The Art of Deer Shot Placement

When it comes to making an ethical shot, it’s crucial to understand deer shot placement, when to take the shot or hold off, and what factors can influence your decision-making process in the field.

There’s nothing like that feeling of getting into position for a shot on a deer. Your heart races, your breath catches, and every fiber of your being is focused on that one moment. But before pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow, an important question comes to mind: Can I make an ethical shot? Ethical hunting is all about making a clean, quick kill. To do this, it’s crucial to understand deer shot placement, when to shoot or hold off, and what factors can influence your decision-making process in the moment.

Understanding a Deer’s Anatomy

First thing’s first: you need to grasp the basics of deer anatomy. Vital organs including the heart and lungs are concentrated in the chest area. The heart is located low and slightly behind the deer’s front shoulder, while the lungs cover a wider area, extending upward and back toward the middle of the body.
Other vitals, such as the spine or brain, can also produce immediate kills, but they’re much smaller targets and present a higher risk of a miss or wounding the deer. That’s why seasoned hunters often focus on the broadside or quartering-away shots where they can hit larger organs.

When to Take the Shot

The best deer shot placement opportunities arise when you’ve got a clear line to the deer’s vitals. A broadside shot, where the deer is standing perpendicular to you, is the gold standard for most hunters. It gives you a clear shot at the lungs and, if you’re lucky, the heart. Aim just behind the front shoulder, about one-third of the way up from the bottom of the chest. A well-placed shot here will usually drop the deer within 50 yards or less.
Another good opportunity is the quartering-away shot. In this scenario, the deer is angled slightly away from you, with the shoulder nearest to you protecting the vitals and the far side left wide open. Aim just behind the near-side shoulder so your shot travels diagonally through the chest cavity, ideally hitting both lungs and maybe even clipping the heart. It’s important to note that quartering-away shots often result in the deer running a short distance, but they will leave a clear blood trail for a fairly quick and easy recovery.

When to Hold Off

Recognizing when not to take the shot is just as, if not more, important. Waiting for a better angle means the difference between an ethical harvest and tracking a wounded deer for hours. If a deer is quartering toward you, you might be tempted to aim for the front chest. This can be tricky, though, because the vitals are partially shielded by the deer’s front shoulder. If you hit the deer too far forward, you run the risk of shooting just the shoulder without entering the vital organs.

This shot requires precision and the right gear, particularly for bowhunters, since you’ll need enough penetration to break through the bone and reach the heart or lungs. If you aren’t confident in your ability to get an accurate shot, it’s best to pass.

In the video above, James Eagleman of Barbour Creek Long Range Hunting Shooting School, provides shot placement tips for rifle hunters shooting big game at any distance.

A head-on shot is even riskier, especially with a bow, and is typically not a good idea. It’s a small target and the vitals are shielded behind a lot of thick bone and muscle, making it hard to ensure a clean kill. Even the slightest misjudgment can result in a gut shot.

For rifle hunters, the bullet could pass through the chest, but it’s still a difficult angle to hit the heart or lungs. If you’re faced with this scenario, it’s best to wait for the deer to turn. As is true with many things, patience is a virtue!

Waiting for the Right Moment

Even veteran hunters know that sometimes the best shot is no shot at all when it comes to deer shot placement. Low light, obstructed views, moving targets, and long distances can all increase your risk of making a poor shot. If the conditions aren’t right, or if the deer is alert and ready to bolt, just take a beat and wait for a better opportunity.
Wind can also be a major factor, especially for bowhunters. A gust of wind at the wrong moment can throw your arrow off course on longer shots. And instead of vitals, you might end up hitting the deer in a non-lethal area, leading to a long tracking job and potentially losing the animal.

Lastly, always consider your own emotions and readiness. If you’re too excited or shaky (the fever!), you should probably pass on the shot. Think about breathing control techniques. And always remember, patience often leads to better opportunities.

Here’s to your next shot being your best yet.