When hunting from a treestand.....

[scooter]

When hunting from a treestand and an animal comes directly under your tree. Should you shoot for the neck or down through the back for the vitals?

??

What do you guys think?? Discuss....... :twisted:

[Bigralphy]

I would probably shoot for the vitals. I feel a straight down shot would definitley hit the heart and probably a lung as well. Just my opinion though and I am not a pro.

[swampdonkey]

Hmmmm interesting
Considering if he is standing under your stand, can you make the shot through the back to the vitals and hope to h__ that you have your safety belt on so that you don't fall out of the tree stand. I think that my decsion would be if I have waited this long for a beautiful and clean kill maybe I could wait a bit longer or hunt another day

Swampdonkey

[hunterkiller]

Shoot first ask question slater.

Yes, shoot! I have witnessed a friend of mine in the same situation and he brought his deer down hit him right through his back. He went about 60 yards and dropped.

[lightfoot]

It would depend on the comfort level, as I think you would have to bend pretty good at the hips to get a shot of this sort but as far as vitals I thinks this is a perfect opportunity du to the fact that all vitals are exposed as well as the chance of a spine shot would be very high.

Myself being this my first year in a tree stadn would probably feel uncomfortable du to the safety factor.

[Grunter]

I've seen a number of videos with this scenario and all but one of them shot off-centre from the spine straight for the vittles... er sorry, vitals!

[Valley Lad]

None of the above. I'd save the arrow and jump on its back instead!

Seriously - I'd wait, as excrutiating as it would be, for the animal to move at least 5 yards away to offer a better shot. IMO a neck shot is too low percentage and straight down through the chest you run the chance of hitting only one lung resulting in a long tracking job.

This all sounds good in theory. I'll let you know what I do if it ever happens.

[creekside]

I would have to pass on the shot. Far to risky in terms of having a clean kill. Hopefully the animal will give you an opportunity down the road. If not there is always tomorrow.

Creekside :|

[GaryM12]

I find that rarely is a shot straight down. Even if its at a very acute angle there is usually an angle off to the shot, whether you are shooting from one side to the other or from the back towards the front of the animal there is usually a bit of an angle. Having said that if you dont hit the spine or the heart there is a good chance of single lunging the animal. If I was assured I could hit through the spine and into the vitals then I would take the shot, if not then I would wait for a more oblique angle to assure a double lung shot.

[fishnutz4ever]

Varied response I see. The reason I originally queried this one to Warden is that it happened to me this last week in the Porcupine Hills. The 4x4 elk came in from behind my stand, all bush of course. The only chance for a shot was when it was right below me. It sniffed my tree and got a bit spooked, it stomped and turned. I was totally excited, I drew and figured this was my only chance at this one, never been that close to a Bull Elk before. I was hesitant but shot anyways. It hit with a huge SMACK! As the Bull tore off in the wet snow that was pouring down I saw my arrow dangling!! I must have hit a rib with the mechanical broadhead. Thinking for sure I could follow a certain blood trail in the snow I took my time climbing down so as not to spook the elk. I was mortified to find no trace of blood and the animals tracks disappeared by the second in the thick wet snow. I was pretty disappointed, embarrassed and mostly po'd at myself for not making a better shot or something. I kept thinking, "If I only went for that long neck full of arteries and wind pipe." I don't think I'll shoot my mechanical broadheads at moose/elk again, not impressed with their performance anyways. Guess I used my elk tag indirectly. :oops: :(

[jackal]

Just my thoughts hey Fishnutz I would not blame your broadheads I also use expandible broadheads and I have killed 8 elk in 8 years with them I also know that they penitrate I shot a bull elk in the shoulders and git a complete pass through . I would think your shot was probably better than you think bull elk are very strong and can go a long ways and with you hitting hi on the bull body it takes a long time for there lung cavity to fill with blood to start giveing you a blood trail . Just a little more advice try hunting elk from the ground it is a bigger rush when you have to look up at them .GOOD LUCK HOPE YOU GET ANOTHER CHANCE

[sniper]

Hey Fishnutz,

Just Curious Which expandible are you Shooting?

[lostbowman]

I had this happen this week to me i had a cow elk and a calf walk up under me i left them and they walk into some heavy cover and i never got a shot i do think i made the write call

[WOOKIE]

Not through experience, but I have heard alot about expandable broadheads skipping off if the hit bone at a high angle. This may have been the case if you hit him on a rib, the head may have skipped off. Just a thought

[petew]

Neck shots are a poor choice.Its to easy to just hit muscle and miss the blood pipes and spine.Let him take a couple steps and then go for the boiler room.
As for the mechanical skipping off a rib, I think that ant BH can do this on a steep angle.We often blame the BH but if we are true to ourselves its us that is at fault.A glancing shot is just that , and any BH will have trouble with them.We ned to hit the ribs at a better angle.

[sniper]

From what I'm reading it seems that there is a certain uncertainty when it comes to shootinging from a treestand.

My first expeariance was with a doe at 20yrds and my buddy Jackal warned me to shoot low cause alot of guys shoot high out of treestands.
And as was expected I spined the doe at 20yrds, Igot lucky cause she dropped right there, but alot of guys will hit the infamous "no mans land"
and not be so lucky.

My advice would be to practice out your treestand or a similar situation, and simply watch how your arrow reacts, by doing this when it comes down to a questionable situation you be alot more confident in your ability with a bow.

[fishnutz4ever]

Sniper, I have been using 125 grain First Cut mechanical broadheads. I also tried those Thunderheads as back up, that's what I shot my Muley Buck with. Kinda liked those. Thanks to you fellas for the advice. However, Jackal, my first bowkill 2 years ago was a cow Moose. I had a similar rib problem with those First Cut mechanicals. Guess I lost confidence in that particular brand. Don't get me wrong, I'm by no means blaming my broadheads for my shortcomings. I'm sure that if the shot is perfect any arrow/broadhead will suffice. I'm thinking about heading out Thursday after work for a day or two, not sure whether to go back to The Porcupine Hills or go North West and try for a Bull Moose, Elk, and Deer. I still love old Bullwinkle, I guess it's my Newfie Heritage. I'll be flying solo, anyone else thinking about heading out?