Deer anatomy and shot placement

[fred hill]

Originally Posted by WoodySanford

I don't know for certian how it got started but for the most part hunting video's are what promoted it to such a level. The morphology is very similar other than some slight differences but not enough to really make a difference in educating on shot placement.

I'm very happy you guys like the pic's, that makes it work worth doing. There will be more to come and hopefully soon.

i couldn't agree more with your comment about hunting videos and shot placement. i shot another doe yesterday, she was broadside so i go straight up the front leg 1/3 up the body. works like a charm. i always go for the front leg dead center on broadside shots using it as the left/right reference, i never aim for the rib cage behind the leg. i stay as far away from the guts as possible. i have followed up too many people's "back of the lungs" hits that turned into gut hits upon recovery. when i hear someone tell me "i hit him in the back of the lungs" that translates in my mind to gut shot. i hate the liver hit too. yeah it kills them but it still sucks and they can go a long way with that hit. i think alot of video hunters and hunters in general are afraid of a deer's skeletal system so they go for the ribs staying away from the front leg which leads to more mid body hits. i have the opportunity to do alot of suburban bowhunting which has allowed me to shoot dozens of deer every season and led me to the broadside shot placement i describe above. when hunting the suburbs you 100% cannot afford a poorly hit deer dying in somebody's back yard 400 yards away from where you have permission to be. there are too many anti's in the burbs that would bring down a sh*t storm of nonsence which would shut down all the hunting in the subdivision over a single incident. i also have a bloodhound trained to recover deer. she can find anything if it's dead. i see first hand season after season how many "good hits" turn out to be really bad when the deer is recovered.

[Lint Trap]

Very well said Fred. I too have seen many shots people thought were great turn out to be guts. Most don't realize how far forward you can actually shoot to smash vitals.

[empty hull]

The diagram at the begining of this thread was very informative. Thanks, Tim

[special]

Good post!

Even when I loose sight of an arrow in flight I can usually tell when Ive hit ahead of the diaghram in the vitals..I never get tired of the little drum tap sound a shaft makes as it penos the chest cavity..
Ive heard other guys hit a bit far back behind the diaghram and its more of a dull thud noise..

[NICK_BOWHUNTER]

Awesome! Wish i had this when i first started bowhunting. Only words of wisdom i got was aim low! Lungs is where its at baby!

[Dr.Redneck]

Originally Posted by cartman308

Just to clear this up for any new hunter, gun or bow. AVOID GUT SHOTS AT ALL COSTS!!! FOR YOUR OWN SAKE and the deers. Death is slow and painful for the deer. Followed by a long tracking job and if you find the deer.....oh boy the REAL fun begins! The odor is TERRIBLE. Field dressing isn't all the pleasant to begin with, add the odor of a gut shot............. Words cant describe the odor. Those that have been there understand this advise

Just yesterday while jumping ducks on my land foud a gut shot 8 pt someone shot and it mozyd its way onto my place and kicked the bucket.

[bigredhunter]

The shot placement is going to be the same im figuring. Anyone got a general Dimension ___"x____" area?

[WhiteWhiskers]

These are really great photo's.....I recall seeing some on the Internet like them if not the same that you could layer by dbl clicking. Anyone know the website?? Pretty neat to refer to after the shot as well.

[Elkslayer]

great pictures.. i have run across that bear befor but never seen the doe..very cool... here is a Elk..(not sure why its only a thumb nail ) oh well just click on it

[Deer Eliminator]

It is always good to see what your are aiming for. Those pics help greatly.


Hutch

[Elkslayer]

Any one got a good one for turkeys?
did a search did find many more but no good turkey's oh well head shots work on them dude's

[bullfrog]

Thanks for the post. That is helpful.

[WoodySanford]

Originally Posted by Elkslayer

great pictures.. i have run across that bear befor but never seen the doe..very cool... here is a Elk..(not sure why its only a thumb nail ) oh well just click on it

Thats actually not a doe. It is a buck shot on a late season suburban hunt after the antlers have fallen.

[Dsotm223]

Originally Posted by bigredhunter

The shot placement is going to be the same im figuring. Anyone got a general Dimension ___"x____" area?

Figure the size of a regular paper plate, atleast thats what I have always done.