I do a lot of custom butchering for folks and I tend to take a lot of pics along the way. Butchering is the best way to get an understanding of deer anatomy. I post these pictures in an attempt to show what the target opening looks like from both front and rear. This opening on this small deer was 1 3/4 inch across. I am only guessing that it would be about 2 1/2 inches on a large adult deer. As you can see. The sternum at the bottom is a large bony mass that if hit with an arrow will not offer much penetration. On either side of the opening the ribs (viewed from the front) make a solid wall of bones that are curved and are at a glancing angle. If you did go through the ribs on either side of this small opening, you would hit only one lung. If you miss the opening and shoot high, you do have a chance to hit the spine if you shot does not hit right or left. The spine is a cord that is smaller than an index finger as you can see in the pics. While it possible to make this shot and bring a deer down it does require the highest degree of accuracy to ensure a quick kill. Again. Take from these pics what you will. This is what your target area looks like From the front. Neck high, sternum low and rib on both sides From the inside looking out. The spinal cord in the neck, near the frontal opening. It is very small and well guarded. A cross section view. The cord is enclosed in solid bone. I do not mean to tell you how to hunt or tell you which shot angles to take. I post this only to let you know what the frontal archery shot looks like beneath the hair.
Another great post. Thanks for posting some more great information. The photo's help me to better understand. Processing as many deer as I'm sure you do, helps someone like me who might do 1 or 2 a year. I found this post to be really informative.Thanks brother.
Glad I could help. Its good to be of some use. I am an archery and bowhunting fanatic. Arrow lethality and fast kills are what we should all strive for. It does not please me to take a life but when I do, I intend to dispatch in as quick a manner as possible.
If we don't get anything else out of this great post. What you say here is the most important. I couldn't agree more.
