Deer Shot Placement | Where To Aim For Broadside, Quartering & Elevated Shots

Shot placement on a whitetail deer can make the difference in a good clean ethical harvest or wounding a deer and potentially losing it. What a lot of hunters don't study up on is deer anatomy to know exactly where to place a shot in different scenarios. QDMA Director Of Conservation Kip Adams uses a 3D anatomically correct form of a whitetail deer's vitals to walk you through broadside, quartering and elevated shots for proper placements on deer.

[@willbiggers5566]

Every hunter should watch this at least once a year right before their season. Could be the difference between 40 yard blood trail and losing the animal

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Amen!

[@FearOfChange]

That's why I'm here

[@danielmcbride4828]

That's why I'm here too

[@basshuntet607]

What about crossbow?

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@basshuntet607 This applies across the board regardless of weapon.

[@chandlersmith7246]

I’m not going to lie, at first I was like “I know where to shoot a deer”. Now I’m glad I clicked on it because it was a really helpful video

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad it helped!

[@violinmaestroknight9347]

Imagine how people were 5,000 years ago without God’s True Book. How would they have known how they were supposed to live? How would they have known how they were supposed to be in order to please their Creator? So God gave the law of Moses back then. This law was for the people to know how to be. They saw what God expected out of them. God had high expectations from the Israelites. Why shouldn't He? Should He drop His expectations for love and grace? If He drops His expectations to accommodate what man wants, then He compromised His perfection for man’s imperfection. Does a Perfect God compromise His perfection? So God has expectations once He tells His creation how He wants things. His love and grace gives His creation time to change. He is willing to help them change if they ask Him. Then His creation, while repenting or changing to do His will, see His Beauty. This is a relationship formed now with the Creator. If He is the Most Beautiful Being, which He is, how can His creation not want to obey Him? How can His creation not want to please Him? The reason why is because of foolishness. Man loves his own foolishness rather than God’s wisdom, Jn 3:19. Man loves his sin. If anyone loves himself, he will stay in sin. So man who stays in sin rejects his perfect Creator or Father, and exchanges it for his own foolishness. So now fast forward to today where we have God’s True Book. We officially know what God wants. God gave His creation a big help, the Word, to show us how He wants us to live. If we follow His perfect teachings, we all live with perfect peace, love, joy and unity. This is His perfect design for His children's lives. When we go against His perfect design for what we want, sin, we throw away that perfect plan. We throw away that perfect peace, love, joy and unity. Giving up these things is foolish. So sinning against God proves to be the worst plan for us! God wanted to help mankind. God wanted to save man from his foolishness. He wanted to help us the best way possible because He is Good. The best and only way to do it, as God saw fit, was to give mankind His Son. Why? The Son is the Word, Jn 1:1. The Word always obeys the Father's will. The Father's will is spoken through His Word. The Word proceeds forth from the Father's will and mind. So the Word that God speaks is the pure sequel to what was inside the Father's mind and heart. Jesus is that perfection manifest. He is the physical embodiment of God's will and thought. God's will and thought is expressed through His Word. Jesus, the human part, is the perfect, physical expression of God. Jesus, the human part that walked this earth, came to teach us the perfect will of God. How? He did this by example. This is why Jesus walked this earth perfectly without sinning. So Jesus taught us perfectly. He even was willing to die not only death, but the death He did not deserve since He never sinned against God the Father. He chose to give His life. That's why Jesus says no man forces Him to lay down His life, He chose to lay it down, Jn 10:18. God wanted to save mankind. Jesus wants what the Father wants. The Word always obeys the will. He shed even His perfect, pure blood for us. His blood is the fulfillment of perfect obedience to the Father. Why? Because the Son asked 3 times in the Garden, "Take my cup not by my will but by yours." The Father said the Son still had to shed His blood on the cross. The Son obeyed the Father's will over His own. So the blood was shed for that purpose. Nobody else had that kind of blood. Nobody else pleased the Father perfectly like the Son. So now instead of the law of Moses showing us the way to live rightly in God's eyes, we have the Son. This is the New Covenant. In Jesus and His blood, we now obey Him instead of the Mosaic law as part of this new agreement between man and God. So as man wants to live rightly to please His Creator, man now must turn to the Word of the Creator. So obeying the perfect teachings of Jesus brings us to how God wants us to live. The Son conquered the grave. The grave is the end of all who sin. The grave is the payment for sin. Satan founded the grave. How? Because Satan started death by being the first to sin against Almighty God. Jesus destroyed Satan's creation and fulfills the very first prophecy spoken of the Savior in Genesis 3:15. That's why Jesus came to "...destroy the works of the devil," 1 Jn 3:8. Satan came to ruin God's Creation with sin. Jesus came to ruin Satan's creation, death, with perfect obedience, which His blood shed proves. That's why in His blood, there is life. So the Gospel is God's reconciliation with man. How? Only through the Son. If you disobey the Son, you disobey the Father. Jesus says, “He who has seen me has seen the Father,” Jn 14:9. Repent and accept Jesus as Your Lord NOW!!! Then start to read the Gospels and obey His commands. Follow Jesus only, no other man, no religion. Only Jesus. Joseph, Servant of God Sent by Christ to evangelize the whole world www.clevelandstreetpreachers.com KZbin CLEVELAND STREET PREACHERS,

