder shot to satisfy his mates curiosity?:eek: fair enough then.
There is a reason why we are schooled into taking heart lung shot at reasonable distances. Personally I wouldn't take a high shoulder shot to prevent an animal dashing for cover at last light - I would just leave it for another day?!

tomcat220t

50cal wrote: »

300 yard neck shots are irresponsible fullstop.:mad:
Your skinning effort suggests you are new to deer shooting? Is this the case?
Is your background target shooting?

Please explain your comments on 300 yards !

tomcat220t

50cal wrote: »

So Tomcat took the high shoulder shot to satisfy his mates curiosity?:eek: fair enough then.
There is a reason why we are schooled into taking heart lung shot at reasonable distances. Personally I wouldn't take a high shoulder shot to prevent an animal dashing for cover at last light - I would just leave it for another day?!

I take no shots on varmint or game out of any curiosity for anybody or myself :(Whats your issue .......if you only shot at 20yards or 2000 yards thats fine .What do you shoot with ?

GixxerThou

tomcat220t wrote: »

Please explain your comments on 300 yards !

300 yards is a bit close for a shoulder shot TC.. wouldnt expect anythin less than a headshot myself.... The stag must have been running??:P

tomcat220t

GixxerThou wrote: »

300 yards is a bit close for a shoulder shot TC.. wouldnt expect anythin less than a headshot myself.... The stag must have been running??:P

You better believe it Gixxer :D:D:D.Far too easy ,id say

50cal

Thanks Gixxer - you obviously see the funny side of 300 yard deer sniping too.

Tomcat your target shooting ability may be beyond question ? but seasoned deer stalkers don't shoot deer at 300yards regardless of how competent they might be.

Deer stalkers - not deer snipers.Have a little respect for the animal and shoot at sensible distances.

tomcat220t

50cal wrote: »

300 yard neck shots are irresponsible fullstop.:mad:
Your skinning effort suggests you are new to deer shooting? Is this the case?
Is your background target shooting?

Since im still waiting for an answer from you ...would it not be better you stick to selling jeeps and leave the shooting to the country hicks ;)That shoulder shot was taken @ 492 yards and if i havent a clue where or how to place a shot ( by your standards )thats fine !And no ,most all my shooting is hunting not target :cool:

Tackleberrywho

tomcat220t wrote: »

You better believe it Gixxer :D:D:D.Far too easy ,id say

Sika Schneka, they drop easier than fallow
Next Deer you shoot Tom, I call medula oblongata :-)

tomcat220t

50cal wrote: »

Thanks Gixxer - you obviously see the funny side of 300 yard deer sniping too.

Tomcat your target shooting ability may be beyond question ? but seasoned deer stalkers don't shoot deer at 300yards regardless of how competent they might be.

Deer stalkers - not deer snipers.Have a little respect for the animal and shoot at sensible distances.

Your now a seasoned deer hunter.

It wasn't me!

The only thing I'd say about seasoned deer stalkers is they won't take shots they can't consistently make. While I wouldn't try a 300 yard neck shot myself, or a 500 yard shot on an unwounded animal in the first place, I would shoot for the body out to about 350 yards if the situation required it. I'd never advise anyone else whose ability I didn't know to try those shots, but if they can make them, go nuts.

Tackleberrywho

50cal wrote: »

Thanks Gixxer - you obviously see the funny side of 300 yard deer sniping too.

Tomcat your target shooting ability may be beyond question ? but seasoned deer stalkers don't shoot deer at 300yards regardless of how competent they might be.

Deer stalkers - not deer snipers.Have a little respect for the animal and shoot at sensible distances.

Hold over, whathump, simples ??

I've shot a few, not many at 300.
Especially an easy heart lung shot

No more difficult than hitting a bunny at 300, in fact a hell of a lot easier

The Great Unwashed

User banned. Re-regging to get around forum and site ban

tomcat220t

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Hold over, whathump, simples ??

I've shot a few, not many at 300.
Especially an easy heart lung shot

No more difficult than hitting a bunny at 300, in fact a hell of a lot easier

Met the guy already .......he does talk the talk :rolleyes::rolleyes:

johngalway

Different season, same argument

People (who can) shoot within their ability.

Well done TC.

Tackleberrywho

tomcat220t wrote: »

Met the guy already .......he does talk the talk :rolleyes::rolleyes:

Does he walk the walk though?

The Great Unwashed

User banned. Re-regging to get around forum and site ban

tomcat220t

Tackleberrywho wrote: »

Does he walk the walk though?

He sits behind a desk all and my brief encounter with him ,his chat on shooting and his equipment ...i could see how he would think 300 yards was irresponsible .

Cass

Lads,

You're free to post your opinion just remember to attack the post and not the poster, and above all else be civil to one another.

No more sniping, remarks of a personal nature please.

stick shooter

50cal wrote: »

300 yard neck shots are irresponsible fullstop.:mad:
Your skinning effort suggests you are new to deer shooting? Is this the case?
Is your background target shooting?

After 25 years stalking myself ,i would have to disagree with your comments on neck shots being irresponsible at 300 yards .Its down to experience , equipment and ability and most important knowing your limits . I have found this thread very interesting in regards peoples opinion on shot placements and the pictures were great. Cheers tomcat .

tomcat220t

stick shooter wrote: »

Hi tomcat ,
Nice shot , similar meat damage to what i would expect from my .270 @ 200 yards .If you prefer to take neck shots out to 300 yards why was there not one take in this case .

He was out a little more than 300 yards otherwise a neck shot was the one for me to take .

landkeeper

good point but at the end of the day remember we are talking about killing an animal,quickly ethically and humanely ability .competence,experience ,equipment, , are all fine and dandy .!!the further you are away from the intended target the more chance there is for something to go wrong, low % shots and long distance kills are great when they work out the photos prove that , the trouble being there aren't any pictures of the ones that get away

landkeeper

well i suppose i'm just cynical having found deer over the years that had been shot and not recovered, a hind in wicklow that was missing her entire lower jaw she was till alive and weighed about 20kg and was skin and bone :mad:
a fallow buck that had been shot in the shoulder with what looked like a fairly large centrefire rifle it had smashed the shoulder but he was alive, just !
everyone likes it when a good shot works what we have to be aware of what happens when it turns into a bad one