Thoughts/Experience with shooting a deer between front legs?

Not defending the shot but it seems, atleast from this thread, most are having success with the shot.


If a deer is looking at you, even a broadside shot may not end well.




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I agree, and 30 years of bow hunting has taught me this is a deadly shot.

 

I will re-visit this thread about the second week of October, after a few "lost deer" threads. Should be entertaining.

 

42 years of bowhunting, hundreds of bloodtrails. Terrible bow shot as is a neck shot or a bedded shot. On the otherhand I am 13/13 on gut hit recoveries when I screwed up.

 

It is an unpopular shot to take, but when I was a newer bowhunter I took front on shots on deer twice. Both died less than 40yds from where they were hit.
On the contrary, straight down shots, onto the deers back, are not a good choice.

 

I'm with Tfox, this thread makes me want to add full-frontal shots to my quiver. Sounds like a high success rate.

 

There is alot of mass protecting the vitals area so you have to be precise and it absorbs alot of energy due to the thickness of the sternum. Side shots are much better, much less mass to penetrate. With a gun that's a whole different story. No problem with a high power rifle. I shot a 9 pt buck straight on with a 30.06 it flipped him right over onto his back & it was a quick death. But that bullet did not go past the heart. All the energy was transferred to the heart/lungs. No tissue damage past it. So with an arrow I would think it is too much of a risk.

 

lot of bone in that area. lot of stuff to stop an arrow. id never try it.

 

I bet there will be a lot more lost deer threads from "perfect" broadside hits than frontal shots.

 

Just make sure you practice a lot, if you can't consistently put an arrow inside a golf ball size hole from 20 yards in from on the ground and an elevated position don't try it. Also the KEY is a calm, non alert deer.

 

I currently wouldn't do it. I did see potts do it on a video once back in the 90's I believe it was. Monster buck to boot!

 

Your probably right. And the one or two who admit to taking a shot that isn't broadside or quartering away, and under 30 yds make for fun threads. If the shot works for you great, not one I would take with a bow.

 

I tell you what, if my son ever purposefully takes a full frontal shot with a bow when he first starts to hunt, I am going to slap him upside the head and take away his ability to hunt for the rest of the season.

 

I always thought the Texas heart shot is the one we're talking about...striaght on?

 

Im pretty sure it is a straight on shot. Through the chest into the heart. Stupid shot.

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Passed on this very shot on a 130" nine pointer last year. At full draw for an eternity and all I had was his chest facing right at me. Let down and off he ran. Didnt take it then and will never take it. Has nothing to do with my confidence or ability either. If a deer is "calm/not alert" as stated inside 20 yards facing you, 9 times out of 10 some kind of better shot will be offered. Wasnt the case with that deer unfortunately but I dont regret it one bit.

 

I'm 99.9% sure(google it)a Texas Heart Shot is shooting a deer that is facing directly away from you by aiming at the base of the tail(crapper) with the intent of blowing all the way though into the chest. Always heard it in relation to rifle hunting. I have killed many deer with a rifle that were facing me, I always aimed at the throat patch or just below it. Extremely lethal but can be messy.

 

I stand corrected. Did a google search and you are correct. Never cared to know since I wont be taking the shot lol. I learn something new everyday.

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I won't knock anyone who can successfully take deer with that shot. I'm not one of them. I am an accomplished shot and do shoot golf ball sized groups at 20 yards. However, for me, there are too many things that can go wrong. I'll wait for the broadside or quartering shots.

 

Good discussion guys and thank you for keeping it clean