toddyboman Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Never really took this shot or thought of taking this shot until last night...... Here is my story... So I hung a new stand this past winter in an area I thought should be good once the rutting activities began. Last night was the first night I had ever sat that stand. So I am watching deer file by me one after another.....but they are walking RIGHT under my stand....does and little buck.....So I starting thinking.....a nice/shooter buck is going to come and do the same thing and I don't know if I can make or have a good/ethical shot straight down....As the deer walk by I start looking and thinking......Do I aim just right or left of the spine and catch 1 lung.......Do I am at the offside sweet spot.....:confused: But all along I am thinking at this steep on an angle am I going to catch much of anything......I don't wanna make a bad shot and have an track job that leads to nothing.... Well as the night progressed my shooter buck DID show up.....but it was at last light, however he was 15 to 20 yards to my right and in some thicker stuff. I am pretty sure I had a shot but it was dark enough I didn't want to force a shot and make a bad shot so I elected to pass for another day...... SO the main question I have is do you guy shoot basically straight down? I mean 4 to 6 feet from the base of the tree. I was in a basic 15ft ladder stand. If so where do you aim? How ethical is the shot? Just curious......Thanks everyone! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
92xj Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I have done it and have had a couple of friends do it. If you do not feel confident, do not take the shot. I offset the hit to the near side of the spine. One thing you want to make sure of is that you get a 100% pass through. If you dont, you will not have a blood trail with the only hole on the top of the deer. I avoid the opposite side front leg and the brisket to make sure I get the pass. One thing I did 5 months straight before season was practice shooting straight down off of the house. I was 100% confident in my shooting and that was the only reason I made the shot. When friends that were not so good with the bow would ask, I would always say to never take that shot. I dont want to spend all night searching for a dead deer that did not bleed. Most folks will say to not take that shot, I bet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 If it was me, I'd let him walk on by, Then as he gets on out there i'd grunt or whistle ( Softly) to get him to turn my way. ( Hopefully LOL ) I killed a 7 pointer a few years back that had a broadhead in between his front shoulders from a straight down shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Never shot one straight down. Shot a fox straight down once. Caught him about 1/4" off his spine, right through the gut. Never did recover him. Don't know that I could bring myself to do it on a deer just because there's too much margin for error catching only one lung or not getting an exit hole. If you hit the spine exactly, you'll probably break the spine and paralyze him/her, but I think there's something a little unethical about that. I've spined 2 deer that I can think of right off, and it's not a pretty thing to watch as you're nocking another arrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
msman825 Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 another thing, if they was that many deer under you, sounds like your right on top of there trail. i'd move my ladder before i got busted. or they headed to a food source or just meal-n around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted November 5, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I have done it and have had a couple of friends do it. If you do not feel confident, do not take the shot. I offset the hit to the near side of the spine. One thing you want to make sure of is that you get a 100% pass through. If you dont, you will not have a blood trail with the only hole on the top of the deer. I avoid the opposite side front leg and the brisket to make sure I get the pass. One thing I did 5 months straight before season was practice shooting straight down off of the house. I was 100% confident in my shooting and that was the only reason I made the shot. When friends that were not so good with the bow would ask, I would always say to never take that shot. I dont want to spend all night searching for a dead deer that did not bleed. Most folks will say to not take that shot, I bet. Good point on make sure to get a complete pass through.... I am confident in my abilities with my bow.....but need to make sure I am shooting at the right spot If it was me, I'd let him walk on by, Then as he gets on out there i'd grunt or whistle ( Softly) to get him to turn my way. ( Hopefully LOL ) I killed a 7 pointer a few years back that had a broadhead in between his front shoulders from a straight down shot. That is what I was going to try last night.....and hope the deer turned the right way for a good broadside shot..... Don't know that I could bring myself to do it on a deer just because there's too much margin for error catching only one lung or not getting an exit hole. That margin of error was my fear........ another thing, if they was that many deer under you, sounds like your right on top of there trail. i'd move my ladder before i got busted. or they headed to a food source or just meal-n around I was thinking that exact thing last night as the deer where parading under me......The stand sets up in a thicker area a great staging point before they enter a large crop field.....then it is also a great place for bucks to cruise through before they hit the bedding areas near by. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ethan Givan Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I would be afraid to try it. If it was me, I'd let him walk on by, Then as he gets on out there i'd grunt or whistle ( Softly) to get him to turn my way. ( Hopefully LOL ) I killed a 7 pointer a few years back that had a broadhead in between his front shoulders from a straight down shot. I like this idea. Let them get on past you, grunt and hopefully they will turn broadside or atleast give you a quartering away shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbHunterNY Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 Yea never tried it and wouldn't like to. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I killed a couple of deer with that shot. My Kansas buck died this way. The most important thing is to bend all the way at the waist. Shoot to one side of the spine back from the shoulders. You need to practice the shot. From shooting 3D at a couple places had that exact set up. Takes a bit to do, but it can be done. You must have confidence in any shot. Whenever doubt enters your mind, never pull the string. Sounds like you had an exciting night, Todd! Nothing like this stuff when the deer show up!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointing_dogs_rule Posted November 5, 2010 Report Share Posted November 5, 2010 I took an archery education course and it was stated "unethical". Always want to take out both lungs. I am not perfect and if that HUGE BUCK came by would I not shoot? I would like to think so but I have not been in that position and I am not a perfect person. Move the stand and good luck. good luck to all the dog Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ravin R10 man Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 (edited) Done it several times..a couple inches behind the shoulder, and i line up with the spine.. if Im off one side or the other I got lung & heart; other wise he's dropin like a rock. I've also let down and held off because I could not get proper form..This shot must not be forced.Do NOT try it with out a safety harness..you have to bend over to get proper form..if it dont feel right, and you dont have the confidence..do not try it Edited November 6, 2010 by Mathews XT Man Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layin on the smackdown Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 Done it several times..a couple inches behind the shoulder, and i line up with the spine.. if Im off one side or the other I got lung & heart; other wise he's dropin like a rock. I've also let down and held off because I could not get proper form..This shot must not be forced.Do NOT try it with out a safety harness..you have to bend over to get proper form..if it dont feel right, and you dont have the confidence..do not try it Man ive never done it, and probably never will...but if you want it that bad, i'd take the above advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntnfish Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 If it was me, I'd let him walk on by, Then as he gets on out there i'd grunt or whistle ( Softly) to get him to turn my way. ( Hopefully LOL ) I killed a 7 pointer a few years back that had a broadhead in between his front shoulders from a straight down shot. I agree, try to let him pass and see if you can get a quartering away shot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
redkneck Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 I always pass the straight down shots. Saw my dad shoot a small buck like that one morning we were hunting on opposite sides of an opening. Spine shot him, then had to fight him to cut his throat. No matter how you shoot, the straight down is not a good path through the vitals, imo. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ruttinbuc Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 This shot must not be forced.Do NOT try it with out a safety harness..you have to bend over to get proper form..if it dont feel right, and you dont have the confidence..do not try it Yep, you definitely need a harness to KEEP you in the tree. That same harness can help you make many shots if you have to get away from a tree or cover blocking a shot. Again, not only confidence in the shot, but in your equipment can pay off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hunter109 Posted November 6, 2010 Report Share Posted November 6, 2010 i would not take a shot like that i would wait till the deer made its way away from me a bit then see about a shoot Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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