Placement

http://forums.bowhunting.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=4871&d=1297267621

In my opinion most people shoot too far back worrying about the shoulder blade. As you can see in the illustration the shoulder blade is high and forward. Probably more so than most hunters think.

 

John, I agree that's why I posted the pic I did. As you can see the shoulder blade sets high with it angling toward the front at the lower end, and the leg bone from the elbow angles forward to connect to the shoulder blade at the bottom.

I ran a check station in IL several years and you'd be surprised how many would come in bragging about blowing through both shoulders when in fact they did not catch any bone at all. It was a good shot though

Dan

 

For broadside placement, I go for the area I've enclosed with black dots.

This is about mid-level(up and down) and just forward of mid-line(side to side).

This is the best spot to shoot a deer, for me, because, it gives you room for err, should you misjudge the distance, deer drops of jumps. Many hunters do not know where the shoulder and scapula really are, and, aim too far back in an attempt not to hit them.

I actually like to tuck the arrow in right at the "forward notch" of the shoulder.

 

Jeff, how bout you answer his question based on this:

Perfect broadside shot. You are 5' 1", standing on the ground. It's a 4 year old whitetail buck with an enlarged prostate. He is standing still and is preoccupied with a white footed field mouse that has just taken a crap. Its a gibbous moon phase. You're shootin a 50 lb recurve tipped with a Nugentblade broadhead at 15 yards. You are standing on ground that is valued at $2,500 per acre and has no mortgage. You ate two eggs and bacon for breakfast and forgot to bring your toilet paper. There is no wind. The stock market is flat for the day and the pecan crop looks to be a bumper. Now, ....where do you shoot him? Lungs maybe.....?

 

Sure I'll try to hit him in the lungs. But, if I'm 20' up and the buck's 8yds out....quartering away.....that shot tucked in behind the shoulder is a loser (probably/percentage-wise). There's times when a POI, behind the last rib is called for (and higher on the back than what would be 'optimal' on a broadside deer from the ground).

So, there's an end result (double lung) that's cookie-cutter. My post states that achieving that is different for most every shot.

Of course, you knew what I was saying. Commenting on the petty portion of your remarks isn't really necessary.

 

LMAO!! Sometimes you can hit'em in the butt and get a heart shot Fletch

but you gotta look at all the variables

Dan

 

Thanks for the illustration. I'm a visual learner and this really put it in perspective for me. I appreciate it!

 

Unnecessary

 

I aim RIGHT HERE.....



IF that deer drops a little, I got both lungs LOW, if not, I just destroyed the pump station with a Slick Trick Magnum, and it ain't gonna go very far..... And not the TRUE position of the shoulder blade. Anyone hitting the shoulder blade is aiming too high from the get go or taking a bad angle. Not saying I haven't whacked it, because I have, but ideally, I aim right where I placed the GREEN spot, and have good results. Even on the deer I lost this year.....(long story, got called into work, didn't find her until she was rancid), I aimed for where the pump station would be on a quarter away from about 50' about her and about 43-44yds away, and the shot went right through the pump station, unfortunately, she had her head down drinking and the arrow exited her neck due to her body position, and I had absolutely NO BLOOD for the first 30-35yds of her trail, and I heard the arrow hit ROCK all the way so I thought I'd missed her. Didn't get back until the next afternoon d/t work, and she'd only traveled 80yds, but it was up and then down into another ravine where she died, and I just totally blew the recovery due to now sign of blood at the site of the shot, she sound of the CRACKING arrow (no "thwack" sound at all), not being able to find the arrow which was ultimately BUSTED as it did hit a rock in the creek she was drinking in and was a few yards beyond where she'd been standing buried in some old leaves along the edge of the creek.

 

My point exactly! lol

 

I believe that Droptine's shot placement is the best also. You usually watch them crash. Hardly no trailing.

 

You're welcomed. I make my brother study organ anatomy illustrations of the game we hunt. I think it's a vital method for successful recoveries. For the most part, everyone practices with their chosen weapon. They get very competent with said weapon. They scout, glass, run trail cameras, plant food plots, etc, etc..

Just as important, is understanding the anatomy of the game you're hunting.

For example, 90% of hunters practice on broadside targets, rarely, if ever, placing the target at various angles, and, shooting at them not only from the ground, but a tree stand; I do all of the above.

When you're shooting at a broadside target, lets be honest, most people can smack a kill shot, even though most people do shoot a "touch" far back, in my opinion.

However, when that animal is quartering away(or even quartering too, for those of you who take that shot(lets not get into that debate, just making a point)), at various degrees...Knowing the anatomy of that animal can make or break the shot.

When you know the anatomy, you're aiming for a specific organ, or, groups of organs, main blood supply arteries, etc, and, you have a relatively confident understanding of where these organs are located.

Also, if you make a marginal shot(but one that will eventually kill the animal), and, the deer runs off, but, offers you a follow up shot at an angle/area that we, as hunters, would not normally take(as an initial shot), knowing the complex anatomy of the animal can give you the ability of putting a second, fatal hit on the deer, and, limiting your tracking job, or, worse, preventing this deer from traveling to an area where you CANNOT track him, like, say, a neighboring property that you KNOW you will not gain access too in order to track.(again, I know some States have laws regarding this kind of scenario. Not looking for a debate, just using it to make a point).

 

i shoot for high heart =[]
Dont know if its the best way just my way

 

I used to aim for the red when I first started hunting. Now, I aim for the blue.

 

Yep, blue or pink for me, depending on the animals mood or how high up I am. Alert animal pink, relaxed animal that has no idea I'm at full draw blue

 

Do you say pink for alert because you anticipate the animal trying to duck the shot?

 

YES!!

 

Makes sense. I'll put that into play this season

 

The red dot in that photo is a stone dead deer everytime without having to crowd the shoulder area. An inch or two forward of the red is still perfect. As is an inch or two back of it. An inch or two forward of the blue or pink can be big trouble. Especially for those using large expandables and not pushing huge KE. I would always rather give myself the most room for error.

 

Put that red dot on this deer and your awefully close to the guts. Especially a low hit. Thats why I say most guys aim too far back. I've hit a couple of bucks back there in the morning and got the stomach along with lungs. I think with a full belly, it pushes the guts farther forward.

It will be a dead deer, but might be a long hard tracking job.