[@ryanhill6684]

@@violinmaestroknight9347 Shut up. No one cares

[@liamengelsma7450]

@@ryanhill6684 you shut up

[@ryanhill6684]

@@liamengelsma7450 Shut up. No one cares

[@HardRockMiner]

Shot my biggest buck last year and used a video like this to practice shot placement. I knew it was a good shot when I saw it hit. He walked 15' and fell over. When I got him broken down and finally got to his heart, it was proud to see that my arrow went straight thru the middle of his heart. Videos like this are invaluable to a good hunter.

[@Alexonfire1]

Nice job and congrats

[@walpolescrew]

Sage advice. More hunters should drop their egos and watch this.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We're always trying to help all stages of hunters!

[@1CT1]

Accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior and you will be saved. John 3:16 (share the good news of the gospel around the world!) Have a wonderful day/night, may the LORD bless you all, and farewell!,.,,,,,,.,,.,,.,.,.,.

[@Chalz108]

No one ever taught me any of this. All I heard was aim behind the shoulder. This is excellent information.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We are glad you found it helpful! Share it with some buddies that could learn a thing or two!

[@nathantidwell3197]

I shot my first buck yesterday in that spot and he didn’t go 10 yards. This info helps me understand where everything is at

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Very cool! Congrats on your first buck!

[@nathantidwell3197]

@@Whitetail_Properties thanks sir keep doing what you do!

[@dcoutdoors7032]

That’s awesome! Congrats, I got my first buck about a week ago!

[@nathantidwell3197]

@@dcoutdoors7032 thanks man have a nice night

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@dcoutdoors7032 Congrats on your fist buck!

[@blaws6684]

The lethal vitals in an average whitetail is the size of a soccer ball. If you place your shot anywhere that will “deflate that ball” you will harvest that deer. This concept falls in line well with this video. I’ve taught both for 25 years with much satisfaction. No one ever complained afterwards. Remember to think in 3D no matter what angle presents. But avoid frontal shots for obvious reasons. .

[@jonquirk9582]

How do you figure that? A deers lungs are larger than a dinner plate, as long as you puncture both lungs, that's a dead deer. Even if you miss the heart

[@dillon26]

Here watching this video after losing a nice buck from poor shot placement after 7 years of trying. Man does it suck, but videos like this and the overall experience of making mistakes is what we need to be successful.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

No doubt! It happens to all of us, all we can do is keep learning and stay after um'! Good luck this fall!

[@Purple_Wayne]

I was one of the guys that thought behind the leg was "behind the shoulder". I'm glad I watched this.

[@chrisdyer7039]

A spinous process is the correct anatomical term for the bone extending upward from the vertebrae. "Projections" as you called them is somewhat vague and refers to all projections coming off the vertebrae. Great clip worth watching. Kip knows his stuff.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Great info, thanks for sharing that!

[@Country4life09]

You sir are a great teacher i have Watched this video every year since it was posted thank you

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We love to hear that, thank you! Glad it continues to help! Good luck this season!

[@40beretta1]

This was a very concise explanation of shots placement!!!... One of the Ethical Rules of hunting, is to place your shot / archery or firearm / in the placement to produce a clean harvest. Our Daughter just finished her hunting and Day in the field classes...heck I sat in on the class. The instructors spent a good amount of time on "Ethical Hunting Behavior" and "Ethical Shot Placement". There are multiple reasons for bad placement, just DON"T let it be due to equipment NOT being in hunting condition and lack of practice Tree Stand - Higher angle results only if the Deer is that close. Last season I invested in a Ranger Finder (1600yd) that takes into your elevation. Worth every $$...

