Quartering away shots...

[BowGuy84]

So, always thinking about how to kill deer more effectively. I was reading an article about tracking and so forth in I think the most recent Bowhunting or D&DH magizine.

Author made an interesting point. He said that he had read that 50% of 1 lung hit deer survive based on some study. Bc of this he has adjusted his point of aim from shooting for the offside shoulder (this is what I do) to shooting a couple inches behind the last rib. His thinking is that a diaphram, liver, and potentially one lung shot here is much quicker and certain kill that a potential only one lung hit when shooting as previously described.

I've attached a pic of a piebald doe I killed last year. Rage, your seeing the entrance in pic 1 and exit in pic 2, 30 yards treestand. Deer went approx 150 yards. No compalints but farther than I would have thought on the shot I made.

Thoughts on his perspective on quartering away shots?
Entrance

Exit

 

[BowGuy84]

no thoughts on the legitamcy of his claims or the best plac to shoot a quartering away deer?

 

[102]

I agree completely. Looks like a perfect shot.

THere are a few reasons I've noticed that cause a mortally wounded deer to travel farther than I would expect.

1-the deer was a little "spooky" before I shot. It was already scared and lit out like a rocket.

2-the arrow slapped trees or made noise as there was no pass through and it scared the animal.

3-it was within sight (maybe not yours) of other deer and was trying to keep up

4-(this one took a few kills to figure out) the arrow hit hard bone (like an off shoulder) and either out of fear, pain, or the arrow staying in the deer, scared the deer into travelling farther than I'd have expected.

I always try to visualize the PATH of the arrow THROUGH the animal (organs) as I am settling in the pin for that "perfect" shot.

 

[BowGuy84]

That deer was trying to keep up with other deer. Had two young of the year with it about 30-40 yards back.

 

[102]

And there you have it!

 

[tickweed]

Good point.

 

[Buck Assassin]

Yup! I agree with ya! I shot a doe last year that was quartering away pretty steep. 35 yards from a tree stand. The arrow went in at the back of the ribcage and came out the offside shoulder. She dropped dead in 40 yards.

 

[Boone 58]

Quartering away shots for me have been "Deadly"....quartering too are not good.

 

[Radar]

No two shots are the same . There are so many variables in the equation . Shot angle , deer behavior , terrain , broadhead design , sharpness , etc.
I would say the quartering away shot that takes out both lungs while missing the off shoulder is one of the highest percentage shots in bowhunting because of the margin for error in hitting both lungs . Not all deer will travel the same distance in any shot angle . Thats what I like about bowhunting , the challenge of the shot as well as the tracking job .

 

[fishboy1]

I do the same thing BUT, I try and figure out the angle that will most likely give me a pass through.

On a steeply 1/4 away, I aim a little further back and want my arrow to exit just in front of the shoulder bones rather than hit them.

On a flatter broadside shot or slight 1/4 away, Exiting just behind the shoulderbones is what I go for.

One other thing I want if possible is a lower exit so I have dropped my point of aim a couple inches.

I used to aim dead center figuring that it gave me a little more margin of error. What it did was give me crappy blood trails if they didn't fall in sight. Need to have the drain hole low for instant blood trail.

 

[BowGuy84]

I do the same thing BUT, I try and figure out the angle that will most likely give me a pass through.

On a steeply 1/4 away, I aim a little further back and want my arrow to exit just in front of the shoulder bones rather than hit them.

On a flatter broadside shot or slight 1/4 away, Exiting just behind the shoulderbones is what I go for.

One other thing I want if possible is a lower exit so I have dropped my point of aim a couple inches.

I used to aim dead center figuring that it gave me a little more margin of error. What it did was give me crappy blood trails if they didn't fall in sight. Need to have the drain hole low for instant blood trail.

I agree fishboy...I have aimed for my exit for a few years now. I've always tried to come out tight behind the shoulder. Additionally, holding low provides room for error in the case of string jumping.