Bad shot or not???
01-25-2008, 11:48 AM
#21
Dominant Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Blossvale, New York
Posts: 21,199
RE: Bad shot or not???
I've taken just about every shot known... except head on. In fact, I don't ever remember taking a quartering to shot either. If a deer is quartering to or head on and keeps coming I'll get a broadside or going away. If he gets nervous and turns to leave I'll probably get a quick broadside shot if I'm drawn and ready.
01-25-2008, 11:50 AM
#22
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: New York
Posts: 1,570
RE: Bad shot or not???
That's a terrible shot angle, extremely low percentage, you have a better chance of hitting breastbone and the arrow deflecting from the vitals. Not to say it can't be deadly but like another post even a random a$# shot can get the job done it's just not the ethical way to go.
01-25-2008, 11:51 AM
#23
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 9,445
RE: Bad shot or not???
ORIGINAL: Roskoe
This shot is often the only angle you can get on an elk. They are coming in to the call . . . and if they see,smell,or hear something they don't like, thenext shot angle you are going to get is south end of a northbound elk. But it's a lot smaller kill zone than broadside. Basically, it's the area just inside the crease of the near shoulder blade. The arrow is going to pass through the chest, likely only hitting one lung, and wind up punching a hole in the diaphram. You may not get any blood trail at all, at least initially - as the arrow will often lodge completely inside the animal. So far, I haven't taken this kind of a shot. I might, though, if the distance was close and the terrain was more open.
This shot is often the only angle you can get on an elk. They are coming in to the call . . . and if they see,smell,or hear something they don't like, thenext shot angle you are going to get is south end of a northbound elk. But it's a lot smaller kill zone than broadside. Basically, it's the area just inside the crease of the near shoulder blade. The arrow is going to pass through the chest, likely only hitting one lung, and wind up punching a hole in the diaphram. You may not get any blood trail at all, at least initially - as the arrow will often lodge completely inside the animal. So far, I haven't taken this kind of a shot. I might, though, if the distance was close and the terrain was more open.
01-25-2008, 12:14 PM
#24
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 19,137
RE: Bad shot or not???
You talking to me Canuck? Deflected the breast bone? Why wouldn't would the rib cage deflect an arrow too?
Whatever I took the shot along time ago, it was a one step track judge. Judge away.
I was on the ground 15-18 yards away.
Whatever I took the shot along time ago, it was a one step track judge. Judge away.
That's a terrible shot angle
01-25-2008, 12:22 PM
#25
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,358
RE: Bad shot or not???
It's a devastingly deadly shot IF you hit what you need to, you have plenty to hit there, heart, one lung, major arteries leading from heart, diaphram and liver
There's also major bone structure to avoid, sternum and shoulders.
There is a soft spot above the sternum, I've talked to elk hunters/guides who say take this shot any chance you get if you know where the softball sized area is and can hit it.
For the record, I've never taken it. Well with a bow, I have with a gun
There's also major bone structure to avoid, sternum and shoulders.
There is a soft spot above the sternum, I've talked to elk hunters/guides who say take this shot any chance you get if you know where the softball sized area is and can hit it.
For the record, I've never taken it. Well with a bow, I have with a gun
01-25-2008, 01:04 PM
#26
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Panhandle of Texas
Posts: 596
RE: Bad shot or not???
I have also seen perfectly shot deer not go down for several hundred yards with lung hits, and havelittle blood trail.I just think its pretty much a crap shoot either way. There are way to many variables for any one answer, in my opinion no one will ever be able to answer that question and make everyone agree
I am not an expert when it comes to deer anataomy and how if relates to bowkills, but I do know this. People in general have been bowhunting a lot longer than anyone on this board, and over the years the shot in question has generally been accepted as a non ethical shot, which I am pretty sure was derived from the accumulation of trial and error results from many differrent hunters.
If someone wants to go against this conventional wisdom, let your conscience be your guide, but also keep in mind lethal does not make it an ethical shot.
I made that mistake early in my bowhunting tenure and took a chance on a slight quartering to shot. I killed the deer (lethal)and found it about 2 weeks later with the help of crows over 400 yards away from where I shot the deer. For me, a 2 week late recovery of "horns only" is not what hunting is about.(unethical)
Worst feeling I have ever had as a hunter, because all information available to me told me not to take the shot, but I thought I was "better" than the average hunter and could get away with it. WRONG
01-25-2008, 01:07 PM
#27
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Central Minnesota
Posts: 9,445
RE: Bad shot or not???
ORIGINAL: jackflap
It is about how high the probability of the shot being lethal and recoverable that determines what is an ethical vs unethical shot, imo. I am sure thereare anectdotal stories to justify just about any shot as being lethal at times, but how many times a particular shot isnot, that is what separates the two.
I am not an expert when it comes to deer anataomy and how if relates to bowkills, but I do know this. People in general have been bowhunting a lot longer than anyone on this board, and over the years the shot in question has generally been accepted as a non ethical shot, which I am pretty sure was derived from the accumulation of trial and error results from many differrent hunters.
If someone wants to go against this conventional wisdom, let your conscience be your guide, but also keep in mind lethal does not make it an ethical shot.
I made that mistake early in my bowhunting tenure and took a chance on a slight quartering to shot. I killed the deer (lethal)and found it about 2 weeks later with the help of crows over 400 yards away from where I shot the deer. For me, a 2 week late recovery of "horns only" is not what hunting is about.(unethical)
Worst feeling I have ever had as a hunter, because all information available to me told me not to take the shot, but I thought I was "better" than the average hunter and could get away with it. WRONG
I have also seen perfectly shot deer not go down for several hundred yards with lung hits, and havelittle blood trail.I just think its pretty much a crap shoot either way. There are way to many variables for any one answer, in my opinion no one will ever be able to answer that question and make everyone agree
I am not an expert when it comes to deer anataomy and how if relates to bowkills, but I do know this. People in general have been bowhunting a lot longer than anyone on this board, and over the years the shot in question has generally been accepted as a non ethical shot, which I am pretty sure was derived from the accumulation of trial and error results from many differrent hunters.
If someone wants to go against this conventional wisdom, let your conscience be your guide, but also keep in mind lethal does not make it an ethical shot.
I made that mistake early in my bowhunting tenure and took a chance on a slight quartering to shot. I killed the deer (lethal)and found it about 2 weeks later with the help of crows over 400 yards away from where I shot the deer. For me, a 2 week late recovery of "horns only" is not what hunting is about.(unethical)
Worst feeling I have ever had as a hunter, because all information available to me told me not to take the shot, but I thought I was "better" than the average hunter and could get away with it. WRONG
01-25-2008, 01:28 PM
#29
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Southern MD
Posts: 2,520
RE: Bad shot or not???
ORIGINAL: GMMAT
It is the individual hunter's personal abilities and beliefs systemthat determines whether a shot is ethical or unethical.
Not anyone else's.
It is the individual hunter's personal abilities and beliefs systemthat determines whether a shot is ethical or unethical.
Not anyone else's.
.
01-25-2008, 01:35 PM
#30
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manassas, VA
Posts: 3,612
RE: Bad shot or not???
Ive watched a thousand hunting videos and I would say 2 out of 10 bow shots I see on big bucks on the videos are taken on quartering towards shots. That guy got chewed out but sometimes when you are nervous, haven't seen a buck that big, and are on camera for the first time, you make bad decisions. That is what happened to that guy, he was a good guy and didn't mean to do anything wrong.