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found it helpful! Now share it with your daughter!!

[@kaidencombrink4546]

African hunters and guides have been saying this for centuries about African antelope “straight up the front leg, centre of body”, I’ve always wondered how Cervidae had a heart rear of the “elbow crease” now I finally know that was never the case thank you this is very informative.

[@robertboyd3863]

My PH always said a third of the way up the front leg for the perfect shot, my daughter has dropped 5 African animals with 5 shots, using that advice, using either a 270 or 308 , African animals internals are different from our animals , but still good advice

[@Abiti3131]

Yes I am African hunter I agree, now hunting in beautiful Colordo.

[@davidthompson1529]

@@Abiti3131 Best of luck hunting. Stay safe.

[@timothyrothrock4173]

Agree with arrow placement. But alot of times because deer squat from a voluntary reflex from the sound of a bow snap your hit could be too high. I aim for the squat especially if I am in a tree.

[@CR-nv7vj]

This is an awesome instruction. Not many people can explain this as well as this guy. 👍

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad it was helpful! Appreciate the comment!

[@davidrobins4025]

You have provided very good information with the evidence to back it up about where to shoot a deer with a bow. This is not your typical "just stick him with an arrow."

[@basshuntet607]

AWESOME!! I hope deer hunters old and young watch this.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Amen! For our sake and the deers sake!

[@busterdog6320]

As the young I can say this has helped a lot.

[@wrxified]

100% positive KZbin breaks the privacy rules regardless of my iPhone settings eavesdropping on my conversations with people. A friend and I were just talking about this on Saturday and this popped up on my feed this morning. We even discussed the misconception about the shape of the front shoulder. Good video, bad KZbin.

[@michaeldaltonsr8954]

Yay!! Finally someone puttin out good info!! I learned almost 50 yr ago, about what you teaching. It's called "processing your own deer". You can quickly learn where and why. Then learn patience. That's when, and when not, to shoot. Most hunters, like most people, use "gossip-to-guidem" approach. EXAMPLE?: About 10 yr ago, while listening to stories @ local check-in station, a "hunter" told of an earlier hunt, in which he had held the cross-hairs @ top of back, lowered it 4 inches, and "shot'em dead thru the heart!!" So, I spoke up and said, "So your scope was off?" After several heated banters( just to rile him up) I asked if he had ever heard of the scapula bone. He hadn't. Then he spouted, "I got the deer, brung it home, shot right thru the heart!! I looked around, and saw only 4 out of approx 25 hunters were aware that bagging the deer and bull's-eye of the heart were two different things in his case!!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Great story, thanks for sharing!

[@yannijulian6480]

By far best demonstration I have seen

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!

[@danieldelozier5800]

I’m a new bowhunter and have read a lot of articles and watched a lot of videos on where to shoot and this is by far the most helpful resource I’ve found. Thank you so much for this video. I feel much more confident now.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We love to hear that!! Best of luck to you this fall!!

[@doitdoitright5916]

Excellent presentation. I’ve bow hunted for 46 years and learned the hard way the traditional “pocket “ was not the best spot to aim. Like he says for the typical broadside shot come up the front leg (which ever one is perpendicular to the ground) if not both. The quartering shot provides the biggest area for lethal entry. The high angle shot is spot on. The only thing I would add is if a deer is keyed up versus in a relaxed state. If it’s keyed (nervous) you may want to aim at the lower 1/3, saw high speed film, a deer that’s keyed can drop close to half it’s body height in a few split seconds. Translation, 600 fps to hit a deer at 15 yards before it reacts, close to 2x the speed of a compound bow. To naked eye it looks like you shot over. They naturally drop to load their legs to spring forward. Happy hunting and remember you can never shoot a broad-head that’s to sharp.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks for sharing that! Good luck to you this fall!!

[@jaredeberly9724]

You are definitely right and I came to comment that. If the deer ducks you can hit the shoulder bone. You should aim 1/3 of the way down the body, center of the heart.

[@Hawaiiandiver]

Best video out on KZbin to describe for beginners such as myself. After listening to people talk and talk and talk you actually went over how and where to aim

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found it helpful, thanks for watching!! Share it with a few buddies who could use a refresher!

[@masterski03]

Great video. Only thing I do different is aim a little lower with my bow just to account for deer jumping string. If he doesn’t jump it is a heart shot if he does jump it is double lung.

