Pick a hair?

[bornagainbowhunter]

I don't pick a hair or a deer to shoot.  I have shot trad for about 4 years now, and have killed many deer.  I don't pick a hair, but i have an imaginary "spot" that I look at.  If you are looking at a broadside picture of a deer, middle ways from the chest to the backbone and about 2" behind the shoulder is where it would be, but I imagine it in the center of the chest cavity.  I try to hit this spot becuase I know that whatever the angle, it will be a deadly shot.  I am very picky about where and when I shoot a deer.  I DO NOT want just to wound one and never find it, but as we all know that will sometimes happen.  I wounded and lost my first deer with a bow this year.  It made me sick. I looked for 2 days. I knew the meat would have spoiled, but did not want to give up.  

What do yall guys do? Pick a hair or are there any other guys out there like me that have an imaginary internal "spot"?

[Dave Lay]

I normally just shoot for right behind the shoulder a few inches up from the heart on a broadside. on quartering I normally try to shoot for a spot in line with the opposite leg.. but no I dont pick a hair or anything.. kinda hard to see one at 10-20 yds. been huntin with a stick for 30 plus years. kinda a learned deal I guess....

[straitera]

Excellent point John. Aim small, miss small. I try to envision imaginary crosshairs. With enough practice, you can find them easily as they light up.

[Ragnarok Forge]

I like this thread.  I am recently back to trad shooting and trying to find my own method for selecting a spot to shoot at on an animal.  I will keep a close eye on this one.

[KentuckyTJ]

Personally I always shoot for my exit hole and if I don't think that path will take out both lungs I don't shoot. As you know deer can jump, flinch, move or twist at the shot. Don't beat yourself up. The archer that's never lost a deer hasn't shot many or been doing this very long.

[woodchucker]

Actualy, 4 or 5 hairs will do.....

(as long as they're all touching)

[reddogge]

I aim for the little red dot on them.    
 

I did this as a joke on a buddys picture but I do aim for something about that big on them.

[Zbearclaw]

Originally posted by KentuckyTJ:
Personally I always shoot for my exit hole  

Exactly!!!!

[bornagainbowhunter]

Reddogge, i ain't sure the deer in Arkansas have them red dots. lol
I am definately with KentuckyTJ, I will not shoot if I don't think I will take out both lungs.

[30coupe]

If the deer is standing so that I can see the triangle-shaped shadow formed by the curve of the chest, the leg and the bottom of the deer, I shoot for the top point of the triangle. (Hope this makes sense.) If I can't find the triangle, I don't shoot because it means that the angle of the deer is not conducive to a clean killing shot.

reddogge's dots look kind of high to me. If the arrow hit where the dots are...dead deer, but if the deer ducks the string or I shoot a little higher than I'm aiming (it happens), I want a little more margin for error. No offense intended.

[BobCo 1965]

Originally posted by reddogge:
I aim for the little red dot on them.    
   

I did this as a joke on a buddys picture but I do aim for something about that big on them.

I couldn't help but LOL!!!