So guys I have killed a decent amount of deer and especially with a bow I have always drawn a line straight up from there leg to the middle of there body or so maybe a touch lower. Then I go about and inch or maybe two back and that's what I shoot for. I have always felt like if I miss a couple inches either way I should still make a good clean kill. So my question is what do you guys shoot for? I have read some stuff on the internet and it says to shoot much lower than I would. I feel like if you miss just and inch or so low you miss or make a bad shot and the way the lungs are shaped you cant miss much forward or back. I practice a pretty good amount and feel like I can always hit within a 2in circle at 30 yrds but I just don't like to thread the needle that much. What do you guys do?
Aim small miss small, I'll mess the shot up every time if I forget to tell myself that before I shoot. I hold right behind the armpit
Just because you aim higher does not mean you don't pick a spot and try to hit it. I just know when hunting things happen and a lot of times your not as good of shot as when your practicing. I feel like you would want to give yourself a bit of room or error.
I like to aim how I have illustrated below.. the deer ducks then you get double lung, no duck you get a heart shot
I come right up the back of the front leg and stop about 1/3 of the way up. If the deer is going to bolt, it's going to drop a little when he loads up and that still puts my arrow in a good spot. That's what I was taught and it has proved to be productive. A little quartering away and that makes it even better.
I too aim about 1/3 the way up, roughly just above the elbow. Especially since I'm in a tree most of the time. If it's quartered away, I'm also aiming for the off shoulder.
Same here.....It is a very rare occasion that I see a deer fully calm here in SE NC. Most of the time when you see deer during the daytime they are always ALWAYS on full alert....I am not sure why other than all the pressure that is put on them by hunters and dog hunters and predators and so on and on....I have shot roughly 40 deer with the bow and I honestly cannot remember one of them that didn't duck at the sound of the shot...We are talking a foot or more on most occasions....I have hunted out in the south central part of the state and the deer are far less spooky. I can only contribute that to a lack of people hunting and no dog hunting......
Your picture really shows the bone structure of the deer well. Put your arrow in the green and that deer won't go far.
I am believe that would be a very good shot but when you look at vital images online it shows that almost being too low and the heart being higher and farther to the left.
the upper half of where those crosshairs are is exactly where I want my EXIT hole to be (ideally.) No matter where my arrow enters, if it exits that area you got a dead deer w/in a few minutes, likely even within seconds. Always aim for the opposite side.
I like to hold just above the elbow. They either duck into a lung shot or stand still for heart shot... either way, down for the count within seconds
I like the picture that backcountry put up. looking at the deer anatomy picture the cross hares on the other picture is almost in a void white spot. It is tough because every picture online shows it a little bit different. I know the basics tho it is pretty simple hit the lungs and you are good to go. But the shape of them and the heart and the placement of both are a little different that one would expect. Thanks guys for the info and your time!
This is a little low. But this deer died in like 50 yards and left a river of blood to follow. Heart was sliced as was bottom if lungs. Always behind the armpit.
My thoughts exactly. Plus if you miss even a little low your screwed. IMHO. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
that's why I stated my preference is the upper half of the crosshair quadrant and posted the anatomy diagram under my last post.
Plain and simple the best practice to get yourself into is aiming where you want the arrow to EXIT the animal. This will put you slightly higher on the entrance side, but dead on at the exit side. I have found here in PA deer can not only "duck" but also "jump" maybe it's different in other areas of the world! LOL! Aim for where you want the arrow to EXIT and you are golden!
