Quartering to shots are a lower percentage shot because the shoulder is in the way. Quartering away may be the same shaft angle but has to deal with shoulder on exit...not on entry before reaching the vitals. I don't see how anyone can even argue this point, it's always a lower percentage shot than a quartering away or full on broadside shot...duh. Now that said, I've never feared the shoulder and shoot through them on a regular basis. With my rig and broadhead combination, I'm extremely confident in penetration and getting the job done..shoulder or no. I pay attention to the elbow/knuckle and respect that but not the shoulder scapula. Even so, I have no doubt or problem admitting it's a lower percentage shot...it just is. For me it may not amount to a large percentage drop but a drop it still is. I will always prefer full broadside or quartering away shot and try to avoid quartering to shots but I'd be lying if I said either I've never taken them or that I feel they are just as good as broadside or quartering away. You can't argue with results, someone that takes quartering to and gets by okay gets a pass, many don't and lose deer to it so overall I'd say do what you're confident in and if you take a quartering to and lose the deer then don't post a sob story on here. If you're not seasoned enough to be comfortable with it then avoid it at all cost even if it's letting an animal walk. Pushing a bad position is never a bright idea.
Ditto! So those who have equipment heavy enough to handle a slight quartering to shot... and the proficiency to make it... and the knowledge of a deer's anatomy... and the experience to pull it off... aren't necessarily guilty of having no respect for the animals they pursue? A shoulder bone on an average whitetail shouldn't stop a quality broadhead. The shot IMO is no riskier than shooting too far back... and this we hear story after story of. Those shooting equipment too light for the job or broadheads not designed for bone contact--- ????
I won't take a hard quartering to shot but a slight one and depending on the situation I will shoot. I will only do it if I am confident at the moment of the shot.
Is that a question to me because I never made such a comment that I recall about not respecting the animal? I think I could agree that anyone without experience to know if their equipment will ignore the scapula and willingly take that shot...it's arguable they don't have enough respect for how many things can go wrong with that shot so in turn maybe not enough respect for the animal. I accept that even with great equipment that things can go wrong with that shot which is why I agree it's a lower percentage shot for anyone. The difference for proven hunter/equipment may be finite but it is still lower percentage just based on an increase in things that could potentially go wrong. The biggest concern for me would be hitting the elbow, the shoulder moves in like 15 degree increments and that can potentially cause problems hitting that knuckle on a quartering to. Lets face it, you hit that knuckle with most anything and if you make and find the kill, you just got lucky. This is easily one of those things that could fall into the category of letting one's testosterone make a bad decision. Like draw weight or a multitude of other things. The problem with people who make this shot saying it's okay if you know what you're doing is that it, in a way, encourages people to brave the shot only to realize that it could be disastrous because they didn't know what they were doing to the point they thought they did. Even great equipment can fail when it comes to depending on it to shear bone. Comparing a quarter to shot to a double lung broadside or a quarter away and saying it's not lower percentage is just wrong. Again, can be done but all things considered it is far from ideal for anyone really.
I would be interested to know what degree of quartering to angle guys on here are willing to take. 90 degrees is broadside 180 degree is butt 0 degrees is facing straight on I will go somewhere in the range of 75 to 120 degrees.
That's my range as well. Still lot's of vitals exposed that you can still shoot right behind the shoulder and get lung.
I think everyone is taking about two different shot locations on a quartering too deer. Behind the shoulder or in front of the shoulder and two entirely different shots. I would never take a quartering to shot behind the shoulder.
What angle constitutes a quartering to shot? 45 degrees (True quartering angle) is a no shot... what about 60 or 75 or 89 1/2. Where is your line suddenly drawn? Also how does it change from various heights and distances. A steep downward angle is a tougher shot than a quartering to shot any day of the week but hunters take those because at least they are broadside. You still have to penetrate the shoulder and now have a spine to contend with as well. If you shoot only a couple inches high, you have problems... too low, problems. Yet few ever criticize that shot.
Count me in that "few". All but one of my ladder stands are only 10' tall and the one exception is 15'. I learned my lesson on steep down angle shots years ago along with the old mechanicals. I hate those steep shots, I'd far prefer to deal with the closer encounters.
I'm talking on the ground with the deer. Under 15 yards. Full frontal, I'm taking the shot. 45 degrees im still taking the shot. I'm not sure where your coming up with needing to penetrate shoulder bone? I'm slipping my arrow between the scapula and brisket. Nothing but a few rib bones to deal with.
I am talking tree stand... at a downward angle... Where would you aim at ground level and a 45 degree facing angle? Curious, you posted earlier.
Yeah... we were talking different shots. Definitely not a shoot behind. I am not as good with picture s as you are. From a tree stand... some slight frontal angles are fairly easy shots depending on the angle to shoot above the knee at a rearward angle and still get both lungs, even if you do hit a little blade. It all depends on the height of the stand, the amount of angle and the distance. I think what we are saying... is I am not going to pass on a shot I know I can make because someone says "never" take a quartering to shot. Of course I would drop my bow if I saw bucks like those in real life anyway.
