Shot Placement Hogs and Deer

[LeighS]

Hey guys, I've seen a few posts on this topic. Thought I'd throw my contribution in as well! Here's a bit of a guide I've cobbled together:

HOGS:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/hog-vitalswithmarkings.jpg


The appropriate archery target on any animal is the vital organ area which contains the heart, lungs, liver, and major blood vessels. Do not take frontal shots at wild pigs. On a broadside shot put the arrow just above the "elbow" of the front leg when the pig is dead broadside. Side shots are not recommended for large wild pigs. Rear quartering shots into the chest cavity are recommended for large-sized animals because this allows the arrow to slip behind the shoulder plaque. Shooting an arrow through the relatively thick skin and shoulder plaque of large wild pigs severely dulls the broadhead and may inhibit further penetration.

A hog can survive on one lung, so it's important to get both lungs. I don't suggest a quartering shot unless you can hit far enough forward to catch both lungs, or another vital organ. Also, keep in mind that a hog only bleeds "like a stuck pig" when you have a low wound, so when shooting from an elevated stand, a pass through is pretty much necessary to get a blood trail. You really need to cause some pretty severe hemmorhage to get a good bloodtrail from a hog. Their thick hide, subcutaneous body fat and remarkably fast clotting times really do prevent much external blood loss by these animals.


DEER:

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/deer-anatomy.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/Deer-QuarteringTowards.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/Deer-QuarteringAway.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/Deer-Broadside.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/Deer-Broadside3.jpg

http://i216.photobucket.com/albums/cc27/Leigh_S/Shot%20Placement/Deer-Broadside2.jpg


Broadside shot

A broadside deer represents the best bow shot because it requires the least amount of penetration to reach the vital organs. The best target is the chest area.The broadside shot is also the best angle for accomplishing a double lung hit, resulting in the collapse of both lungs. Find the best aiming point on a deer by picking a spot one third to halfway up the side of the animal and just behind the front shoulder. This will put an arrow in the center of the vital area by enabling you to pick a spot rather than shooting at the whole animal. An arrow will penetrate the ribs, but be careful to avoid the shoulder bone. Wait until the near leg is forward and concentrate on a spot behind the shoulder. Avoid head and neck shots when bow hunting. Wait for the chest shot behind the front shoulder.

Quartering away shot

The quartering away angle is a fine shot for the bow hunter. Aim at the chest area just behind the front shoulder. The arrow should pass through both lungs.

Quartering toward shot

This is one of the poorest bow shots and should be avoided. Heavy shoulder bones shield the majority of the vital organs from penetration by arrow. Wait for the animal to pass by and take a broadside or quartering away shot.

Head on shot

This is a very poor shot for the bow hunter. The vital area is the chest between the shoulders, which is an extremely small target. Wait for a better shot.

Rear end shot

This is a shot all responsible bow hunters will pass up. The hindquarters have very heavy muscle tissue and heavy bone structure which makes it very difficult for an arrow to get up front to the vital organs.

Elevated stand shot

Elevated stands and tree stands, are used by both firearm hunters and bow hunters. This elevated shot angle makes little difference to a firearm hunter, simply aim higher on the deer to compensate for the downward trajectory of the bullet. Lets say this slash ( \ ) is your bullet trajectory and the parenthesis is the deer, visualize how the bullet would enter the top of the deer and exit through the bottom.
The elevated shot angle results in a smaller portion of the vital area being exposed to a bow hunter. The vital organs are more protected by the back bone and shoulder blade. To avoid the shoulder blade when shooting from an elevated stand, aim farther behind the shoulder. Shooting from elevated stands makes it more difficult to achieve a double lung hit.








Well that's it... Hope it helps someone ;)

[clint]

Thats great info Leigh
Is it true for all deer? I have seen the DVDs from the USA thoughs White Tail seem to die pritty easy on some very average shots.
In july i shot a Rusa stag to high behind the shoulder under the spine with fletchings up to the hide that was the last time i saw that stag. i looked every where for a week i still hunt there and have seen smelt anything. I could be wrong but i think if that was a white tail it would have been recovered.