[@jeffreymoulton207]

I watched this video right before my first bow season opened this year and fully attribute my success to it. I would have shot too far forward otherwise. Instead I had a 22yrd shot quartering away right to left. Clean double lung shot, he ran 30ft and was done. Thank you for the great content.

[@axobreil]

Man, I have been hunting for 2 decades. I am 32 now and this video just taught me some vital information. Particularly how to divide the body. Thank you @Whitetail Properties

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That’s awesome, we love to hear it!! Thanks for watching, glad we could help!

[@jimputnam7539]

This is perfect for teaching my kids the anatomy of the deer and the importance of shot placement! I only allow them to take broadside shots anyway to eliminate that gut wrenching feeling of just wounding a deer. Good luck folks

[@Whitetail_Properties]

No worse feeling than wounding a deer.. We are glad you found it helpful, good luck this fall!

[@FFFOutdoor]

In Africa we talk about the Vital Triangle. If an antelope stands broadside you go up the front leg, 1/3 of the body and you hit the middle of the vitals. Something a PH needs to work hard to ensure his hunters make one shot kills. Great info in the video , FFF Approved 👍🏻👍🏻

[@ronws2007]

There is another youtube channel devoted to archery hunting called The Ranch Fairy and he calls it the vital v. straight down under the scalpula and 1/4 up from the bottom.

[@robertboyd3863]

My daughters ph had flash cards showing the perfect place to hit , it allowed her five kills with five shots, , a third up center of leg was where we shot everything

[@kordak197]

Good to know all my hours of playing theHunter: Call of the Wild has pre-prepared me for this video XD Hopefully one day I'll be able to bag my first real buck.

[@chrisboyd1408]

Thank you very much for posting this excellent video. This should be required as an annual refresher for all deer hunters. We should never be too prideful to learn more and refresh our memory and techniques.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Amen! We hop it helps our fellow hunters!

[@tfrost33elkhunter]

I watch this I saw this last year and just watched it again. Even though I have take plenty of deer it is always good to revisit.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We couldn't agree more! Always a good idea to brush up on shot placement!

[@mikemellon80]

Best demonstration I’ve seen. Very helpful to new and seasons hunters

[@bassbucksandmore987]

I’m mid new mid seasoned and this is amazing I never knew that a deers front leg was like that

[@LuisAOrtega-xc1wm]

Excellent explanation. Thank you. When talking about shot placement, I usually remember the great piece of advice given but the late John Wooters: He suggested the hunter to envision a grapefruit, (or small melon, depending on the size of the animal) held by the animal between its legs, about half height (actually I believe he recommended 2/5 up from the brisket, I am not sure...) I would prefer half way up, anyway... It is the easiest way to aim correctly WHATEVER THE ANGLE MAY BE. It is also extremely easy to remember. Try to do it from any possible angle, practice it mentally, without a gun. It is also extremally easy to remember and put into practice. Then, all you have to do is, hold the gun steady, and don't flinch! Luis A. Ortega. Spain

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks for sharing!!

[@coreyk67]

Been hunting my whole life and didn't know the exact heart placement. Great video. Sending a link to all my sons.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We love to hear it! Hopefully it can help you and your sons make that much more ethical of a shot this fall!!

[@TRUSTLIFENOW]

Best shot placement video I've seen so far

[@Bodosca]

The best video about where to shoot a deer. Thanks!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks for watching!

[@chaseviking5096]

I grew up with family members that loved to hunt. They taught me this a long time ago. It's nice now a days to have the internet and sites like YT that can show new hunters who aren't as lucky as me on where to shoot for a kill shot.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We totally agree!!

[@theruralrenegade8911]

That is generally where I have been putting rounds and have never had to track a deer, quartering towards or away is also quite easy of you know the anatomy. This video is very helpful.

[@marcg611]

Last week shot a buck from tree saddle with a crossbow that was slightly quartering towards, I took that higher shoulder shot due to angle, got both lungs but the exit was farther back and blasted out waxy rib fat sealing the exit wound. Literally zero blood trail but luckily "didn't go 20". I patterned and found it very dense brush. Lesson learned the higher shot entrance will not bleed well if not a good exit. 👍

[@VilRuS]

This is a great video. I remember a few years ago when I made the decision to research the anatomy of deer and being surprised at how it was different than I thought. It made me a better, more ethical hunter. And thank you so much for going over shot angles. I’m amazed sometimes at how many archers do not understand compensating for the angle that the deer is standing.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We appreciate it! Thank you for watching!

