The proper placement varies a bit from animal to animal but is generally as much as one-third down from the backline, centered on the shoulder. Properly done, this shot shatters the spine where it is the heaviest, and results are instantaneous. The actual target, by the way, is larger than the heart and larger than the brain or the spine as it passes through the neck. In actuality, this shot, spectacular as it is, is often a happy accident. The intent was a heart or lung shot but you slipped high and got lucky, centering the spine at the top of the shoulder. Most of us have made this mistake, and if there are witnesses you smile and nod as if you intended it that way all along.

A high shoulder/spine shot caused an instantaneous one-shot kill on this Kentucky whitetail, taken with a T/C Encore in .280 Remington from a rested position in this stand (inset). I don't think the high shoulder/spine shot is as risky as the neck or brain shot because the target area is larger, but you must be absolutely steady as well as confident of the proper placement.

Done accidentally, the risks are very high. Hitting the top of the lungs below the spine is a very bad deal. Deer-size game will probably be recovered, but this is an almost certain way to lose a big animal like an elk or buffalo. Above the spine, well, there's nothing vital there at all. You have almost no chance of recovery, but the animal will probably survive.

Taking this shot on purpose entails the same risks, so it must not be done unless you're steady and certain of the shot placement. But if you've studied it a bit, then I consider it far less risky than a neck or head shot and equally spectacular in results.

Lately, I've been doing a lot of TV work for a couple of hunting shows. This creates a huge dilemma. You sure don't want to mess up in front of the camera, so you must take only shots that you are absolutely certain of. This generally means standard heart/lung shots, but you know up front that unless you're just plain lucky, the animal won't go down immediately.

This creates its own set of problems because you want things on camera to be as clean as possible. This past year I've sort of rediscovered the high shoulder shot. It isn't always suitable because you must be steady and you'd better know the animal you're shooting at really well. Screw it up and you've got a real mess on your hands, but do it right and it sorts things out instantly.

Back in the fall of 2005 I used it on a whitetail in Kentucky and an elk in Colorado, both with the accursed camera running over my shoulder. Earlier that year in Africa I used it on a big kudu and several smaller antelope.

Mind you, it's not a shot that you can always use. It is not as safe as heart- or lung-shot placement, so you must be very steady, very calm and certain of both the proper aiming point and the accuracy of your rifle. On the other hand, I think it's a lot safer shot than the neck and head shots I try to steer clear of. The best way to learn it is by studying actual anatomy, so next time you field dress an animal, follow the spinal column down and figure out exactly where it lies between the shoulders. You'll probably be surprised at how low it is. Armed with this knowledge, you can add the high shoulder shot to your repertoire--but use it with extreme care.