straight down

[dougedwards]

I was hunting in a misty rain and blustery wind this weekend using my compound bow with about 15 minutes of legal shooting time left when I noticed a doe feeding straight behind me. She was almost touching the tree that I was in as she fed on a bush growing beside it. I didn't take the shot because I was big buck hunting but what if it had been a really nice buck? How would I handle that? Do I shoot straight down or wait until the deer moves off? What if the deer smells me and runs off before I get a good shot?

Since the arrow discharges from the rest lower than the sight pin how would I adjust for such a short distance shot? Whould I bend at the waist or bend at the knees? Where is the best place to aim? What would you do?

Doug

[mtelkhunter]

Doug,

I would wait until the deer moves off a bit. I have harvested two deer that had broadheads buried in their spines from what I assume was the situation that you are describing. Each broadhead hit just off centerline of the spine and harmlessly lodged in the bone where the ribs connect to the vertebrae. Both were old and covered in scar tissue, but neither one impaired the bucks that carried them around.

I would wait for at least a little angle to get that arrow around the spine and into the lungs/heart. I would want it to hit 2 inches to either side of the spine to get away from the dense bone near the spine. It doesn't take much to make that happen. Even leaning out to the side of your stand would probably be enough, if possible.

On steep angle shots, I aim exactly where I want the arrow to go using my 20 yard pin. To find out, shoot your 20 yard pin, if you have one, at 10 yards. I would bet that it hits so close to point of aim, the difference is negligible.

Of course, this is easier said than done with a trophy under your stand.

JRC

[lunchbox]

I have shot a couple doe this way and it made for hard tracking. I did find them both but i dont think i would want to do it again, especially on a trophy deer.

[huntingmike]

If you take the shot you must bend at the waist to keep the same sight picture through your peep. I would not recommend it as the chance of missing the spinal cord is high and the chance of
hitting only one lung will make for less than ideal chances of recovery. I tried it once. 4 hours of tracking and a lucky finishing double lung shot as the deer jumped from it's bed. I will wait from now on.

[edge]

I have done that shot before. With a vertical bow I rotate my body so that the bow is in-line with the deer. In other words if I raise the pin I am aiming at its head and if I lower it I aim at the tail.

You can't get a double lung and a single lung shot deer can go a long way.

Your target is the heart so know where it is at all directions and avoid the spine.
While a spine shot deer will fall instantly, they will require a coup de gras shot and the target is not large. Stick to the heart and the deer will fall within 50 yards if your broadhead is sharp.

edge.

[rangeball]

Buddy just lost a big 10 this weekend on an almost straight down shot. Only got one lung most likely. Shot early Saturday am, spent the entire weekend looking for it.

Heart or liver are the best targets at this angle, but if it isn't spooked, I try to let them move off a bit to get double lung.

[edge]

I agree with the Liver as a deadly shot from this angle but an extended wait time is needed since they can live many hours with a liver hit....but they will be dead, they just don't know it quickly

edge.

[wilmsmeyer]

I missed this post. It's a great topic and brings up excellent points. I've shot 2 deer at this angle...ironically from the same stand. The one I got Sunday and another one in 1998.

This is a shot I would never take unless I had practiced it. The dynamics of the arrows trajectory are total different, your arrow can almost float from the rest (unless your a biscuit shooter), and it's very uncomfortable.....and you can make contact with your body, clothing and other obsticles in and around the stand that you didn't know were there.

I agree with Edge completely about what to aim for although if I could only get one lung AND pass thru I would take it and give the deer time.

The best thing to do is practice up in a tree at a life size deer target. The margin for error is great...shoulder bones, spine and a relatively thin target area But the fact that the distance is short can be the equalizer because with practice you should be able to hit a small target that close.

There are many reasons that I do not like expandables. This shot would be one of them because if you barely graze the spine on this shot as the blade are starting to open I would think the direct line to the vitals will be compromised as the arrow tilts and loses it's ability to drive straight with power. On Sunday, I did just that and the Montek single piece 3 blade actually busted through the edge of a vertebrae and did not change directions.

It's a tough shot for sure and it also matters if the deer is coming or going....or passing by. I will say that on a big buck that's liable to catch your track, catch a whiff of you or hear you pivot around the tree as he passes below the stand, there is a good chance your very first makeable shot will be your only one. A smart deer will hear something, smell somethng or sense something and simply come unglued and get out of your zone in 2 leaps.

[dpoor65]

great topic ;D.....most people don't practice elevated shooting, up hill /down hill shooting or let alone a direct underneath "straight down" shot...most stand in there back yard and shoot the 3-D on level ground and for the most part IMO that's sufficient for most, The terrain and how I have hunted elk for the past ten years dictates my practicing regiment. I don't practice the straight down shot though, have rarely even had the occasion to contemplate it, but when it has happened I have always figured if the animal is directly underneath me then It has absolutely no clue I'm there, giving me plenty of time to plan my shot location on the deer and where to take my shot...I will always give that animal more than 5 yards of distance before settling in on the shot....I see absolutely nothing wrong with that underneath shot as long as the shooter is prepared for the shot...and obviously wilmsmeyer has done his homework....great deer by the way....

[deadeye]

i agree with all post,its been years since i practiced this shot but if memory is correct,i think the 30yd pin & bending at the waist is about rite for straight down but practice this before trying it & dont shoot yourself in the foot! ;D