Anyone who has taken a basic hunter education course has probably been schooled in the desirability of a broadside shot. This is the classic shooting opportunity most bowhunters look for, as a well-placed arrow on a broadside deer is going to prove fatal nearly 100 percent of the time. Most hunters only puncture one lung, so the deer can survive for a long time. If you’ve shot a deer before while bow hunting, you’re probably familiar with the general sequence of events. However, that is largely offset by the fact that a deer hit in this manner rarely goes very far. “Draw a line from the tear duct to the tear duct, then centered 2.5 to 2.75 inches above that line,” DeNicola says. Deer Vitals: When the deer is standing broadside, this is the best opportunity to take a heart shot by aiming a few inches higher than the armpit area below the lungs. The new Ravin R29X Crossbow includes everything you need for blistering speed (450 FPS!) If you are shooting 3-D targets, it is the 12-ring. A shot on a deer facing straight away from you is a poor opportunity for a bowhunter and should not be tried. It’s possible. A perfect shot requires a perfect release. Broadside basically means that the deer presents itself perpendicular to your position. Be patient and hope for a better opportunity. Training your subconscious might be the toughest, but most important, aspect to master. This is also the best way to get a double lung penetration. We’ll also discuss a few shots you shouldn’t take and explain why. Depending on wind velocity and angle, range, arrow speed and arrow/fletching surface area, wind drift of up to 6 to 8 inches (or the width of a deer’s vital area) is feasible beyond 30 yards – more when shooting a slower traditional bow and arrows with larger feathers. In this particular case, a 27 yard shot doesn't make for a very steep angle. Crunching the numbers on North America's most important game species. Gut-Shot Deer Can Be Recovered If you know you gut-shot a deer either because you clearly saw the arrow strike too far back or you found the arrow and it smells foul and/or is covered with bits from the stomach or intestine, wait six to 12 hours before following up. If the deer reflexively crouches at the sound of the shot and drops down, your arrow will still hit the mid-chest cavity and do damage to the lungs. |
Although deer shot through the stomach and/or intestines typically die from their wounds, they can travel great distances before expiring and often leave little or no sign to aid in tracking. I also found that a white greasy and fatty substance was on the arrow as well. To find consistent success, you must be better than average in every respect. If you are shooting paper targets, that’s the bull’s-eye. It works, too, until a whitetail deer shows up in your shooting lane at an angle you hadn’t even anticipated. If you're in the market for some new accessories to add to your bow, here's a look at what's... From fixed blade to mechanical, these are the top new broadheads debuting at the 2020 ATA... You don't need to go broke to get yourself a new, high-performance archery rig. And when shooting from an elevated stand, the angle makes it even more challenging to find vitals. This is the shot most ethical hunters aim for, and is the one I learned on that worn-out backyard deer target. 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