Quartering to shots on hunting shows


AaronS

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It seems that I've been seeing more and more and more of this lately. I don't know if I should mention names so I won't right off, but I've seen this three times in as many weeks and I don't get much time to watch tv. Some of these shots have been taken by hunters that I respect and enjoy watching, but these shots are bothering me. I've always been taught to hold out for broadside or quartering away shots. You read it in every magazine and hear it on many hunting shows, but the less than ideal shot seems to be happening more often nowadays. Either that, or they are just showing it more than they used to. I know some will say "I've taken that shot before and killed deer." Maybe so but it's still not the best shot, and I think we owe it to the animals we hunt to make the best shot possible. What does everyone else think?

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

I admit, I have taken that shot, and it wasnt the best situation, but I was confident in my ability, and I knew I would make it count. I shot that deer at 51 yards and he didnt go 80. Sure, I will probably get lectures about that shot and that angle, but I did the job. I have shot deer at less than 20 perfect broadside or quartering away slightly that went further. I think it all comes down to you, can you make the shot or not. If you can, take it if you are comfortable with it.

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Guest KSNimrod

Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

I may get flamed for this but I'm just posing a question: With today's higher KE setups and more proficient/accurate equipment could it be that the slight quartering to shot is not as big a no-no as it was in the past? Do we face a significantly larger problem with a quatering to shot than we do on a quartering away?

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

KSNimrod, I'm not gonna flame ya, but I'd see a lot wrong with that shot, a lot more bone and a lot tougher muscle, plus you're gonna ruin some good meat. If you're going through the brisket. If you're shooting at the vitals, it's going to be really hard to hit anything more than one lung.

I wouldn't take the shot, but if there's a 160" deer in front of me and that is all I have to take, can't say I'd be able to hold back, I'd tell myself I would though. grin.gif

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

I would say that an experienced bowhunter should know what shot to take and an "EXPERIENCED" bowhunter would know whether that was the right choice or not. The beauty of hunting, in general, is the fact that we don't always have a camera over our shoulders to make us feel guilty or to record our mistakes. That's what a conscience is for. Our ancesters earned the right for us to hunt how we choose within the guidelines they set for us years ago. The one constant with all of the law changes that each state goes through each year is that we still ultimately have that choice as to whether we hunt with our conscience or with an empty wall at home. I can't say that I have always taken the best shots or recovered every deer I ever shot. But I always made sure that I learned something from that day's events that might prevent me from making the same mistake twice. Yes that shot CAN kill a deer or whatever other animal you are aiming at but it can also hopefully bring you nights of sleeplessness at taking such a marginal shot and wondering whether or not you made the right choice.

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

Also...Don't forget that the camera may not be looking at the deer from the same angle as the hunter. I've see shows where it looks like the hunter has no shot, but actually has a wide open lane.

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

It think it is two fold. I think the main reason you are seeing more of these shots on TV is due to the need to get a kill shot on film. Couple that with the added difficulty of two guys hanging from the side of a tree with all that gear. Therefore the first viable shot that presents itself gets taken, even if it is less than ideal. With no kill shot there are no video sales. Not saying that money is the driving force, but in a sense it plays a part in it as there is pressure to get a kill shot on film.

I beleive this shot selection all comes down the the hunter and his ability to make the shot and live with his decision at that moment in time. I've taken three deer with a quartering two me shot at 25 yards or less. All three died within 80 yards or less from the stand. All complete pass throughs. None died any slower or any quicker than the average of the many deer I've shot quartering away or broadside. I'm not saying the shot is textbook or for every hunter, but for me and my set up I have no reservations about letting a sharp cut on contact head slice through a shoulder blade.

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

i think we are guilty of taking a quartering to shot but i think we are all forgitting that, that shot is not a good shot to take what happens if the deer are whatever you are hunting takes just a half step then where is your shot going to hit (guts maybe) dont want to teach my kids that shot as far as the hunting shows go i would like to know how many deer they dont recover i bet its more then they want to admit and as most of us know if you lose a deer its from a bad shot (quarting to right)

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

[ QUOTE ]

I feel that you should only take a shot if you are comfortable with yourself enough to take the shot no matter how the animal is standing.

[/ QUOTE ]

so your saying that if the deer is standing looking away from you and your comfortable shooting it in the rear end you should take it you have to remember that there are kids out there learning and the would feel good about that shot

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

only take shots you know you can make 100% of the time.. if you know you can get both lungs with a quartering towards shot then take it , but only if you know you can make it everytime...

its all about angles , i like to look at a deer and see the off side where the arrow will exit.. if thats lung going in , and liver going out thats lethal in my book everytime..

example.. i shot a buck at 7 yards quartering towards. the angle was high enough that when i shot the arrow passed through the lower off side rib cage and stuck in the dirt.. the buck only went 25 yards and piled up.. i would take this shot anytime anyplace if it was offered to me again..

i wont be critical of anyones shot they decide to take.. because they have to live with the shot they took...

Shoot Strong

Tony

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

[ QUOTE ]

only take shots you know you can make 100% of the time.. if you know you can get both lungs with a quartering towards shot then take it , but only if you know you can make it everytime...

its all about angles , i like to look at a deer and see the off side where the arrow will exit.. if thats lung going in , and liver going out thats lethal in my book everytime..

example.. i shot a buck at 7 yards quartering towards. the angle was high enough that when i shot the arrow passed through the lower off side rib cage and stuck in the dirt.. the buck only went 25 yards and piled up.. i would take this shot anytime anyplace if it was offered to me again..

i wont be critical of anyones shot they decide to take.. because they have to live with the shot they took...

Shoot Strong

Tony

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree with Tony. I had a shot similar to his 7 yard shot but mine was about 10. The deer went down within sight of the stand. Like Tony said, it's all about angles and confidence in your ability.

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

I think the bigest thing we need to remember is that everyones set up and KE, and ability are different. In hunting you are your only judge. That's it and you have to live with it. I'm short (veticaly challenged) I only have a 26" draw. I shoot 70 lbs. at about 230 fps. I know there are angle I can't take because of penetration. Know your abbilities as well as your equipments limitations. And by all means shoot straight. grin.gif

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Re: Quartering to shots on hunting shows

I've never taken this shot but have seen it work many times on shows. I just don't like how many things can go wrong and would prefer to not wound one.

[ QUOTE ]

I admit, I have taken that shot, and it wasnt the best situation, but I was confident in my ability, and I knew I would make it count. I shot that deer at 51 yards and he didnt go 80. Sure, I will probably get lectures about that shot and that angle, but I did the job. I have shot deer at less than 20 perfect broadside or quartering away slightly that went further. I think it all comes down to you, can you make the shot or not. If you can, take it if you are comfortable with it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Honestly, you're comfortable shooting at 51 yards to that small target that could move and is quartering toward you?

Lecture, no....but that is poor shot selection, no matter if you recovered the deer.

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