Need some measurments of mule deer vitals.

[K. Mogensen]

Does anyone know the average dimensions of a mule deer's vital? I feel stupid asking the question being as I've hunted them all my life with my dad but we honestly never looked real hard and it's been years since we shot one. I'm making a life size cardboard cut out to put over my target for a little more entertainment. Doesn't have to be exact, just 12x6 or what ever it is.

Thanks!

[ChuckC]

I am thinking that being close to WHERE the vitals should be will be more important than being close to the SIZE of the vitals.

We as a group (hunters) have been taught where to shoot over the ages and I believe that this information is a bit faulty.  

Read the thread above about aiming locations.  Look at those pictures.  Change your thoughts about where the 'shoulder is when people say "shoot behind the shouder".

Make your kill zone off shape (see Terry's thread), not round or square.  

Go into the International Bowhunter Education Foundation site and see if they still have the training exhibits that include cut outs of the deers heart, lungs and liver.  Take those shapes and incorporate them into your "entertainment".

Good luck and make it fun.
ChuckC

[JimB]

I can tell you that a rough average for a buck's chest height would be about 16".Bottom of chest to top of back.Using the vitals pictures,you could prbably go from there.

[Shaun]

9" paper plate always worked good for me.

[K. Mogensen]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
I am thinking that being close to WHERE the vitals should be will be more important than being close to the SIZE of the vitals.

We as a group (hunters) have been taught where to shoot over the ages and I believe that this information is a bit faulty.  

Read the thread above about aiming locations.  Look at those pictures.  Change your thoughts about where the 'shoulder is when people say "shoot behind the shouder".

Make your kill zone off shape (see Terry's thread), not round or square.  

Go into the International Bowhunter Education Foundation site and see if they still have the training exhibits that include cut outs of the deers heart, lungs and liver.  Take those shapes and incorporate them into your "entertainment".

Good luck and make it fun.
ChuckC

I understand that they're not "round or square" I was simply asking for a rough measurement so I can draw some on the cardboard to at least get an idea of where I'll be shooting and what I'll be shooting at. Don't take offense, but I'm not mentally handicapped, I realize that deer aren't carrying paper plates or bricks around in their chests. And I do understand that where they are is more important than how big. Just trying to make things a little more realistic.

Thanks for the info guys, that's all I needed to know.

[Smallwood]

I'd say about 16" back to brisket would be about right.

[ChuckC]

No offense taken. Just trying to help.  By reading your request it is pretty obvious that you didn't know any of the above.

We can tell you the heigth of a mule deer's chest, but that wouldn't begin to tell you the placement or size or shape of the "vital" that you asked for.  

All that information is already available to you with a bit of search. I told you one such site above.

Shoot straight
ChuckC

[bearsfeet]

I like to make mine into a very small deer.  When I have made a couple in the past to put up on hay bails I made them only about 9" from top of the back to the bottom of the brisket. This is big enough for me to see well at any distance I am comfortable shooting and then when a deer gets in that range It is twice as big and seeing that it is bigger then my usual target gives me more confidence which makes it easier for me to relax and put the arrow in the proper place.

Best of luck with your target cut out they are more fun to shoot at then just rings and save money over 3d’s that’s for sure!

[K. Mogensen]

That's a good idea, I may have to try it.

[Doug Treat]

I'm going to guess as I haven't measured, but I would guess that if you took a measurement from the front lower part of the lungs to the very back of the tip of the lung (high) where they come to a point, it might be about 12"-14" long.  This might sound big but still would only fit about a 9" circle in the middle of the lungs.  Then you can add the liver to the back of that for the rest of the vitals.  Hope this helps.  Doug

[K. Mogensen]

Doug, that's what I was lookin for, thanks!