[@Colonel_Overkill]

Agreed. I normally aim for head or neck as a bad shot is a clean miss that doesent injure without killing as a general rule. I do this as I have a horrid track record of gut shooting even what I thought were correct placements and never knew why. This year I may try the shoulder shots again now that I have a better idea of the internals and locations.

[@ryanrumble904]

@@Colonel_Overkill or maybe try getting better with accuracy?

[@mohawksniper79]

That's why in a camp with a few guy/girls the new guy/girl should help clean the deer even if they didn't shoot it they can see where everything is located and how big it is. 🤠👍

[@Birdnird1776]

Fantastic demonstration and guidance for aiming. I shot a doe tonight from a tree stand and intentionally shot higher along a line straight up from the front legs. The arrow went through the heart, meaning the deer did not suffer unnecessarily, did not run far, and bled out properly. Thanks Mathews!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Congrats on the harvest! And nice shot!!

[@Dfleuryoutdoors]

I liver shot my first 3 deer trying to go behind the shoulder. My father told me to follow the front leg straight up and since then I've made perfect shots every time. I've also found that it makes shooting in low light much easier when the deer starts Blending in with its surroundings.

[@nolixss694]

Is that straight up the rear of the front leg or the middle of the front leg?

[@kevinalexander6812]

Straight up the deer's rear. AKA the West Virginia Heart shot.

[@xtripv108]

@@kevinalexander6812 I'm weak XD

[@samuelstoner5651]

I don't hunt, but I found this tutorial very interesting! From watching deer hunting videos, I'd gotten the impression that one is supposed to aim for a spot above and BEHIND the shoulder. You have now taught me to skip the BEHIND part and just hit above.

[@greatwhitenorth762]

"behind" is still fine too. A double lung shot and the animal is dead in mere seconds.

[@AFreeThinkingDawg09]

Everyone keeps telling me I’m wrong but I’m the only one that hasn’t lost a deer. Great video. Organs move as the deer moves and the point of exit is more important than the entrance, except with a bow, don’t hit bone 🦴

[@RonFleener]

I enjoy watching this video each year. Just a friendly reminder. I keep it in my watch later list

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That’s great! We’re glad you find it so helpful, We love educating new and experienced hunters! Good luck the rest of the season!!

[@TristanBach]

Honestly no matter how much experience this was a great video

[@jamesburke5709]

Hello you done a very well job of describing the shot placements of the deer's body there now and your exactly right on too now

[@jamesburke5709]

But he doesn't tell you this though too now if you know exactly where to make the shot placement of the deer facing toward you you can still kill it that way too it's all in where you put your shot at just like he says here

[@brycehiigel235]

Great video and demonstration. Was taught to aim where you want the arrow to exit. I started to put duct tape on the back side of my target that was layered that would stop the arrow yet allow the tip to protrude. I would set my target quartering away and visualize the duct tape. Amazed how much I would have to move my entry point left or right to get my arrow to go through the duct tape.

[@jeremyrobs3643]

Great idea with the duct tape.

[@HalfGiant_S80]

Been hunting for years, and I never would have thought of any of this. Wow, I still have a lot to learn. Great video

[@conner5627]

My dad always said bust through the shoulders bc of its not just bone. This was 20 years ago when all you seen on TV was behind the shoulder but with a rifle you go through that front shoulders you'll track alot less deer. I know its harder with a bow but for a rifle go directly in the middle of the shoulder. TV always had me questioning him till about 14 years ago when I was 13 and started being able to put my shots exactly where I was aiming bc from 7-12 I always rushed shots and didn't squeeze the trigger but pulled it an every deer I've hit in the middle of the shoulder since then they haven't went more than 10 yards. Usually drop on its tracks even a 200lb 8 year old buck didn't even go anywhere. Only thing that did run was the smalleT cull buck I killed at 150 he took one hop out the power line good plot into brush and didn't go another step. Avg weight is usually 175 of what I'll shoot and 99% didn't move

[@blindboyjonny]

Very well done. Basically just shoot the basketball or volleyball that’s in between the shoulder blades. Whether from the back forward or the top down. Shoot the center of the volleyball.

[@michaelnovack2217]

That was one of the most useful hunting videos I've ever watched. Thank you for this counterintuitive anatomy lesson.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found it helpful! Thanks for watching!!

