I put 3 in the last buck I killed. See Rule #2.

yeap ,,,, it's gonna happen .

My sons give me a hard time about it but if he is still moving I'm still shooting ! Lost a really nice buck a while back, he went down and I was still on him, he gave what I thought was the death kick so I laid my gun across my lap. Jumped up and was off the bench he was traveling before I could blink. Never found him.

Yep on a good one shoot till he cant get up.

Good luck. Hope you find him

I’ve lost two to high shoulder shots. Both were does and fell immediately, I took my attention off them after watching them lay still for several minutes. When they hit dirt immediately it always makes me cautious. Watch them like a hawk through your scope for a good 10 minutes. If they move you better send it.

A friend of mine shot a big buck running thru the woods at maybe 80 yards, it fell at the shot and never moved. He walked over to it, put his gun down and started to grab it to field dress it. He saw it's eyes clenched shut so he backed up and got his gun just as the buck lurched to his feet. Couple fast shots and he was down for good. First shot had creased the base of and antler and knocked him out.

My cousin called me last year said he smoked a good 8pt it was laying in field gave it about 5 mins and was about to go get it and it jumped up ran off into swamp never did find it

Top of shoulder u want have to hunt them

Top of the shoulder is what gets these results. You hit an inch or two too high and this is exactly what happens.

I always aim for the crease - right behind the shoulder, 1/2 to 2/3 up from their belly. That shot always gets the lungs, and I’ve never tracked more than 70-80 yards on those shots.

One thing is for sure, a double lung is a very large target, and is 100% fatal every time, with a very short tracking job. I have never understood the reasoning behind trying to break every deer down with a high shoulder shot. It’s a very small target, and if you’re off a couple of inches you get a deer that runs off with little chance at recovery. Deer can’t live if their lungs are full of blood.

It's a shot nobody tries to make but at longer range or an unsteady rest it happens. And it sucks when it happens

It’s gonna happen to everybody if they shoot enough. I’m referring to those who intentionally try the high shoulder shot. It’s great if you hit it Right in the spine and sever the spinal cord. If you don’t hit it just right all kinds of bad things happen and I’ve seen it all, from deer getting up and running off 20 minutes later, to deer standing up in the back of pick up trucks and jumping out going down the highway, to still being alive 12 hours later and unable to move. It’s not a good shot choice unless your intention is to quickly follow up with another.

I've never shot for high shoulder and don't tell people to. Wife tried to shoot a big 8 in the shoulder earlier this year instead of waiting for him to clear a tree. Result was hitting a tree. Wait for the biggest area to miss. A lot harder to do unless you are 110% confident you can make the shot.

I’m sorry to say that the deer was not recovered and I’m sick about it. Spent 2 hours traversing the area and found nothing but where the ground looked like it had been tilled where he hit the dirt. I don’t even care if someone else kills him, I just hope he doesn’t turn into coyote food. He was way too good of a buck for that.

Dang man, I hate that! Did you get a dog to come out?

This is the buck I believe I shot. Location: From Hwy 5 in Brent if you turn left on cord 9 and go up to just south of Vernon Town road (which turns to the right off 9), on the left of cord 9 is where I shot him. I believe he may have crossed over cord 9 towards Shultz creek. If anyone hunts that area and happens to find him, please be kind enough to return the rack to me. If he is still alive and your lucky enough to kill him, please let me know that he was alive and where I hit him that caused him to get away.

Thank you kindly.

Were you able to get a tracking dog?

This. Line the vertical post up with the back of the front leg and aim 1/2 way up. Good margin for error and kills quickly.