I would not shoot an elk straight on. I have skinned a few and there is only a small hole to go through below the neck. If you miss that the rib cage slants back so you would have to go through several ribs to hit the vitals. Very poor choice for a shot angle. Gary

My buddy shot an elk in the chest from the front 6 years ago. He watched the arrow completely disappear, left it for 4 hours and never did find that elk. If you see him don't ask him about it. He's still a little sensitive about it. He'll never do it again.

Deer yes you could. I have seen a deer that was shot this way. The deer spun as the arrow was released and the arrow went in and traveled along the spin. The broad head came out looking like it had been serated (sp). It wasted very little meat, you don't eat where the arrow went in and it came out the front chest just off center so just a little rib meat. The deer dropped right in its tracks.

I still would not shoot any animal this way.

Dave

This one might go on the list of "sure, you could... but why would you?".

Sounds like a bulls eye shot to me! I mean Bull Crap LOL wouldn't do it for anything.

Personally, I would pass up either shot due to size of the target.  I wouldn't even try those shots with a rifle.  I have too much respect for the animals for what I feel is a risky shot placement.
Stan

Although I am not advocating it, and would never try it with my longbow, a straight on shot is very deadly if the shot is good.

My father use to be a dang good shot with a compound and shot 80+ pounds with heavy aluminums and muzzy broadheads.  He had a buck approach facing him and then the buck stopped and looked backward towards the way it came leaving the neck/chest wide open.  My father was confident in his shooting ability and rightfully so.  He drew, shot, and put the arrow right in the middle of the chest.  That arrow passed through the deer and exited just infront of the left ham.  He hit lungs, heart, liver, stomach, and intestines.  The buck fell within sight, was gutted quickly and no meat was lost.

So it can be done and is effective, but you better be a good shot to attempt it.

Can we spell FOS, boys and girls? Yes,  I thought we could.

I have learned that keeping the shots to those that would fall into the "text book" category have the highest rate of success. Why do anything else?

Good point twostrings.

Why cause yourself grief.

In passing up a low percentage shot, the WORST thing that can happen is you walk away with a close encounter, a memory, and probably a lesson in better bowhunting.

Big difference in what you CAN do versus what you SHOULD do.

"In passing up a low percentage shot, the WORST thing that can happen is you walk away with a close encounter, a memory, and probably a lesson in better bowhunting."

I couldn't say it any better....

Guys that make statements like that are only demonstrating their lack of experience and/or success.

QuoteOriginally posted by Sam McMichael:
Can we spell FOS, boys and girls? Yes,  I thought we could.

       

Thanks everybody-some great advice and pretty fun to read, too   .


Jeremy