Ethical Shot?

Wiszard · Jul 21, 2006

I went hunting tonight and had a little buck come in to 8 yards! It was amazing. What a feeling. He had to cross under a fence in front of me at 15 yards and looking back on it, would it have been okay to draw while he was under the fence and then take a shot through his chest straight on? He kept coming straight at me so I had no broadside shot. At 8 yards he bolted and as he went back under the fence I drew and grunted at him. He stopped just 3 yards on the other side of the fence broadside. There was a T-post in front of his vitals but figured Id miss the T-post and hit either side of it with a lethal shot. I smacked the post! He was gone. It was still just an amazing nite. What would you guys have done. Take a 10 yard shot through the chest? or did I do the right thing. Im okay with the shot I took because I knew if I hit the post it would deflect and not hit him anywhere because he was 3 or so yards away from the post. Tell me what you think. I love bowhunting!!

eelgrass · Jul 23, 2006

Sounds like a pretty exciting few minutes! There are a lot of judgement calls in bowhunting. With a straight on shot you have to worry about the brisket and heavy leg and shoulder bones. But a good shot to the base of the neck should work.

He's still out there ready to hunt again, so you did right in my opinion. Better luck next time!

Steve

Idahoelk · Jul 23, 2006

Shooting a fixed blade cut on contact head at ten yards with a well placed shot right where the neck joins the chest cavity will produce a very dead deer. But you did the right thing cause you didn't know that at the time. Look at some Deer anatomy pictures straight on where it shows the bones, muscle and vitals. Then keep that tucked in your brain in case it ever happens again. But you should never take a shot that you know you can't make or shouldn't take. Now get back out there and hunt some more. You must be hunting in California. I always forget that there is anywhere that has this early of a deer season.

Wiszard · Jul 23, 2006

Yes- Im in Ca. on the Central Coast about 55 miles North of Santa Barbara. It kinda sucks that the season is so early because it is so hot. Lately its been about 80 during the day and that heat really brings the gnats out. Thanks for the advice. It makes me feel better not taking a bad shot. Next time Ill know what to do.

Choclab · Jul 23, 2006

Those shots are risky at best. Good job on passing them up.

"The rich....who are content to buy what they have not the skill to get by their own exertions, are the real enemies of game".........Teddy Roosevelt

ELKMASTER101 · Jul 25, 2006

TOUGH BREAK.
i think i would have waited.
go back to the same location and give it a nother go around, deer are predictiable,
it will be crossing in the same area again.
they're like cows, they set a pattern and its hard for them to change.

NMHUNTNUTT1 · Jul 25, 2006

Holy cow your season is early!

Wiszard · Jul 26, 2006

The season is 3 weeks - opens July 8 and closes this weekend! I went out last nite and put the sneak on a decent forkie only to have him bust my 8 yr old daughter who I brought along to get her more enthused about hunting. Thats the last time Ill take her this year cuz I gotto get my bow buck! I got my first last year and Ive been close twice this year. We had this forkie at 75 yrds and we had a ton of cover between him and us but there was a narrow lane that he spotted us through as he was feeding. Oh well. My daughter got a kick out of it. Its all shes talked about since last nite!! Ive got a good spot w/ a lot of deer. I feel confident Ill have at least one more opportunity. My wife is getting a little ticked. She hates hunting season!

azoutback · Jul 26, 2006

A friend of mine took a frontal shot on a coues buck last year. When we found the deer, the arrow was only buried about six inches in the deers chest. After dressing and skinning the deer, we found that the arrow had actually gone through the deer, hit a bone in its leg and bounced back out the entrance hole! At close range on a deer, its deadly.

Wiszard · Jul 26, 2006

Thats good to know. I was expecting a horror story!

BigPig · Jul 27, 2006

At 10 yards and under, with a good fixed head and plenty of KE, I'd be slingin away. But since you personally were not sure about the shot, you did the right thing. When in doubt, wait it out.

Wiszard · Jul 27, 2006

Ill let it fling next time! If my wife doesnt have anything planned, it will be tonight. Only 4 more nites in the archery season.

Oregonbowhunter · Jul 28, 2006

Deer ribs are soft and there is a lot of cartilage up front which is also soft. I've seen deer shot this way with a bow and seen arrows buried up to the fletchings. I spined a deer at 30 yards and it broke it's back in two. The spine is much harder and thicker than anything in the brisket of a deer and with a close shot you will get adequate penetration to kill the deer. But make sure you have a heavier set up so that you have enough kinetic energy to punch through. Speed won't help if you don't have the weight behind it.