So then by that admission you would say that someone who is calm, comfortable, and accurate could easily kill every deer with a quartering to shot from close distance?
That confidence HAS TO come from preparation and practice. All the confidence in the world isn't gonna make that shot any easier....but the hundreds of times you made that shot prepping for the season will. That's just my way of approaching it.
Given the anatomy of the animal I think it is a safe assumption of that...I would stress that it is only something a SMALL Minority of the population should even consider...but yes given the right 1/4 to angle and if on level ground with the animal a hunter could slide their arrow in and out getting both lungs or heart. To stress this further though I strongly suggest against this to nearly every hunter I know personally...as it just simply isn't as large of a potential kill area and most hunters are less proficient than they believe they are. I practice it trust me, but it is similar to when I practice a 55 yard shot...I don't plan on taking it but it refines my skill that much more.
Which way is Right?, or Wrong Quartering to shoot... I have to agree with you, caution is the key! A few years ago, I took a center front chest shot, hunting from the ground with good cover. I took the Buck down and it did it's job. This year, I took a shot from my tree stand with a Buck that walked right under my tree stand. I took my time and took aim for the ribs and front shoulder of the deer, a quarter shot, I was 21'. As I shot, the Buck jumped and the arrow hit him back to far in the butt. I looked for the arrow, no blood, no nothing.....first time ever for me. Was I at fault, did I do everything right?, I thought so, it was just not in the cards. On the other note, I am sure the Buck pulled the arrow out and he will not be around for a while. I thought it was a good shot which turned out not to be....
It would be tough to get both lungs and the heart, just like on a quartering away shot. But, taking the top of the heart and one lung is entirely possible. While I agree that it is a shot not everyone should take I disagree that you should totally discount it to everyone. It's hitting the same vitals as a quartering away shot and in the case of a extreme quartering away shot is more lethal IMO.
Give me credit backcountry...I said nearly everyone, not everyone. I would say the percentage of guys in my day to day is at or below 1%...on this site it is much much higher.
The quartering to shot i just took the other day got both lungs, gashed the top of the heart, and clipped liver. The path of the arrow entered just forward and just above the elbow on the entry side, and came out just behind the last rib, down in 40yds. I would definitely RATHER take, and for that matter be presented with, only broadside shots (as im sure we all would) but im not going to pass on an animal bc they are quartering this way or that if they still present me a comfortable shot (based on my knowledge of my abilities) into the vitals. Basically what it boils down to is something i heard Todd say a week or two ago on the show, in summary, if you draw back on an animal and have any reservations about whether you can or cannot effectively execute the shot...then let down and wait for a better opportunity. I think if you go by this, and are honest with yourself, you'll put yourself in the right situation for YOU. BHOD!
I was referring to a true quartering to shot. One where the arrow enters in front of the shoulder. Not behind.
It is not a shot that I would teach to a novice bowhunter. Broadside or quartering=good. Quartering toward=bad. I have shot deer quartering toward on "accident".... You know when you get locked on to a deer, aim, and then release only to see the deer has moved slightly giving you a quartering to angle? I have killed some deer that way and lost others. From my experience it is MUCH more likely one looses a deer from a quartering toward angle as compared to a broadside or quartering away angle. And that is what I have told my kids, and any new bowhunter I come across who thinks because their bow shoots 400fps they can get away with a sub-optimal shot selection.
I will not take a head-on shot, or a quartering-to shot under any circumstance with a bow. Just personal preference I guess. I passed a 160 class buck 3 times in the same day, just to make sure the shot was right. I'd rather not get a shot, than get that terrible feeling in my gut that happens when something goes wrong
I know this may be a little off topic and this is an elk and they have a different kill zone in regards to facing you shots(have heard the frontal shot at close range is deadly and the opening into the chest cavity is about the size of a melon). As far as the thread, to me it all depends on the actual animals angle and if you can cleanly get an arrow into the chest. Make sure you can hear the audio....crazy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrWYuh_s1RQ
Nope not even an option for me...I have alot of respect for the animal I pursue. I'm a confident archer and wouldn't even consider it.
Definitely a shot I won't take. Two reasons for that, no experience on shooting a deer other than 3d targets (hopefully that changes this season) and same as Joe said...I want to take the shot I have confidence in and won't leave a deer suffering because I took a risky shot.
One common denominator I have seen for Bowhunters that are consistently successful a killing variety of game in different locations and conditions is the willingness to make shots happen. You can wait for perfect and your wait may never end, or you can be decisive and confident in your ability to kill the animal with well placed shot from several different angles.
I completely get this and admit may be true in your case but I know countless number of guys who are deer slaying machines that don't take quartering to shots...I mean I get it some do and certain guys it is perfectly fine but the percentage of guys that should is minute compared to those that shouldn't due to ability.
So if it is fine for a certain percentage of guys how is it acceptable for anyone to question their choice on the shot?
So... at what point does taking the shot become bad? I mean are we talking about intentionally shooting the point of the shoulder... or are we talking about hitting the sweet spot and still taking out vitals? There is a large margin of acceptability/unacceptability going on here. I can't imagine any bow today using a heavy solidly built broadhead/arrow combination that would be incapable of breaking a shoulder bone. Just saying... all things considered, I have never once had a shoulder bone stop a Muzzy, though I have broken or bent a few blades. Dr. Ashby's report spoke at length about the difference between shooting quartering to game with heavier arrows and broadheads. I think we do have to be careful about making blanket statements unless we clearly define which angle exactly we are speaking of. Knowing a deer's anatomy is crucial. Just a thought.
