Video: Shot Selection When Bowhunting

Rob and Haley sit at a computer together, playing a game and laughing.

Haley

Nice one. Oh, hey! Come on in. You got here just in time to keep Rob from shooting all the big game.

Rob

Look. We needed all the practice on targets to know how our bows shoot. But knowing where to place that lethal shot—that is the final key to success. Now why don’t you give it a try? We’ll see how you do.

Haley

You’ll like this. Come on.

The screen shows a big deer facing the hunter head-on.

Rob

All right. Here comes a deer. Now that’s a tempting shot, right? Looks plenty close. So what are you going to do? Shoot or don’t shoot?

The player selects DON’T SHOOT.

Rob

Good choice. As tempting as the frontal shot looks, it’s a bad shot.

The screen shows an X-ray of the deer’s body.

Rob

See all those bones protecting the vitals? There’s way too much bone and muscle that could stop or deflect the broadhead. Plus, look at the other deer that is standing right behind this one. End result: a wounded animal and a ruined hunt. Try again.

The screen shows a large elk facing away from the hunter.

Rob

Scenario two—ah, here comes a monster. Now what do you do—shoot or don’t shoot?

The player selects DON’T SHOOT.

Rob

Most bowhunters might see this huge animal and think that you can’t possibly miss. In reality, this is a bad angle to try to hit the vital zone, which is the heart and lungs. There are just way too many bones and large muscles in the way—not a good shot.

Haley

So knowing where it is and how to get your arrow into it cleanly makes all the difference between a wounded or lost animal and a recovered one. Let’s look at another.

The screen shows a deer walking through some trees at a broadside angle to the hunter.

Rob

Scenario three—ooh, look. It’s broadside and within range. Try to track it with your sight. OK, it’s moving. Shoot or don’t shoot?

The player selects DON’T SHOOT.

Rob

Good choice. Moving game, brush in the way, not being able to settle into a good sighting picture are all great reasons to not try a risky shot.

The screen shows a bighorn sheep eating in a field at a broadside angle to the hunter.

Rob

Scenario four—OK, on biggies like this, a broadside shot is your high confidence angle. Let’s see how you do. Shoot or don’t shoot?

The player selects SHOOT.

Rob

Way to go! Your freezer’s full now. Besides envisioning where to shoot, anticipating when to shoot will boost your success. You waited for the leg to go forward, offering a clear, vital zone to both lungs. Good work. But keep in mind that if you were in an elevated stand, your arrow can sometimes go high. That shoulder blade’s going to stop your arrow. So broadside isn’t the money shot all the time. Scenario five—hey, here comes another one. Shoot or don’t shoot?

On screen, a caribou approaches in the quartering-on position, followed by a fawn.

Rob

No, not much you can do there, except enjoy the encounter. Quartering on like that or a rear-end shot simply aren’t ethical shots. You scored a lot higher as a bowhunter by letting those shot angles pass. All right. Let’s try another one. Scenario six—shoot or don’t shoot?

A small buck walks across the screen, turning into the quartering-away position. The player selects SHOOT.

Rob

That quartering-away shot increases your chance for success. Here’s why. See how rotating the deer from broadside to quartering away actually increases the size of the vital zone? Shooting for the offside front leg, that vital zone is not only bigger, it also shifts those shoulder blades out of the way. And even if the deer moves during the shot, you’re still in the kill zone. Pa-ching!

Haley

Nice work! But remember, sometimes not taking any shot at all is the best decision you can make.

Rob

Look. Being ethical and responsible in your shot placement just has all kinds of rewards. You want to try?

Haley

Yeah. Move over.