Shot Placement Question Part 1

[need2hunt]

Just wondering what you feel comfortable taking for a shot depending on the position of the animal. I will try to take out all the variable and just say that it is a perfect day, an hour before dark, light to no wind and there is absolutely no obstructions between you and the animal, distance is within your personal shooting limits.

Are you willing to take a...

BROADSIDE SHOT

QUARTERING TO

FRONTAL

QUARTERING AWAY

STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT

I'm going to let this run for a couple days and then I have a couple more questions for you. Please don't jump anybody if there shot angle is not your own. Thanks

G

[92xj]

1-BROADSIDE SHOT

2-QUARTERING TO

3-FRONTAL

4-QUARTERING AWAY

5-STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT

Perfect conditions and at whatever range I am most confident in.

1-Yes

2-Yes

3-Yes

4-Yes

5-Yes

[3seasons]

1 BROADSIDE SHOT

2 QUARTERING TO

3 FRONTAL

4 QUARTERING AWAY

5 STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT

1 100%yes

2 not a big fan of quartering to but a perfect day i would take that shot

3 I'd wait for a different angle

4 100% yes

5 Yes, but i may elect to shoot it before it gets under me or try to let walk out from under the stand.

[wtnhunt]

Gonna depend a lot on how I feel at that given point in time that the shot is offered Gary. If it feels right I am probably taking the shot, if not then no.

BROADSIDE SHOT-YES

QUARTERING TO-maybe

FRONTAL-Probably not

QUARTERING AWAY-YES

STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT-maybe

[Jeramie]

Are you willing to take a...

1. BROADSIDE SHOT

2. QUARTERING TO

3. FRONTAL

4. QUARTERING AWAY

5. STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT

I have been hunting since I was 14 (with a rifle). Thats 20 seasons Ive hunted. The only deer I have lost was to a broadside shot at about 90 - 100 yards with a 30-30. However, I have taken most of those shots you've listed and done so successfully. I'm actually very cautious and have passed up deer because I wasn't 100% sure of the shot. However, under the right conditions I think just about any shot can be justified (depending greatly on the shooter and equipment).

1. Many, Many times..

2. Yes, smoked a doe once in a jog. Hit the front of her left front shoulder. Bone took out the heart and lungs. Shot her at about 50 yards. She literally died at my feet as she rant to my mouth bleet after the shot. She fell in a run and slid within about 3' of my boots.

3. Shot an 8-point buck straight through the heart with this shot. About 75 yards, Remington 700 - .30-06. He went about 10 yards.

4. Doe last year. .243 (Hornady BTSP) at 125 yards. Blew through both lungs. She went down on the spot. Crawled about a yard, game over.

5. First Bow deer ever. Sitting on a white Oak branch. Doe that weighted in at 55lbs. Arrow blew through one lung, hit the heart, and then lodged into her chest bone. She made it through a fence and died in minutes. Followed squirrel barking to find her. She did bleed, squirrels were easier to follow.

Two years ago I shot a large doe the same way. She came under a stand in a white oak. I shot her between the shoulder blades with her coming directly to me. I have the pictures where the Muzzy cut through the spine. She went about 85 yards to 100 yards and piled up. We pulled out for the night. I still cant figure out how she went anywhere. In the pictures you can see clear as day where the spine has a serious cut through it.

[jbeck]

Are you willing to take a...

BROADSIDE SHOT

QUARTERING TO

FRONTAL

QUARTERING AWAY

STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT

Yes, love the broadside shot

How hard is the angle, usually wait for something better

NO,

Ablsolutely, this is my favorite, more room for error.

NO don't like it won't do it,

I've taken a few deer with my bow, the first being at 17 yrs. I've learned the hard way on some of these shots, JMO know alot of guys that can make and do take some of these.

[92xj]

......

pssst, we're in the bow hunting room, I would assume Gary is asking about these shots with archery equipment.

[Tominator]

Since this is in the bowhunting room, I'm assuming with a bow:

Broadside, quartering away are obviously the best.

I would consider taking frontal and straightdown if it was on a certain piece of property and probably only on a doe or fawn.

I don't like that quartering to shot at all.

Just me.

[Leo]

Depends on what animal and how big. If I'm shooting rabbits then any angle works. But if it's a big heavy boned elk size critter then you should stick with broadside shots only. Even quartering away shots aren't risk free with big heavy boned critters.

[VermontHunter]

I'm assuming this pertains to whitetail with archery equipment ..