[@EpicN1GHTMAR3]

This might’ve been the most informing video on shot placement ever

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We love hearing that! Thank you for watching, and if you have some buddies who might benefit from this feel free to share!

[@1upgreenshroon]

This is by far the best video I've ever seen on the subject. Thank you for posting.

[@Eiysacc]

Very educational video, perfect demonstrations! Always knew to aim a little high in a stand and a little further back when there quartering away but this really shows exactly where and why with a good demonstration

[@justinrwolbert]

This is the best video I have ever seen explaining where to shoot and where the vitals are. Thanks for putting this out. This is exactly what new hunters and even experienced hunters need to see before pulling the trigger, including me.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We’ve gotten a lot of positive feedback and we appreciate it! Informing the hunting community is what strive to do!

[@inthemountainswithmeachum3256]

Great vid. The pushing of these Chinese made mechanicals is why for generations people have been taught to shoot behind the shoulder. It's awesome to see somebody making a video With anatomically correct vitals to prove to people exactly where they should be aiming especially with archery. And that goes for every single game animal on the planet.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We're hoping to help all ages and stages of hunters out!

[@cw6795]

There is nothing wrong with a behind the shoulder shot. Too far forward on a pulled shot in archery can be a very bad thing. The truth is that too many people aim for a baseball size object, ok maybe a softball, but forget that the lungs are easily twice that size. They can't live without those either.

[@BucksCorner101]

I'm hoping to get out for my very first season this year. Thank you so much for having these videos. Sure, my friends who've hunted for years say "Just hit it here." But to visually see the angle of approach makes me very grateful. Thank you so much!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That's great to hear from a new hunter getting out in the woods!! We are glad you found the video helpful, maybe share it with your friends and they may learn a thing or two! Lol. Good luck this season!

[@jimstoller1936]

Super video demonstration. EXACTLY how we designed our NiceTargets to give the hunter the truest and most realistic hunting practice experience. Properly placed kill zones that ALL disappear at around 15 yards. We would LOVE to send you a pack of NiceTargets to see, use and review. Our clients love them. Plus they're made from recyclable plastic which makes them weatherproof and LONG LASTING. And they're inexpensive.

[@goneflying140]

When bow hunting, I love to send it right through the ribs. The 2" cut from my broadheads cause massive bleeding and they never go far. For gun season, I like to put it right above the front leg as described at the start of the video. Thes have worked well for me.

[@Heritagepostfarms]

I practice a lot with my bow to make quick kills. Out of 6 deer ive shot, 3 have been right through the heart. Always amazes me how far they run with no heart. Incredible.

[@godlyk3]

Just smoked one right in the heart, dropped within 15 yards. I was always aiming higher, thank you for the video!!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Congrats!! Glad you got one!

[@bryanmcdermott4204]

This is the best video I've ever seen on the subject, and I'm old.

[@microtechmachineshop]

blew the heart right out of my buck this year

[@brycehiigel235]

Was taught to aim where you want the arrow to exit. I started to put duct tape on the back side of my target that was layered that would stop the arrow yet allow the tip to protrude. I would set my target quartering away and visualize the duct tape. Amazed how much I would have to move my entry point left or right to get my arrow to go through the duct tape.

[@avehdz001]

Thank you for the diagram on deer anatomy! It was very helpful on learning where to properly shoot! I got my first deer yesterday & knicked the heart & lungs.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That is awesome!! Congrats on your first deer, and nice job with what sounds like a perfect shot!!

[@little1942]

Excellent video! I’ve always known “where” to aim for and why, but I had no idea how long the spinal projections are! It’s really helpful to have that visual of the anatomy of deer when hunting. I’ll be keeping it mind this season. Thank you!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Awesome, glad it helped! Good luck this fall!!

[@jaredeberly9724]

Definitely what I thought. Imagine the heart of the deer and the angle to get to it. A shoulder shot rarely ends in a found deer with a bow

[@lawrencelewis1036]

The lungs on that model extend to far back.You are correct about the vital V.

[@backbybay]

Just got my first deer of the year last night. My shot hit just like your first example. From my platform at 20 feet. I had no choice but to shoot in to the top. It was a great shot but, the arrow did not exit. This meant that there wasn't much of a blood trail to follow. Because I knew the direction it ran in and I heard it fall, I was able to locate it without relying on the blood. This could have been a much harder deer to track on land I was not completely familiar with. Thanks for posting this vid. Its nice to have a good visual. We are never too old to learn something.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Amen! We’re glad you were able to find your deer!

