Deer902

One of the stands I hung this year covers an outside bend right along the edge of a swamp. Most of the trails are 10-20 yards out, but a heavy trail also leads right below my stand about 18 ft up. The trail leads to a small water runoff and then bends to the right offering a quartering away angle about 17 yards away. There maybe a small window that I could get a shot through, but everything would have to be perfect. What are the percentages of a straight down shot or one a couple yards out? I know to aim low at a shot this close, but is it too risky to take? I have never been in this situation before and would like some input. Who would take this shot and who would pass?

amosgreg

Think about the placement of the organs. Straight down offers a lot of room for error. If the shot is perfect you have a spine shot, if you miss the spine you may or maynot hit the lungs or heart. If you miss everything you have a heck of a trailing job to do. You should have pass-through on a straigh down shot and a decent blood trail but if nothing serious is hit a long tracking job.
I'd wait for on the quartering away shot or prune another lane to allow a broadside shot.
My 2 cents


Greg

"Getting close to the game is the joy of Bowhunting for me, the harvest is a bonus."

Live 15 ft Python after eating a small Antelope!

PAbearman

If considering a straight down shot, I would practice them beforehand. Was shooting this morning and on straight down shots I needed to aim high with my 20 yard pin. I noticed the difference between my point of aim and point of impact was about the same as the height of my sight over the arrow. Maybe it's my bow but I don't think you want to aim low on a straight down shot. My experience anyway.

Rack-attack

I do all I can to avoid having trails directly below me.

I will always wait for the deer to pass than to shoot straight down.

You are looking at a one lung hit and I do not like one lung hits.

MATTHEWS

I agree with everyone here, and certainly wouldnt chance that shot. I would try to clear shooting lanes for that quartering away shot.

Illini

Deer902

I try to avoid the straight down shots like the plague! I know in some cases you either have to take it or let the deer walk.

I have taken one - many, many years ago. I only got one lung and did not get a pass through. That was probably my toughest tracking job of all time. We found him, but I am confident there was some divine intervention! If you don't drop him or get a pass through give him PLENTY of time before you trail him.

Good Luck!

wimp

I was on the the trail of a doe that had been shot straight down by my hunting partner. We followed that deer a LONG ways, with 4 experienced trackers, and were unsuccesful. We scoured the surrounding area for the next day also. Since then I will not take that shot. Try to do what you can to let it get a little away from the tree whether it's cutting a new lane of waiting for the 17 yds opening. You can try making a mock scrape at the 17 yd opening just to get the deer to stop. You don't have to put any fancy scent just something that will stop them. Good luck.

Some things are true whether you believe them or not.

lawnfarmer

I would definitely pass.This is probably one of the lousiest shots you can take. You might luck out and hit one lung or part of a lung. you might luck out and hit the heart. Or liver. orwhatever. I have done this once in all the years I've been hunting. I did'nt find the deer for a week. Bloated and wasted. The arrow did not pass through. When I found the deer, by chance, it had a hole the size of a soft ball in the top of the back. There was absolutely NO blood trail. This deer was 1/2 mile from where I shot it. You must be able to find a better place for your tree stand. If you have ever lost a deer you will take my advice. I came very close to never hunting again. terry <img src=icon_smile_clown.gif border=0 align=middle>

LIVE FREE OR DIE

Lefty Llewellyn

I had a similar stand site last year but the trail was about 5 yards behind my tree/stand. Fortunately I had a doe walk slowly by and then slightly turn toward me at 15 yards so I shot. It really wasn't a straight down shot in the end but I had fears I was going to get that type of shot off that trail. I would never take a shot that doesn't present a double lung.

The shot above had the greatest angle I've ever taken and I hope I never have to take it again. However, at 15 yards I was very confident in my placement to get the left lung high and back and the right lung low and forward.

BobCo19-65

Remember that if you do take that shot and happen to only get one lung, a deer may live for 12-15 hours. If you hit the spine, you will have to shoot again, but it won't go anywhere. The lung and heart is what you would hope for. I made this shot once (lung and heart) on a doe about three yards away. I had a pass through, and the doe went straight down. It took about 10 minutes for her to completely die though. I couldn't get a second shot into because of where she was down.