[LeighS]

You could be right Clint. This is info I've gathered from various sources that I've used as a guide on different species with no problems myself, but I was hunting with a rifle. I'm only new to bowhunting. Perhaps someone else here might know if there's a significant difference between species that might be important when bowhunting?... Anyone?.... :confused:

[will]

if there's a significant difference between species that might be important when bowhunting?... Anyone?.... :confused:

I suppose there would be slight anatomical differences between species that may be important for correct and effective shot placement, yet that triangle of vital organs seems to be the go! A very interesting post!!

I was unaware that a pig can survive on one lung? For how long? Not to doubt you but that is a significant loss for any animal to sustain.

Thanks for the info :)

[spiderbait24]

cheers for the help mate very interesting about the pig surviving on one lung huh who would know.

[troy]

You too can survive on only 1 lung if required, no real surprise. The main objective is massice heamorrage, or double lung penetration causing them to collapse and the animal will suffocate. The 'Golden Triangle' is the best place to aim for all game animals, though there are some minor changes in different species. For example, goats can displace their organs further forward in their bodys to allow their stomach to hold more food and apparently African game should be shot lower than other game. If you stay in that Triangle and try for quartering away shots you should have no dramas.

Good luck,
Troy

[will]

[QUOTE=troy;91608]You too can survive on only 1 lung if required, no real surprise.
Yeah, with proper surgery and adequate care after the removal~i am just amazed that a pig can survive on one lung when a razor sharp broad head has severed or mutilated the other? Pretty tough animals!

[troy]

[QUOTE=troy;91608]You too can survive on only 1 lung if required, no real surprise.
Yeah, with proper surgery and adequate care after the removal~i am just amazed that a pig can survive on one lung when a razor sharp broad head has severed or mutilated the other? Pretty tough animals!

Yeah thats cause us humans are soft Will. ; )
I know if someone jammed an arrow in me I wouldn't be bolting off, more likely sit there and sulk or scream in pain.

[LeighS]

Hogs are incredibly tough animals. With their very rapid clotting ability they can survive some severe injuries. At least long enough to evade recovery and that's what matters.

[crazimofo]

i shot a(what i reckon)would have been my pb boarwith my new dren qtring away shot spot on the money never to see it again,been back no smell or sign......tough as nails..

[Sneaky Pete]

You'd be surprised how well you can get by on one lung. Your total lung capacity is about 6 litres. As you sit there in front of your computer you are breathing in & out only about 500cc, and of that, about 150cc just moves back & forth in your trachea and upper airway, not even getting to your lungs. I expect a good many unrecovered game animals are shot through one lung. It will reduce their ability to run, but not enough to prevent them getting far enough away to hide and recover.

Thanks for the diagrams Leigh, very useful stuff.

I'm thinking maybe I could put together a simplified description of the effects of a penetrating chest injury (such as a broadheaded arrow) from a medical perspective, as that is my training. It might get a little long-winded though, not sure how interested guys on here would be. It seems to be very misunderstood by most hunters.
Pete

[will]

You'd be surprised how well you can get by on one lung. Your total lung capacity is about 6 litres. As you sit there in front of your computer you are breathing in & out only about 500cc, and of that, about 150cc just moves back & forth in your trachea and upper airway, not even getting to your lungs. I expect a good many unrecovered game animals are shot through one lung. It will reduce their ability to run, but not enough to prevent them getting far enough away to hide and recover.

Thanks for the diagrams Leigh, very useful stuff.

I'm thinking maybe I could put together a simplified description of the effects of a penetrating chest injury (such as a broadheaded arrow) from a medical perspective, as that is my training. It might get a little long-winded though, not sure how interested guys on here would be. It seems to be very misunderstood by most hunters.
Pete

I have never shot one so i guess i didn't quite realize how nugget these critters are lol. Guess i will find out eventually ;)
I would be really interested Pete, please post it up if you have time!! :) Thanks mate. It is a really interesting topic!

[jason]

To me the 4th is to far back and will just hit guts.. i aim for the oposite shoulder and just pick where i would want the arrow to come out the other shoulder, if they are quartering away. Broadside aim right in the middle of the triangle the leg bone and shoulder bone make.. Have never seen any game go far if you hit them in that triangle..
Hope that helps