[@markgoostree6334]

Good, solid information. I have hunted for decades and this was good for me to see to clearly confirm what I thought was good bullet placement. Information is king... proper shot placement is what we all try for. Thank you...great video!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Amen! Best of luck this fall!!

[@YouTubeApe]

Pretty impressed that these finer points were new to me. Been hunting for a long time. Thank you!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad you found it helpful!!

[@milesboulton9885]

You've done an excellent job of explaining this. I've never undertstood this and I'm grateful for your having shared it. God bless, Miles

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Thanks! Glad it was helpful!!

[@HuntingWithTheHalls]

This will help so much this week thank you

[@fragmag]

Great video to review each year before I pull out the bow for archery season.

[@TheElementWild]

Great vid! Cool to see everything in place.

[@troboboulware8518]

Wish I'd watched this 4 yrs ago! Your hitting a spine-projection-piece-with-a-bullet-scenario is exactly what happened to me.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We've seen it happen many times!

[@troboboulware8518]

@@Whitetail_Properties i bet! I dropped a buck i was after all fall. 170ish. Dropped him. Calked my wife, called my bro. 4 minutes had gone by, got up and ran off. Brother got him w/ bow the next yr & scored 184

[@Whitetail_Properties]

@@troboboulware8518 That's a tough one to swallow, at least the deer survived and your brother was able to harvest him the next year.

[@troboboulware8518]

@@Whitetail_Properties yes it worked out in the end!

[@deebo9675]

Very nice video. nice job explaining the vitals this is what all hunters should watch at the beginning of the season just for a reference ..keep on sharing the knowledge

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We agree! Thanks for watching!

[@gregmulfort9577]

Agree with what you say although as predominantly a rifle hunter, I don't want to hit the heart because I like to eat it. Aiming just behind where the leg comes up to the body I usually miss the heart and can harvest that. Also reduces some damage to the front shoulder meat. If the shot is questionable at all then might go for right where you say as you do have the most room for error.

[@cjberan]

I'm with you on aiming there to preserve meat. But must say yes to give the best ethical kill shot the up from leg and halfway from top to bottom looks better then I had expected or known before

[@johnbowden9578]

Maybe change the projectiles you're using. I just switched from Hornaday ELD-X to Barns TTSX. That Hornaday round blew up in a mile deer I shot at just under 200 yards. I was picking bits of lead out of the meat and that was after I cut away all the bloodshot meat.

[@gregmulfort9577]

@@johnbowden9578 that is something I may look into. I've also considered switching from lead altogether but there seems to be very few options for that.

[@davidboehlke1880]

@@gregmulfort9577 y'all talking about ammo? I can't find any

[@gregmulfort9577]

@@davidboehlke1880 I have lots of ammo to last a while, but I've heard there's a shortage, which sucks. Don't know what to tell you. Keep an eye on sportsman's guide website, check daily. Stuff pops up on there but goes quickly as you'd imagine. I got 1000 of .223 there recently but you have to check often.

[@Kurtdog63]

Aim lower 1/3 to allow for deer dropping at the sound of the bow/crossbow going off. Video after video revealing that deer react way faster to the sound of a shot than most realize. Higher hits may be lethal, but lower hits usually have a better blood trail and improve your chances of finding your animal. If you are shooting traditional archery or low poundage compound may want to aim lower 1/4th.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We certainly agree with the fact that animals sometimes drop at the sound of the shot. But what we were trying to demonstrate was where to aim, excluding any other factors (wind, rain, animal behavior, etc.), because that is an entirely separate video. And, every situation is completely different, so trying to explain or tell someone to aim low because the animal "might" drop won't necessarily help them to learn where to aim on an animal - and could certainly be confusing to a new hunter.

[@taylorloudenback5522]

I mean... bullets travel a lot faster than sound. So even if it did drop from the sound plus reaction time, the bullet has already arrived and done it's job.

[@taylorloudenback5522]

And... I did forget that we were talking about bow hunting here... lol. Excuse my comment. 👌

[@Kurtdog63]

@@taylorloudenback5522 I have seen videos of animals reacting on long shots with big bore air rifles. They shoot about the same as light pistol loads (600 to 800 fps) so sound is getting there before the bullet arrives. They shoot fairly flat out to about 75 yards and are totally lethal with right slug set up.

