When shooting deer, do you typically aim a bit low or right where you want to hit?
This is in regards to the deer's reaction to the shot.
I try and aim for the HEART which sits in the lower 1/3rd of the chest, then if it does react to the shot I still hit the lungs.
If i tried to aim low, thats probably where I'd hit.Like Onlyaspike, I tend to hold for the heart/lower third of the deer.My biggest problem is not picking a spot at all in the heat of the moment.When that happens, I shoot high every time.
I aim right where I want to hit, low. It's not a one or the other.
I aim for the white hairs in the crease of the leg. Gives me a spot to focus on and the deer around here are gonna squat some everytime. I can count on one hand the deer I`ve shot under in nearly 30 years. I ain`t got the fingers and toes for ones I`ve shot over.RC
since I shoot instinctive I have to look where I want to hit.... where do I look? at a spot in the lower third of the kill zone when hunting from the ground.. I rarely hunt from a tree or tripod but when I do I generally split the kill zone, always with a mind to where the arrow will exit..
I aim on the lower side, the reason is if the Deer ducks the string I still get a Double lunge shot.
I do like the double lunge/Heart shot since that brings them down quicker in My book.
QuoteOriginally posted by RC:
I aim for the white hairs in the crease of the leg. Gives me a spot to focus on and the deer around here are gonna squat some everytime. I can count on one hand the deer I`ve shot under in nearly 30 years. I ain`t got the fingers and toes for ones I`ve shot over.RC
This is about what I was thinking...you explained it well
I attempt, when possible, to aim for the heart.
The further a deer is out, the lower I aim.
Last yr. was the first yr I've hunted with a recurve in over 40yrs. I never had a problem shooting over deer back then, from a tree stand. I aimed where I wanted to hit..heart.
Last yr. I shot over 9 deer all inside 15 yds...shot under one. I thought I was aiming where I wanted to hit every time..but in reality I don't think I was aiming period..think I was just pointing the arrow at the middle of the animals. This yr I will aim at the heart, right up against the elbow.
Hold to hit the lower 1/3 of the chest. From a tree stand, the arrow looks as if it is pointed to the ground. Anything higher and I'm going to shoot over. I speak from experience..... :rolleyes:
At 3d shoots I tend to shoot a lot of 8 rings that I'm happy with because I tend to aim for the crease. They need to move the 10 down there. When it comes to live animals seems like my arrow always ends up higher than I plan.
lower 1/3
The lower 1/3 of the chest. If the deer doesn't drop down (duck) from the sound at arrow release, the arrow gets the heart and if the deer does drop down (duck), the arrow takes out both lungs.
At the heart Ramon,at the heart!
Usually focus on the white tuff of fur behind the front leg from the ground. Elevated try to focus on the spot. Seems to work with the "Flinch" or "duck" most Texas deer have developed.
Go for the heart, if low, clean miss, if high lungs. Thats my intentions, doesn't always work out that way.
Just reading over the replies again. Looks like the poll results are split right down the middle.
I look where I want my arrow to go, which is the heart.
I shoot deer that are close and I look right were I want to hit them, I don't anticipate any thing or aim to try to make up for poor form.
Can't vote...each shot is different....each animal is different, each scenario is different.....have to make the choice when the opportunity arises.
Always where I want to hit, which is pretty low (crease behind the leg). I have only shot unalarmed deer at pretty close range, so none yet have sqatted and caused a miss. Any misses have been strictly MY fault. :rolleyes: If they are already alarmed and jumpy, I typically just pass. Not saying it will always be that way, just has been so far. I wouldn't want to try and second guess a deer 'cause I can't even second guess myself with any success.
Texas deer, lower third. They be moving pretty quick!
Gonna put a sticker on my bow just above the handle reading,"PICK A SPOT!" Seems to be my problem all too often.
The Red Dot is were I aim at TX Deer....
Look at what happens if you aim where you want to hit (yellow dot)...
TX Buck runs the Script... (http://www.tradgang.com/videos/tg/1-deerdrop.wmv)
Terry,
That really demonstrates the speed of the "ducking" of a whitetail. Man, they can move quick! Thanks for posting the video!
On the ground... Tight lower thirdas in RC explains the crease...
From a stand, I try to aim to exit lower third exit-side...
QuoteOriginally posted by RC:
I ain`t got the fingers and toes for ones I`ve shot over.RC
:laughing: Not as many years but I'm with ya!!
I voted right on target but my "on target" is low tight in the crease behind the elbow, like RC said!! Also to aim for the heart is tough on a broadside deer unless leg is foreward a bit as that leg/elbow protects it pretty good. Shawn
Terry, Curt has told me that! (LOL) Shawn
Years ago I hit real big buck right where I was looking, the right side drop tine. Since then I shoot for the bottom half of the heart,
If you hunt down here in Texas very long you will pick a spot as low as you think you can get away with. No matter if the deer is 5 yards or what. It seems that if you choose to take a shot very far you need to guess which direction they will run off to and try and lead them. That's an exageration but it does seem that way.
I think my deer here in MS must have come from TX!
Dan Quillian told me once while we were hunting in south GA that he shot for the angle where the lower body line meets the front leg. Even with a quiet bow and at close range, they tend to drop before the arrow gets there.
I can remember shooting under only two deer, one of which was just last year. I've missed a few more than that. :)