Getting too close / shots other than broadside

[kunsangsean]

Today I had a close encounter with the finest looking blacktail I've ever seen, and it got me thinking about shot choices other than broadside. I was out in the late afternoon sitting in the forked bottom of a black oak tree when he came along. I'd been out three days waiting to see him, the plump 4 x 4 buck. My tree was in between two trails. He popped up onto the trail and started trotting towards me on the upper trail, much faster than I expected.
   Before I could reposition he was walking right past me, no more than 2 yards, never having even glanced at me. That's the moment when I blew it. I tried to reposition to shoot as he walked away, and he spooked from the movement. Dang.
   I don't know if I'll see him again, but if I do get a shot on him he will be my first deer.
So my question is, if all you are presented with is a deer quartering towards, or head on - is there any good shot? At the range I could have easily hit just about anything...given that my draw didn't give me away.
   Anyhow, curious to hear thoughts or similar experiences.

[Lefty]

From my experience, the margin of error is greatly decreased, the farther you get from broadside, and especially when that gets more quartering too.  An animal can still be killed from these angles, but the size of the kill zone gets smaller.  Heat of the moment, under stress of killing any animal, then I want to maximize all chances of error on my part and that means broadside or quartering away shots.  Someone with more experiences or better shooting abilities may disagree, but I play it as safe as I can to make a good clean kill.
  An animal you pass on without a good shot angle you may get a second chance at, but one you wound to run off and die unfound, you will never have another chance at.

[Bjorn]

The only shot I take is broadside or a very slight quarter away.
Do a search and you will find threads similar to this one.

[ChuckC]

Although there are many shots that CAN kill a deer, we try to preach only broadside and quartering away shots.  Too much can and does go wrong already.

Sure, folks have killed them shooting for other spots. We have, and will continue to argue the finer points till we all die.

I find however, after teaching hunters education and bowhunter education for a long time, the biggest majority of the students I get, young, and old, don't really know where the pieces and parts of a deer actually are.  

Example, everybody says aim behind the "shoulder" and they point to what would be the elbow on the deer.  That puts your arrow in the back half of the lungs before you even shoot, and if you don't hit exactly where you aimed, you just may miss lungs completely.

Terry has some training. .  I mean. .  practicing aids / threads at the top of the POW WOW.  They are great for refreshing if you really do already know, and an eye opener if you really aren't certain.

ChuckC

[macbow]

It's almost impossible to draw on adeer that close. So a more broadside shot is even more important.
See the thread.
   http://tradgang.com/noncgi/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=130877
It shows why frontal shots,are such low percentage.

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I'm just going to save you the frustration and say NO.

For every video on Youtube showing a shot like that and a dead animal, there are 50 that get away or die without being found.

Broadside or Quartering away Only!!!....

It sounds like you found a  nice spot but your choice of stand location sounds like it would make it difficult to shoot a deer at a good angle.

I would move the stand to one side of the trail or the other based on the current wind direction.

Congrats on getting Heart pumping close on a tough animal to hunt and also making a good ethical decision not to shoot.

[kunsangsean]

Thanks guys, very helpful words. You're right that I would much rather see him live another day than be lost because of a poor shot.

[LB_hntr]

Another issue is the angle. At two yard from above your odds of hitting both lungs is almost nonexistent. I promise a one long hit deer is the worst to track. I have had them live for 2 days after a one lung hit and only found because of snow allowing me to stay on the trail.  If u can't hit both lungs with a good margin for error let it walk. Typically the best option for both lungs is quartering away or broadside and no closer than 5 yards from a tree stand at normal height.

[r-man]

not your fault, been there, I choose to shoot the frontle, in my haste the tall grass pulled the shot down.

[pdk25]

You say that this would be your first deer, and I think there has been some sound advice given. I wouldn't want a poor shot choice to give you a bad outcome and sour the experience for you.  Your equipment has some effect on what you can get away with, but steeply angled shots are pretty tough out of a tree. After you have killed a few you will have a better idea. Best bet is to take a shot that you know you can put in the vitals, and give you enough of a blood trail to follow. For most this means broadside or slightly quartering away.  There is a fine hog killing/mule deer killing machine from California that would argue otherwise.YMMV.

