This is the reason I stay clear of mechanical and fallen back to my reliable 3 blade 100 grain Muzzy's. at 60 yards, they hit the same point of impact as a field tip.

28" Gold Tip 5574 @ 310 fps, no problem except for the mechanicals

This is real good advice for any bowhunter and especialy hunters bowhunters with a lower draw weight, or traditional archery. I'll follow this advice on my next hunting trip with my handgun as well. I shot a button buck in the shoulder with my .357 and soft nose bullets at about 30yds and dropped it in its tracks but it bled very little. I shot a doe the same day with the same gun through the brisket and it didn't leave much of anything to follow even at the point it dropped. Good high percentage shots are the only way to go.

You are right the front shoulder can be a problem for archers. My last two archery deer were hit a couple inches back of the front shoulder catching lung and liver. Neither went far. Before that i'd hit a couple right in that crease behind the shoulder, they went down w/in 50 yds. I hear from a lot of guys that they lost deer hit square in the shoulder. The key is wait for the shot to present where the shoulder is not in the way.

Good thoughts.

Great advice I can attest to, put an arrow in the ten ring on a big 9 point. Got both lungs and stuck in the inside of his shoulder blade. Ended up breaking the arrow in two places and breaking the threads off the broad head. He only went 25 yards but I lost an arrow, a head and some meat. Can't complain but an inch or two left and I would have lost the deer too.

I'm new at Bow hunting this is my second year and I use a Recurb bow here in Illinois.. I'm thinking of getting a Cross Bow because I want the meat and if I get a nice trophy then thats cool. Using what(FPS)is a comfortable speed and at what yard dash is ok? can someone please tell me...

@Valdimir16 - trust your instincts with your shot after studying the anatomy. Know the bone structure. If your shot is placed correctly, you are right. The lungs give you a big area to cover that is why most say the "shoulder" crease.

@Minista - shooting Recurve - you won't be able to hunt with a crossbow unless you are over 65 or disabled with a proper permit. IL is doing something new this year after the 2nd firearm season with cross bow, but I haven't followed up on a it too much to know exactly what will be legal and if that will be for everyone.

Good post. I have made the error of hitting one in dead smack in the shoulder when I was younger. I did not recover the deer and I felt so bad about it that I almost gave up bow hunting that day. I learned the hard way and I am glad that I tend to give myself a little bit of room when I take shots now. Thanks for the advice.

I have one of the 3-d targets but even at 20 yards I can't see the rings so I have to pick my spot. I've studied deer anatomy and to start off with when the target was new, I would put a small sticker spot(like the cover spots that come with the shoot-n-see targets)on it where I wanted to aim. Now I don't need that spot because I've trained my eye to find that spot but I still evaluate every shot for quick killing potential.