Shot placement/recovery...w/photos

John McCreary · December 11, 2008, 09:57:00 AM

I stand corrected, I knew the diaphragm was contained within the ribs

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I've seen liver shot deer go a mile and had one several years ago that went only forty yards. A direct hit to the liver will bleed profusely but is not among the most essential organs necessary for life support. Not to say a deer will live without the liver but that the cardiovascular system is necessary for immediate life support. Take out those and a deer is dead in seconds. Take out the liver and the system will continue to function until the blood is drained. I always try to give a liver shot deer at least 2-3 hours before tracking down. The problem is we don't always know when the liver is hit, as evidenced by your experience. I believe that big three-blade combined with a complete pass through was essential to the recovery of your deer.

John

Riverstick · December 11, 2008, 11:15:00 AM

Once again, they are tough. Been hunting all my life and have seen crazy things. There are just so many intangibles involved with each deer. I know they are all deer but some have a crazy will to live and run full speed after being hit. Others have know idea what happened and stop to look back and die. I have seen them double lunged and run well over 200 yards and have seen several shot just as morning star's doe and die within 40 yards. I cannot say how many times after trailing a deer and finding it my hunting partner and I will look at each other and say..."can you believe he went this far" And then other times its "I cannot believe he only went 40 yards". They are amazing animals and tend to humble me each year.

44charlie · December 11, 2008, 03:20:00 PM

just for fun sometime take a 1 quart jar and fill it with milk and red food coloring. then take a paint brush and dip in the jar and start flicking "blood" as you walk along thru the woods and see how far you get! i think we have 4 quarts in our body and a deer is about the same size. a quart will go a long ways and you'd still have 3 left!

Bill Turner · December 11, 2008, 03:39:00 PM

Great thread. Congratulations on finding your deer. There is a definite lesson to be had here.

bentpole · December 11, 2008, 05:10:00 PM

Outstanding Thread!

Congrats on the find! Way to stick with her.

Steve O · December 11, 2008, 07:11:00 PM

For once, I am glad I was wrong. Glad it worked out good for you!

SCS · December 12, 2008, 11:37:00 AM

That was a pretty cool read.
Thanks
Steve

O.L. Adcock · December 12, 2008, 12:21:00 PM

Excellent thread...Those darned livers, just 1" one way or another can make the difference in a 40 yard recovery or a long track/lost critter. I've had successful quartering toward shots but have had some screwups trying it too. Looking back at quartering shots over the years I've reduced the angle of the shots I'll take both front and rear quartering. Especially on big critters like elk...Good job on the recovery!

....O.L.

crosseye · December 12, 2008, 08:20:00 PM

i have always wondered something...quartering away shots are seen as good with the off shoulder being the exit goal. with quartering away shots, more often than not the arrow goes into the deer and has enough energy left to at least punch through the off shoulder or even completely pass through. now, on a slight quartering to shot, if one aims at the crease in front of the shoulder (the exit goal for a quartering away shot), shouldn't that be as good a shot as a quartering away shot? it seems to me the arrow would follow the same path but in an opposite direction than a quartering away. i have only taken 1 deer with my longbow and it was broadside and i have always heard we should avoid anything quartering to, but why would a slight quartering to shot be different than a quartering away? just curious...this has been a neat thread, and i am not trying to stir up anything, but i never thought about deer anatomy and shot angles as much as this after viewing these photos and diagrams. would the tougher bonier entrance rob too much energy for penetration on a slight quartering to shot to be as effective as a quartering away that enters into only soft tissue or more pliable rear ribs?

stan

Guru · December 12, 2008, 08:40:00 PM

Quartering away...the BH has done it's job if it encounters heavy bone...

Quartering towards...BH is just starting out when it hits the heavy bone....and if you hit behind the bone,good chance you'll miss all the good stuff....

Not worth it...

crosseye · December 12, 2008, 08:44:00 PM

ChuckC · December 12, 2008, 09:00:00 PM

Guru, which bone are you impacting ?
ChuckC

outbackbowhunter · December 12, 2008, 09:11:00 PM

The white tail anatomy that Jeremy posted is pretty good.

Given that rib bones should not be an issue, the only big bones of concern are the leg bones.

The big leg bones are on the front edge of the front leg. ( see Jeremys post).

I believe the optimum shot on game is dead centre of the front shoulder up one third of the chest height. ( check this on the whitetail anatomy Jeremy posted)

A lot of people aim too far back.