Deer hunting is a pastime of many factors. It incorporates a lot of various knowledge types, skill sets, and abilities. One such area is knowing where to shoot a whitetail deer. Before hunting, hunters must know how and where to shoot a buck.
Oftentimes, hunters learn this and more during their hunter’s education course. Ethical shot placement is no small element of deer hunting, as it’s a hunter’s moral obligation to make the best shot possible.
Ethical Deer Shot Placement for Bowhunters
Drilling down on shots to take, or not take, it’s important to know ethical shot angles for bowhunters. Shot placement is a matter of precision, and taking the right shots relies on an understanding of deer anatomy positioning.
“I’m a big fan of bowhunters taking broadside and quartering-away shots,” said Kip Adams, Chief Conservation Officer for the National Deer Association. “I realize you can kill a deer with a bow at quartering-to shots, but I don’t encourage folks to take those, head on, or facing-away shots.”
Ethical Deer Shot Placement for Gun Hunters
Likewise, deer hunters should be aware of ethical shot angles for gun hunters. The foundational principles are the same, but there are slight variations. Gun hunters can take another shot opportunity that’s considered ethical for firearm carriers that isn’t for bowhunters.
“I’m a fan of quartering-away, broadside, and quartering-to shots for gun hunters,” Adams said. “I still discourage head-on and facing-away shots.”
Where to Aim at Deer
Before going hunting, hunters should strive to better understand the internal organs of a deer. Knowing the accurate locations of deer anatomy is not only important but also a moral obligation by deer hunters. Going hunting without a firm understanding of deer internal organ placement can be disastrous. Understand where to shoot a buck with a bow or firearm.
“Watch [the] shot placement video,” Adams said. “The deer model we use is anatomically correct, so it really helps hunters visualize where the lungs, heart, etc. are. Many archery targets have the vital organs in the wrong locations.”
Many hunters falsely believe that deer have a large volume of shoulder bone that covers the front of the heart and lung region. However, that isn’t true.
Accurate deer anatomy models show an open area directly above the front legs that’s free of any bone. As shown in the photos and video, bone extends forward from the top of the front leg toward the neck. Then, it cuts back toward the top of the shoulder and spine. This effectively creates a sideways V, exposing arteries, the heart, and front of the lungs.
To aim at this point, imagine a line that extends vertically up the broadside deer’s front leg. Then, imagine horizontal lines through the top of the lower third, and exactly through the middle of the deer’s body. Then, home in on the intersection points. Gun hunters should aim where the vertical and top horizontal lines meet. Elevated bowhunter should do the same. Eye-level bowhunters (with little to no angle) should aim between the two horizontal lines.
Angle and Elevation Impacts on Aiming Points
The above ideas are the best spots to aim at a broadside deer. However, from one situation to the next, elevation (steepness of shot angle) can change aiming points, too.
“Steep angles require a higher aiming point, and this is most likely in a bowhunting situation,” Adams said. “You have to aim higher to ensure hitting both lungs.”
The angle of the deer (i.e.: quartering-to or away) can change aiming points as well. This will adjust the aiming point forward or backward.
“Similarly to the steepness of a shot angle, quartering-away requires aiming farther back to ensure hitting both lungs,” Adams said. “Too many hunters attempt to tuck an arrow in behind the front legs on a quartering-away deer and end up only hitting one lung. You have to aim several ribs back for a double-lung shot.”
React Correctly to Poor Shot Placements
Despite the time spent practicing and preparing to make a great shot, hunters should learn how to respond correctly to poor shot placements. Of course, the heart and lungs are the only ethical shots, but hunters should consider the following if they accidentally hit these areas:
Major Artery (Carotid, Aorta, Femoral, Pyloric, etc.): A major artery hit is almost always lethal. Deer bleed out quickly, and blood trails are usually very heavy and short.
Various arteries run throughout the deer’s body. For example, the carotid artery flows through the neck. The interior pectoral runs vertically through the chest (in front of the heart) and stops at the top of the front legs. The exterior pectoral runs horizontally through the bottom of the chest, and extends down toward the belly line. The aortic, dorsal aorta, and posterior vena cava run horizontally below the spine and above the lungs. Lastly, the femoral artery runs vertically through the hind quarters.
“Hitting a major artery typically causes rapid death, so hunters should always follow up the trail regardless of where they think they hit the deer,” Adams said.
Liver: The liver is positioned just behind the lungs. This is a thin organ that doesn’t take up much space, but it’s commonly hit by hunters who aimed or inadvertently struck the deer too far back.
“Liver shots are lethal, but deer often live for several hours (even when shot with a rifle in the liver),” Adams said. “Bowhunters should wait 6-8 hours before pursuing a liver-hit deer.”
Paunch/Guts/Intestines: The paunch, also referred to as the guts, and the intestinal tracts, are located within the back half of the torso. This abdominal area should never be aimed for, but if hit, react to this accordingly.
“Many paunch shots are also lethal, and deer often bed in the first piece of cover they can reach,” Adams said. “Bowhunters should wait at least 8 hours before pursuing. If left alone, these deer are often dead in the first place they bed and easily recovered. If pushed, they often cover a lot of distance before re-bedding, making it nearly impossible to find them. Gun hunters can pursue them more quickly given the chance for a much longer follow-up shot.”
Shoulder Blade: As previously expressed, the shoulder blade and leg bones do not cover the heart and lungs. The shoulder is positioned above the heart. It covers a small portion of the top of the lungs. While the shoulder can pose problems for bowhunters who hit deer too high, it’s not a significant problem for gun hunters.
“This is a non-issue for most gun hunters, but can be a huge issue for bowhunters,” Adams said. “This is one where you really need to read what the blood trail tells you. Some of these shots result in a pretty short trail, while others result in long trails from single-lung hits. Let the blood and any sighting of the deer’s behavior, guide your next moves.”
Spine: A spine-shot deer tends to fall at the point of impact. Rarely do they cover much, if any, ground. That said, send that second volley (arrow, bolt, or bullet) stat.
“Deer hit in the spine typically drop immediately,” Adams said. “Whether hit with a gun or bow, these shots typically require a follow-up shot to kill the deer.”
Regardless of the poor shot location, if the deer isn’t hit in the heart or lungs, and makes it out of sight, reassess the situation. Give the deer the proper amount of time to expire. Then, if you can’t find the deer easily, carefully consider the next steps.
If the shot execution goes poorly, there are some alternative deer tracking assets and tactics available for hunters.
“Leashed dogs are becoming more popular for hunters across the whitetail’s range, and drone use is increasing in many states, where legal,” Adams said.
Hunters might even consider grid-searching the property. Gather family and friends, space everyone out effectively, and look for that whitetail.
Conclusion: Shoot That Deer
Bow shooting deer and harvesting whitetails with firearms aren’t easy tasks. Knowing where to shoot a whitetail deer takes understanding. But with the proper foundation of knowledge, you can get the drop on a big whitetail buck this season.
