I have been bowhunting for three years now and have been taught that the only truly ethical shots are broadside and quartering away. I have passed on every other opportunity that I have had to take a shot, being that I want to harvest animals ethically. Recently I have seen some videos from major hunting companies where a short-range frontal shot was taken without question, which shocked me. I don't know if I should be disgusted or if I have been taught incorrectly. Are there any situations where this is an ok shot to take?
I can't see my self ever doing it on a whitetail. Maybe, under the right conditions I would with an elk.
Everything has to go right. I've done it with gun and dropped them flat but with bow I wouldn't chance it. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
As Fitz said, never on a deer or smaller animal. An elk or moose I would do it if it was a close shot under 20 yards and the animal was completely still. Tye target area on a deer is too small to risk in my opinion. On an elk or moose the target is almost four times bigger. Think baseball vs football size difference. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
You have not been taught incorrectly! While you may see or hear of people who have done it - ultimately YOU have to make the call. The odds are not good. Stay with what you have been taught and what your instincts tell you.
More than likely not. It would have the be a perfect situation which I would put as from in a ground blind at 15 yards or closer. Since I am pretty much always hunting elevated I will likely never get the opportunity to face that choice.
Saw the result once and vowed to never do it----helped a fellow hunter try to track deer after frontal shot , Did not find it that day before rain storm hit--found it a couple of days later poor critter must have suffered quite some time before succumbing
I have a buddy that took a shot on a doe last year that was facing him. He recorded it all on his tactacam, He basically center punched her between the chest cavity and throat and dropped her in her tracks. I would never think about taking a shot like that, but guess he felt pretty comfortable doing it at such a close range. I guess it's no different than someone with a smaller caliber rifle shooting at the head of a doe. If you feel confident in your abilities take a shot. Me, on the other hand, I will wait for the better body shot.
Thanks everyone, I appreciate the thoughts. Couldn't believe that in the videos I saw, which again were from some well-known hunting sources, didn't even talk about the dangers of taking a frontal shot. It seems like some hunting shows/videos are more interested in having a good video rather than being ethical...
from a tree stand, heck no; from the ground maybe? I have seen some people take that shot and it is absolutely deadly from the ground. not sure if I would ever chance it though.
I don't think you have been taught incorrectly. The most ethical shots are definitely as you described but as your comfort and confidence with your shooting improves other shots will become an option. Know the animal's vitals in all angles and know correct arrow placement. At that point those difficult shots become more doable. Sent from my XT1254 using Bowhunting.com Forums mobile app
Back when I first started hunting I would take frontal shots. Lost one and found one. I have seen some guys pull it off. Even neck shots. Personally I don't like em. Hunting is your thing. Whether it's hunting high fence or public ground. I don't judge. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
With a rifle I don't even hesitate, but wouldn't even consider it with a bow. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The objective is a clean quick kill. The best odds of that are taking out both lungs. Frontal shots while they can be deadly leave to much room for error and can result in long track jobs or worse a lost animal. What those shows don't show you in some cases is the long laborious track jobs on your hands and knees looking for sign. Stuff happens but why gamble with fate?
I've taken one quartering towards me shot on a doe last year at 13yrds from a ground blind. The blind was in a low spot so I was shooting at a ever so slightly upwards shot. Busted through the bone, got the heart & she only went about 20yrds before piling up. Shoot her with my X7, 485gr Grim Reaper Whitetail Special. Complete pass through. Sent from my iPhone using Bowhunting.com Forums
I have shot two deer head on but both were throat patch shots with in 20 yards and both dropped in their tracks. This was from ground blinds on deer that were relaxed. In the shot into the chest cavity you will most likely get some gut and if the heart is not hit you will be into a tough trailing job with out a dog or high fences. (Heat seeking drone would be nice) . Lots of hunting videos doing stuff that should not be done.
Hit one like that a number of years ago (not intentionally). As I shot, the deer either from sound or seeing me, tried to spin and run causing the arrow to enter just in front of the shoulder. As he turned and ran, I see my arrow flipping through the air, snapped clean off by the shoulder. When the shoulder snapped the arrow, it also became useless to the deer so he started tripoding it. There was 12-18" of snow on the ground so I didn't even need blood to track him. Turns out as the arrow snapped, the broad head cut the bucks windpipe. Only made it about 30 yards. Not something I would depend on happening again. Got Lucky
