Obviously, it's not the preferred shot to take, but will you take it if it's the ONLY shot you'll get at a deer? Or, are you dead set against this shot and won't take it? I've only taken this shot a couple times, but actually had good results both times. They both got the heart/lung.
I PLAN on a downward shot...every time I climb a tree stand. It is not only my preferred shot it, is the only shot. If I was "dead set against this shot and won't take it", I would never use a tree stand. Actually every deer I ever shot from a tree stand was downward. I just practice that way.
Question...Are you talking about extreme angles like when a deer is 5 yards from your tree or just normally shooting downward like when a deer is 15 yards or beyond from your tree? Obviously all shots from a treestand are at a downward angle, so I'm assuming you are asking about an extreme angle, correct?
If you're in a tree stand, of course you're shooting down, but you're also shooting out as well. I'm referring to shooting a deer that's almost directly under you. In other words you're not getting a double lung, and often no pass through at all.
I do about half of my hunting from the ground so this isnt usually a problem for me but if I do put up a stand I will put branches around the bottom to "push" deer away from the bottom of the tree. However if for some reason a deer got under my stand I dont think I would shoot until they got out about 15 yards from the tree.
ok that's what I thought. I did shoot one deer that was about 5 yards from my treestand, broadside, a few years ago. The deer had a huge blood trail since the exit hole was almost right on the bottom side of the deer and it only ran about 40 yards. With that said, I don't think I will take that shot again and pretty much decided that day that I wouldn't. Yes the deer only ran a short distance and died very quickly, but I just thought that there were too many things that could have gone wrong with the shot placement. I'm sure other people feel differently which is fine, but for me, I will pass this shot in the future even though I was successful at making this shot.
First this would never be the only shot. The deer had to have walked in, and will need to walk off at some point so there will always be another chance. As a general rule, I aim where I would take out both lungs, I won't shoot and will wait until a double lung shot presents itself. Not that I will always hit exactly as planned.
I'm referring to a shot at a specific deer, not deer in general. lol That buck in my pic was walking straight towards me. I did not have any shot at him until he was almost directly under me. If I didn't shoot when I did, he would have been past/behind me, allowing no shot at all, as he was going into a thick area. He would have been gone, and seeing him again in shooting range, I doubt it.
Each instance is different. I would prefer to not take a straight down shot. That said, I have taken deer right underneath me. Nice buck by the way. (Would love to see more pictures, different angles please!)
^like he said. Practicing in the off season helps give you confidence in your abilities. Using a 3d and knowledge of anatomy also help.
I avoid taking that shot, but I have before and I recovered the deer. I try to let the deer walk away and give me a quartering away or hopefully a broadside shot. Nice Buck!!
Well if he was walking straight at you, you did have other shot options. You could have attempted a frontal shot, also not one I would take. You could have tried to shoot it in the neck. Another shot I wouldn't recommend. And there is always the shot option of not shooting and waiting for another day or chance.
That all sounds great, but all I was asking was if YOU would take an almost straight down shot? I'm aware of what my options were. I could also have shot him in the head for that matter. lol
I've never taken a straight down shot from my stand. But my stands are normally placed at least 7-10 yards from the nearest deer trail so I never have bucks that close to me. I tend to hunt in the thick stuff.
