Quartering Away vs. Broadside

[eagle24]

I read an interesting article a few months ago regarding the "quartering away" shot.  Just wondering, would you prefer a quartering away shot or a perfectly broadside shot? and why? This only pertains to deer, not elk or moose.

[adeeden]

From my own experience, broadside. I always get both longs with a broadside shot. It seems with  the quartering shot I only get both lungs around 1/2 of the time.

[pseman]

I'll take broadside everytime. I like to get a complete passthru both lungs and out the other side. This makes for a much better blood trail. With the quartering away shot, the opposite leg/shoulder often prevent complete penetration. The only advantage to me of the quartering away shot is that it may be easier to draw because the deer is looking away.

Mark

[Shawn Leonard]

Broadside, but quartering away is very good as ya punch the diaphragm and that causes the lungs to not work to good and ya can still get both lungs abd liver and even heart. I would not hesitate on either one. Shawn

[bentpole]

Quartering away you do have a slight advantage  as the deer is looking in the opposite direction versus broadside. However I would take broadside over a quartering away shot anytime.Quartering away you have to remember to aim for the front leg on the opposite side.Broadside I try to hit "the crease".

[Rico]

Quartering away seems to expose more area and less none vital area.

[Biggie Hoffman]

Rico is right on! many more animals are lost on quartering away than broadside. Too much margin for error.

[Sharpster]

I'll take the broadside shot every time, much better chance of getting the all-important passthrough. Two holes bleed better than one.

[Landshark160]

I'll say quartering away for two reasons.  I have shot several deer I thought were perfectly broadside only to find that they were quartering ever-so-slightly towards.  Exit wound in the guts makes for hard trailing.  If they're quartering away, I know they're not quartering to.  And my second reason is that a quartering away shot takes the shoulder blade out play.  I hunt 99% of the time from a treestand, and when they're good and close like I like 'em, that shoulder blade is mighty close to where I'm looking.

[bluegrassbowhunter]

Originally posted by Landshark160:
I'll say quartering away for two reasons.  I have shot several deer I thought were perfectly broadside only to find that they were quartering ever-so-slightly towards.  Exit wound in the guts makes for hard trailing.  If they're quartering away, I know they're not quartering to.  And my second reason is that a quartering away shot takes the shoulder blade out play.  I hunt 99% of the time from a treestand, and when they're good and close like I like 'em, that shoulder blade is mighty close to where I'm looking.

I'm right there with ya.....quartering away

[Matt E]

Quartering away all day! As shawn mentioned you will take out the diaphragm which is a sure kill in and of itself plus you are more apt to damage several other organs as well. The only down side is you are more apt to cut the gut by doing so.

[John Dill]

I'll take broadside.

[bmfer]

I take what they give me. Although, if I had to choose, quatering away makes the green light in my head turn on. IMO it gives you a better chance of hitting more than one vital organ. Plus the added factor of the deer not seeing you is a big benefit.

[SOS]

Depends on how steep you mean by quartering away.  Either is great, will not pass up one waiting for the other unless it is a steep quartering shot.

Biggie, I think Rico was saying he likes the quartering shot.

[Kingstaken]

In most cases either one is a shooter..
For quartering it really depends on which way the deer is facing. Being lefty I would hesitate on a quatering away if the deer is facing the left unless it was a steap quatering.

[Pinecone]

My preference is broadside for a variety of reasons.  Most notable is that the target area is maximized.  I have been succesful with quartering away shots in the past, but I have also had some disapointments.  For my money, the broadside shot is the highest percentage shot in bowhunting...everything else is a reduced probability game.

Claudia

[John 4]

I prefer quartering away for a number of reasons.
The deer is usualy looking away.
I always get the liver,at lest one lung and quite often the heart as well.
When you take both the liver and lungs, the animal usualy goes less distance after the shot,get all three an they just about keel over on the spot.

[JOKER]

I would say quarting away every time. From my experience it is a higher percentage shot than broad side.

Reason: For a quick kill with lots of blood (except spine)you need to hit: spine, major artery(along back bone into back legs), liver, or heart/LOWER FRONT long. And as you know all these targets are small except heart/LOWER FRONT long area. This area is most open on a quarting away shot. On a broad side shot half of this area is covered up by the front sholder. To many times on a broad side shot you tend to hit back on the lungs and/or get one lung (from a treestand). Also on a "broadside" shot they sometimes tend to be slightly quarting tword and you get back even further on exit. Yes, it is true that if you hit the far side leg on a quarting away shot that most likely you will not get a passthrough. However, you will not need a passthrough because the deer will be laying in sight of where you shot it.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I've killed more deer with a broadside shot. better chance of getting a double lung & Heart...

[Rico]

Yes, Thanks SOS. Sorry if I wasn't clear. The only bad shot placement I dread is a gut shot animal,quartering away leaves less of this exposed with a good chance of the arrow going forward into the goodies.
   Quartering away is more likely to ensure a kill or a flesh wound that will heal competley.IMO