Are you willing to take a...

BROADSIDE SHOT-- YES

QUARTERING TO -- MAYBE

FRONTAL -- NOT experience enough for this type of shot

QUARTERING AWAY -- YES

STRAIGHT DOWN SHOT -- MAYBE

Like William, my shot placements would greatly depend on how comfortable I feel in that givin' time ..

[Straight Shooter]

I've taken deer with all of these shot angles with a bow and will not hesitate on any of them when the opportunity is right.

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

[TN Bucknasty]

I'd take any of them, although the quartering to or frontal shots would have to be within 25 yards and the deer would have to be calm. Its hard to say. Each situation is different. I've even successfully taken a couple of neck shots at really short distances.

Edited December 9, 2010 by TN Bucknasty

[WHISKEYSWAMP]

I've taken deer from all the angles described... the only difference is the frontal shots were taken while sitting on the ground. I shot a doe that way this year and she only went about 80 yards but she was also only 5 yards away when I shot her. I've also taken a couple bucks over the years with the frontal shot. They went a little ways, but the blood trail was easy to follow.

[need2hunt]

So much for me taking out all the variables LOL

Yes lets add bowhunting equipment and deer to the mix of specifics

[Jeramie]

pssst, we're in the bow hunting room, I would assume Gary is asking about these shots with archery equipment.

Psssst.... youre probably right. Therefore....

Yes

Possibly

No

Yes

Yes

[Ravin R10 man]

with a rifle..id take them all with a clear shot

bow: no quartering to or frontal shot

[m gardner]

I'd take any shot with a heavy arrow and a Montec. I also shoot NAP Shockwaves (mechanicals) and have used them sucessfully on frontal shots and broadside and slightly quartering but don't feel particularly warm and fuzzy about hard quartering shots with them and haven't tried. I don't hunt from trees so I have no idea how either would kill from above.

Mark

[GWSmith]

[Tominator]

How does a bloodshot cat eye answer the question?

:offtopic:

:eat:

[GWSmith]

Apparently my Esteemed Colleague has failed to recognize the perplexity of the situation persuant to his refference: "Bloodshot Cat Eye".

Hither-to said picture will be known as "Lame Skills on Paint with Old Picture of PacMan" for refference purposes.

[92xj]

I cometh in and now goeth out.

[ruttinbuc]

Every situation calls for a different response. I have killed deer in all 5 of those positions and in one not mentioned. Of course you always hope for the broadside leg forward or the slight quarter away. Knowing where to aim on the others is vital in making a killing shot. The frontal and quarter to shots are very tricky in respect to the deer looking in your direction and the drop and turn at the shot.

Anymore, I test my patience and wait for the broadside or quarter away. Sometimes the deer forces the issue on the others and impatience wins out. There is more than one way to skin a cat

[mikebohio]

would take all shots at varying distances

[magnatecsteve]

Definate broadside shot, quartering to and away depends on the angle. Will shoot deer more readily with quartering away, but if quartering to angle is not too severe and range is somewhat close Ill shoot. Frontal shot would have to be from the ground and less than 30 yards before I would take that. This shot from a stand would be tricky at close range to get the angle right, you'd have to aim higher on the neck. If a deer was far on a frontal, I would be reluctant due to the possibility of the deer reacting to the shot, the vital area on a frontal is small, whereas on a broadside, the deer can drop or even turn slightly before impact and still hit the vitals well. Not as true with a frontal shot if the deer reacts. Straight down shots I will not take any more. I have lost one very nice buck on this shot, and had one that I had the buck go down only because I was close enough to the spine to cause swelling that pinched the nerves to the rear legs. The first buck I shot at with this was a real brute, there were 4 does with him real close. One doe was getting spooky and I knew I had to shoot. He was straight to me, so I lined the pin up and shot. The penetration was decent, but never had a drop of blood. Looked for 3 days without finding that buck. Its just too risky, many tines you will only get one lung, which is what happened on the other buck, luckily he expired after he couldnt run. I saw it all happen since he only ran a short way before his legs quit working. He went down at 30 yards, but he was laying there for several minutes before a bigger buck kicked him up, literally, and then he died.

[wildthing]

for me, I only really look to take either broadside or quartering away. Main reason being...too many things can go wrong with the other shots. I like knowing that I can take an ethical heart / lung type shot and have a very high percentage recovery versus marginal and spending time kicking myself in the butt walking through the woods trying to find a wounded animal.