Shot placement...deer can be killed anywhere

[James R. Burke]

I dont bow hunt, but I guess from a tree it's awhole differnt story than on the ground. I believe shot placement is key with every caliber, not saying you cant get it, but you need to know what will work. I shot a bear once walking away from me went in the backend and came out his chest, but I knew the gun well. A .416 Rem mag with a solid copper hollow point barnes 325 grain moving at 2800 f.p.s.

 

[Double Naught Spy]

I believe that I can efectively kill a deer no matter what position the body is facing. I'm confident in my equipment and abilities to do so. And I believe that you can too.

Well, that is good that you are that confident in your abilities and have the skills to match. As noted above, too many hunters don't. You cursorily dismissed shots to the haunches and such as random shots. Hell, I watched one of the blooper shows on OLN that included many of the shots that missed and missed by experienced hunters, guides, and even the host. They weren't random shots either, but by golly they were very poor shots.

Why is it important for me to explain this and bring it up? Because I feel there are too many folks that don't take shots, and don't get to take game because they have never concidered taking a "non-broadside" shot.

For the life of me, I did not realize that this was an issue. All those hunters seeing lots of deer and not shooting.

But one truth remains...A Deer can be Killed, effectively, no matter what the Position.

Sure, but then it is a question of ethics, quickness of the kill, how much meat is damaged, etc.

 

[wpcexpert]

You cursorily dismissed shots to the haunches and such as random shots

The shot that went up her ham and into her heart wasn't on purpose. She jumped over a log just as I shot. She was quartering away at the time of release.

Sure, but then it is a question of ethnics, quickness of the kill, how much meat is damaged, etc.

Since when did Race become an issue in hunting? I agree. I think that some folks may have misunderstood "Can be Killed". I mean that they can be taken with quick clean kills. The deer in the pictures, 60yds and less than 8 seconds. The doe with the arrow up her butt, 40 yds and less than 8 seconds.

I get a pass thru 99% of the time. With a 425gr arrow at +290fps. That is producing over 79 foot lbs of KE. So I don't think I've got any problems reaching the vitals from any angle.

The one shot I don't like and rarely take is under 7 yds from my treestand. Those single lung hits are the pits. If I have to take a close shot, I'll try and get a frontal for access to the heart.

Look, all I'm saying is that the full education is just as important as the right education.

 

[ZeroJunk]

Race become an issue in hunting

I suspect everybody knew what he meant.


Unfortunately we won't get a picture of the deer you will lose. I have followed several deer blood trails until they clotted from shots by even state archery champs who knew thay could make some awkward shot.

 

[Daryl]

I don't usually wait for a broadside shot. If it comes first, then I'll certainly take it, but I generally don't waste a lot of time waiting for it.

That said, I like clean kills. I want quick, and I want clean. Anything that perforates the intestines isn't going to be considered clean, and the same holds true for the bladder.

Neck and chest shots are the norm. From a rear angle, I'll usually break the neck or wait for a quartering shot.

And I don't think I've ever failed to get a deer because of passing on a shot angle.

Daryl

 

[Double Naught Spy]

Since when did Race become an issue in hunting? I agree.

I suspect everybody knew what he meant.

Well, even I knew what I meant, but that was still a funny blooper. I will still fix it, however as it is just not appropriate.

I said,

You cursorily dismissed shots to the haunches and such as random shots

You replied

The shot that went up her ham and into her heart wasn't on purpose. She jumped over a log just as I shot. She was quartering away at the time of release.

I was not commenting on your shot, but on your quote where you dismissed it as being random. I then cited watching OLN's bloopers and seeing hunting gurus flub numerous shots. What makes you think that those folks who took shots that ended up badly necessarily took random shots? Do you think that they wanted to be filmed taking poor shots? No, of course not. So they weren't just shooting randomly, but had they managed to actually hit the animals with their shots, they would have been foot-breakers and well outside of the vital zone.

 

[wpcexpert]

Well, even I knew what I meant, but that was still a funny blooper. I will still fix it, however as it is just not appropriate.

I knew it was a blooper. It made me chuckle so loud, the wife came over to see what was up.

Random was a poor choice of words. It just seems like folks think I am seeing deer, shooting at deer and praying for the best. That assumption is way off base.

So they weren't just shooting randomly, but had they managed to actually hit the animals

I'm not at all saying that I'm 100% all the time. No one is. I've lost deer, and it makes me sick. I was counting up the deer I've hit and never found. I came up with 5. Two I know survived, and one other probably did. Only one of the five was due to an "un-approved" angle. That buck was at 5 yds and facing me. I tracked him for over 400 yds and he made three scrapes along the way. I mis-judged the distance or deflected on the others.

Unfortunately we won't get a picture of the deer you will lose.

That's so profound I don't really know how to respond. But seriously, I know that, and the consequences of everyshot I take...rifle and bow. I don't shoot if I don't know that I can put the deer down in 8 seconds or less. Sometimes, crap happens. Even when the situation is ideal, crap can happen. But I take the responsibility very seriously.

Practice, practice, and then do it all over again.