[@taylorloudenback5522]

@@Kurtdog63 sound is roughly 1100-1200 fps. Heat and cold changes that and elevation. But roughly that. I was referring to rifles which are typically twice that. Lol.

[@donmunro144]

Awesome video. Many hunters don't realize the importance of shot placement, especially with a bow.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Very true, we hope to help all hunters improve!

[@paulreenders8775]

Great job of explaining Kip

[@glorybound7599]

This crossbow hunter greatly appreciates this information.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Awesome! good luck this fall!

[@kingrider75]

Can’t argue with anatomy but I believe the reasoning for bowhunters to stay back a bit from the shoulder is for fear of hitting the scapula and limiting penetration. My son did exactly that this past weekend on a big buck. We recovered the animal in a short time because he had In fact hit both lungs, but the broadhead stopped just under the skin on the other side leaving just one hole to bleed from. The blood trail was very light but the animals chest cavity was co platelet full of blood.

[@derrickross192]

That may be due to broadhead choice, arrow selection/tune, or the bow not properly tuned causing imperfect arrow flight. Certain broadheads will blow through bones, add a good tuned arrow and tuned bow and your chances of blowing through bone go up. Good luck and shoot straight.

[@TsYahoo143]

So true I was always told, don't fear, get the deer

[@cw6795]

Glad he found it. Heart shots are way overemphasized in bow hunting. Go for the lungs.

[@jonnettesheim8930]

True, I took that exact shot on a 9 point buck 2 weeks ago massive Internal bleeding, arrow broke off inside the shoulder, no exit wound- thankfully I heard him crash 100 yards away and found him easy enough. And that was a Muzzy Trocar broadhead.

[@genekelley7579]

🛑🛑 Plain and simple….Grandpap was right on White Tail Shot Placement when I first learned to hunt……… Break the Front Shoulder on a White Tail Buck (with a rifle), you take his Heart, his Lungs, his Ability To Flee, and his “Soul”💯!! Words that I have used on many bucks over my “long and successful hunting career”.

[@krystlenicole9268]

Hunting for the first time this fall and this video has been very informative. Thank you!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad to hear it! Good luck out there this season!!

[@tonyguerrier2258]

Awesome video with great visuals and instructions. When at full draw and adrenaline is pumping the “aim small, miss small” is always my motto but now I am going to practice differently. New thought process starting today is “up leg, middle body” and let er fly. The behind the ribs quarter away visual was also an eye opener.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We're glad you found it helpful and we love your new motto!!

[@CashTheRealest]

Going on my first hunting trip in a couple weeks, pretty excited!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

That's awesome, good luck!!

[@dpidaho4245]

wow! didn't realize the shoulder was curved like that. will be moving my arrow forward from now on. thanks!

[@clintjohnson695]

Right behind the shoulder has done great for me never had to track a deer.

[@TheBeingReal]

Super helpful video. Esp the quartering away shot from a tree stand. Got a buck this and last season with my crossbow. Broadside heart shot as you described. Maybe ran 20 yards before it dropped. Thanks for the details you mention.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Awesome! Congrats on the bucks! Thanks for watching!

[@Logan-cw9yr]

Amazingly informative. Well done!

[@willyvanilly]

Thank you, this is my first year for archery and am looking to demolish the top of the heart. Very helpful 👍👍👍

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Get it done! Good luck!

[@jaredmackey4511]

I kinda want to eat the heart too lol

[@falatoronto]

Clearly explained, thank you.

[@Whitetail_Properties]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@benjamincrooker2533]

Very nicely done, great educational video. I sent this to all my hunting buddy’s. 😃

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Awesome, thanks for sharing!!

[@davesprague2445]

This vid helped me out a lot, good for all hunters

[@WAYWARDARCHERY05]

What a great refresher even for seasoned hunters

[@Whitetail_Properties]

Glad to hear it!!

[@BF-rn3oz]

Excellent description and amazing model! Thanks for sharing!

[@Whitetail_Properties]

We appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@bobstafford5545]

Excellant video. It is a very bad feeling when tracking a deer in the dark.

[@MDFH69]

I shot a buck two days ago, hit the spine and he dropped down and as I walked up to him he tried to get up again and I finished him off, video is definitely right 👌🏽

[@loneranger8293]

Awesome video and well explained. I like most hunters always for years would shoot behind the front legs.