Head on shot on whitetail?

rugerbh103 · October 11, 2009, 11:53:00 AM

This might be a stupid question but here it goes. I had a buck walk down an old driveway to me yesterday. It walked staight at me to about 5 yards. I was hoping it would turn or walk past me, but then wheeled and ran never giving me a broadside shot. Would it have been a good idea for me to shot it in the chest or the neck as it was facing me? I got to thinking about it on the walk back to my truck. Anyway I am new at this and still trying to get my first deer with a bow. Even though I never got a shot it was pretty exciting having that deer so close in.

Buckeye Trad Hunter · October 11, 2009, 11:58:00 AM

DO NOT EVER shoot a deer head on or in the head at all. It is too easy to just wound the deer with no blood trail shooting head on. I'm pretty sure there is more of a chance of wounding a deer at that angle than there is of killing it. Always wait for the broadside or slightly quartering away shots. It is more than worth the wait.

JAG · October 11, 2009, 12:01:00 PM

Head on and frontal shots are low percentage and risky. Target area is small, and risk of wounding and loosing the deer are just too great.
Hope you get to see him again, with the right shot opportunity.
Good luck!
Johnny/JAG

JL · October 11, 2009, 12:02:00 PM

I pass on those shots. Too many variables and big bone structures impeading a clean path to the vitals. If it isn't broadside or quartered away, I let it walk. You did the right thing.

JL

joevan125 · October 11, 2009, 12:24:00 PM

I once had a nice 10 pointer at 8yds straight on and he wheeled when i released, the arrow hit him in the jaw. I can still see him running off with that arrow sticking out of his mouth. You made the right choice.

Widowbender · October 11, 2009, 12:24:00 PM

No...Hunting with a bow you will have to pass on shot angles that are doable with a firearm. Although you can kill a deer with a frontal shot, there is a lot of bone coverage in that area that could stop an arrow if its only slightly off the mark. I know you've probably heard this before but, the best shot is broadside or slightly quartering away (animal front section is angled away). Its just part of the equation that comes with bowhunting

elkbreath · October 11, 2009, 12:35:00 PM

On the flip side...I've never lost a deer I shot head on. All mulies , but I've shot a bunch that way. they die very quick and bloodtrails are unreal.

No one will ever fault you for letting that deer go. If you're not comfortable with it, treasure the experience.

3blades · October 11, 2009, 12:43:00 PM

Best to let it pass if it were me. Unless you are so good to hit them square in the heart but even then a risky shoot to me. You did good in my opinion!

owlbait · October 11, 2009, 12:55:00 PM

I shot a deer during rifle season years ago that had a Zwickey buried next to its eye. I bet that guy thought it was a great shot! Right between the eyes. It had lost one antler and had gangrene in its neck.

tradtusker · October 11, 2009, 01:00:00 PM

I wont tell you what to do and not to do.
thats your choice, and it being your first i think you made the write decision.
Iv killed deer (African plains game) with front on shots, but i seldom take the shot only on certain occasions and there have only been a few.
99% of the time i will wait for a better angle ( broadside, quartering away)

in fact i had a few opportunity's lately at front on shoots and i passed them all up, and it payed off, animal went broadside and i had some great shots

LITTLEBIGMAN · October 11, 2009, 01:21:00 PM

Respect for the animal you hunt is paramount to our sport. You are about to take a life , that thought should register in your mind. Can I take this life quickly, cleanly with out undue suffering to the intended? If you cant then don't. Rather savor the experience of being close and pat your self on the back for doing the right thing

acadian archer · October 11, 2009, 02:06:00 PM

I would and have passed on this shot on deer and bear.

**DONOTDELETE** · October 11, 2009, 02:26:00 PM

Pass.

trapperDave · October 11, 2009, 02:27:00 PM

not a shot imo. small target on a jumpy critter that is already facing you.

October 11, 2009, 03:46:00 PM

I shot a deer in the head once, that's not where I was aiming. The deer, on an icy steep slope, caught me in motion and must have lost his footing with its hind legs. It pivoted around its front feet, instead of jumping the string as they usually do. The arrow caught the deer behind the ear. It went down in 60 yards. Never ever take a head shot. Most of the time it will go bad, like the buck that was running around with an expandable broadhead in the back of its skull one year, near where I hunt.

Whitetail Chaser · October 11, 2009, 03:52:00 PM

I wouldn't purposely shoot at a deer's head. As mentioned, too much bone and too many variables.

Heart/lungs on a broadside deer may be the size of a paper plate. Head shot kill zone is the size of a tennis ball. Is it easier to hit a paper plate or a tennis ball?

I did hear of a guy who hit a buck right behind the ear (by accident), and the buck went down like a sack of bricks.

Brett

Brian Krebs · October 11, 2009, 04:00:00 PM

If a deer or elk has antlers; and your shooting instinctively sometimes you look at the antlers on release; and that is right where your arrow goes !! I have put arrows through the air between antlers a few times myself; as I contemplated what the mount would look like on my wall...but I was aiming at the double lung heart shot...

A head shot is unethical with a bow. Even if it works sometimes - its a low end of 'low percentage' kill shot.

However if I had a deer walking straight at me and it got to 5 yards I would draw and be ready for it to turn and my arrow would be aimed at the heart.

Been there done that....

Richie Nell · October 11, 2009, 05:25:00 PM

I would certainly say that I would rather have a broadside shot than any other. However, I would not hesitate to shoot a deer or elk in the chest, not head but chest at 10 yards or less. I would be extremely confident in killing that animal with my setup...and it ain't a light weight setup.

If you think it is unethical because it MAY be a low percentage kill shot, then why in the world is a light bow and especially light arrows NOT unethical. Those are extremely low percentage components when ANY bone is hit.