[wingnut]

Some times the best shot you ever take is the one you let pass.  I've killed elk at 35 yds and let them walk at 15.  If it doesn't feel right. . .it isn't.

Mike

[Echatham]

Mike Fedora told me a story kinda like that... but he got the deer. deer turned directly away from him  at about 3 yds. said it all happened so fast that he didn't remember the shot. when he got to the deer, not very far away, he couldn't find any blood.... said he thought he must have scared it to death. no entry wound.  when he went to start gutting he noticed the trickle of blood coming from the anus.  needless to say the entire arrow was in the deer, and the deer had no more holes in it than it had previous to the encounter.  doubt even mike would recommend that shot.

[Shawn Leonard]

I am the one who will disagree other than what Mike said. Never shoot if it don't feel right. That said if I had the time and got drawn on the deer even quartering at me at that close, I would put if between the shoulder and brisket(lower neck) just in from point of shoulder, should get both lungs and diaphragm depending on exact angle. I have killed several with that same shot. Don Thomas writes of making thi shot quite a few times in his writing. Again it is all about how you feel at the moment, if the green light goes off in my head and it feels right I shoot. Shawn

[S. Brant Osborn]

After more years than I care to admit, I am still trying for my 1st trad deer.  I feel good about the shots passed.  

Stick to what you learn to be the right shot angles.  There is good advise up top so i will not add to it.  Also, don't let the size of the trophy be what makes you decide.  Big bucks and young does all deserve the same consideration.

[Joeabowhunter]

Well from my personal experience I can say DON'T take that shot.  I still have bad dreams about the buck I shot and lost to that choice.  Tall grass, 3 hour stalk to cover 150 yards.  A buck of a lifetime....  This is hard for me to relive but I did learn my lesson and have passed on an elk and other deer since then because of the lesson I learned that day.  I can honestly say I will probably never get a chance at a buck like that again.  So after 3 hours of only taking one or two steps every time a car drove down the gravel road to cover the sound of my steps, this beautiful buck eventually got to his feet and walked directly to me. I was on the only trail in extremely thick weeds/grass and he was coming at me.  All I could see was horns at 3 yards.  When he looked to the side I thought I could tuck it in through the base of his neck.  I shot and thought it was perfect.  It wasn't.  The arrow glanced off the ribs and the buck was gone.  Many hours and days spent tracking with much help proved that deer survived my poor shot choice with only a superficial wound.  I wish I waited for a better shot OR didn't take the frontal shot.  Either way it would have been a better outcome.

[Joeabowhunter]

. [/qb]

[oldtimerbow]

My cousin took a shot like that and we found him two weeks later. He probably  died  fairly quickly but left zero blood trail and he was quickly swallowed up by the thick cover.

[joe skipp]

This would be a killing shot.

[Traditional-Archer]

Although I have to say I would not give the advice that Shawn has given, sorry brother let me explain. I don’t want to make an argument but I think this is a bad practice. We already have our superhero’s on TV shooting big game at 40,50,60 and even further than that. Even if we have the ability to make these shots it’s not a good idea to encourage others to take these shots.  It’s up to the shooter to know his or her ability and we must put limits on ourselves when it comes to shot placement and ethics. To answer your question I would have to echo most here and say a loud no. If a person has to ask this question you most likely need more experience in the field, and I can tell from your word you understand that, it’s just frustrating. I’ve seen and made some shots I wish I could pull the arrow back, that’s just growing and learning. The experience you gain in the woods are a life time of memories good and bad. I wish you luck brother I know this ghost will haunt you for a long time, spend time in the field hunt and work hard it all will come together.
Bruce

[Tedd]

Depends on your set up. If you think you are going to get a frontal shot. Try to get as much angle as possible. A two blade magnus flying good on a 55lb + bow at the frontal angle is a pretty decent shot. You want to have an exit hole.
I always try to get my stand so the deer will be broadside. but we all know that sometimes it doesn't go according to plan.
Straight down is a shot that worries me. It's easy to stall in the spine of just get one lung.
Tedd