Full frontal

[Stomper]

I've taken the full frontal shot on an island deer.Put my arrow through the white patch on the neck.One shot,one kill,dead in it's tracks.12 yard shot though...I also shoot year round with the bow.My poundage is also up there at 78 lbs. Muzzy 125 grain 3 blade broadhead.My dad has not shot a deer in the last 15 years in the body.All in the head or neck with his 30-06.So that's 15 deer in the head or neck. I would'nt take a neck shot over 15 yards though with my bow...

[blackveltbowhunter]

Guess i gotta throw in my  . I have been presented with this shot to many times to count, on both deer and elk. I have taken the shot 3 times. All the shots were taken at elk, all were less than 20 yards and 2 were kills. The other was a clean miss, and woulda been,regardless. A range estimation error on my part and I just plain shot under him. All three were call in solo and coming directly at me, not alert, oblivious to my presence. Both the bulls killed were at 7 and 5 yards respectivley, my arrow hit dead center of the sweet spot and pierced heart/lung/liver on both and exited through the ham on one, and the nuts on the other. One made it 35 or so yards the other 3, the most dramatic bow kill i have ever seen he litterly spewed blood from the hole like a faucet for 15 seconds before falling over. IMO these shots were not low percentage shots or hail marys with a good outcome, they were high percentage shot for ME to take, given my equipments ability and my own shooting ability I knew those elk were dead before I ever let the arrow go. Not all frontal shots are high percentage, not all quartering away shots are high percentage, even perfectly broadside shots can be low percentage, given brush, terrain, animal alertness and most importantly the hunters shooting ability in the moment of truth. I have turned down many opportunities at frontal shots, far more than any other angle, but when given a high percentage opportunity and a shot I know I can make, I will make no apologies for it.

[firedog]

Um, this is a low-percentage shot and should be avoided!

Shooting big game head on is proven to be a "Hail Mary" shot at best and while everyone has their own definition of personal ethics, I'm surprised that so many would not simply wait for the animal to turn.  And if the response is, "Well, if they are head on looking at me, they might not turn slowly enough for me to get a shot".  To that, I say oh well.  People shouldn't be shooting at alert game head on for this very reason - deer can drop and turn to run causing the arrow to hit the shoulder blade or who-knows-where.

Don't be greedy.  Respect the game we pursue.  Avoid frontal shot angles.  Bow hunting can be frustrating and passing up low-percentage shots is part of the responsibility you have when carrying a bow afield.  Save the head, neck, and frontal shot angles for bullets.  Broadheads are designed to kill by causing hemorrhaging (massive blood loss).  The optimal way to kill any game animal with an arrow is to pierce the heart/lung vital organs.

Passing low-percentage shots is more admirable than "sticking one"  

Couldn't have said it better

[Quarteredaway]

if u are not willing to wait for the perfect shot (quartered away) with archery then you need to consider going to muzzle or modern.IMO

[jeepasaurusrex]

I shot my first buck this way. White tail looking right at me. I put the crosshairs just below his chin and fired. I think his hooves were in the same tracks when I got to him. He never even flinched. My brother shot a blacktail right between the eyes with a 30-06. I think between the instinct to run and the impact of the bullet, the buck flipped right over backwards. Funniest darn thing I ever saw.

[Wile E. Hunter]

Um, this is a low-percentage shot and should be avoided!

Shooting big game head on is proven to be a "Hail Mary" shot at best and while everyone has their own definition of personal ethics, I'm surprised that so many would not simply wait for the animal to turn.  And if the response is, "Well, if they are head on looking at me, they might not turn slowly enough for me to get a shot".  To that, I say oh well.  People shouldn't be shooting at alert game head on for this very reason - deer can drop and turn to run causing the arrow to hit the shoulder blade or who-knows-where.

Don't be greedy.  Respect the game we pursue.  Avoid frontal shot angles.  Bow hunting can be frustrating and passing up low-percentage shots is part of the responsibility you have when carrying a bow afield.  Save the head, neck, and frontal shot angles for bullets.  Broadheads are designed to kill by causing hemorrhaging (massive blood loss).  The optimal way to kill any game animal with an arrow is to pierce the heart/lung vital organs.

Passing low-percentage shots is more admirable than "sticking one"  

I had a GIANT cow elk head on at 30yds about 7 years ago. I was hunting with a 90# PSE SR-1000 at the time with a Satellite Titan TNT 125 broadhead on a 2514 XX78. (lots of draw weight+heavy arrow with cutting tip 4 blade=deep penetration) I was shooting a LOT at the time, and knew I could hit her anywhere I wanted, but I passed on the shot for fear of burying the arrow in her and not having a blood trail (it was very dry, early season). I was very sure I could've killed her, but not so sure I could find her. Still haunts me, but I still feel I made the right decision.

Wile E.

[krout81]

Killed several Blacktail with neck shot. (All within 20 yards always in the snow) Only Shot 1 calf elk with a frontal(in the snow), all other 7 Elk always broadside or quartering away.  Elk are to big to mess with low percentage.   My Father has killed a few with frontal just the fletches sticking out, But he has been hunting for 40 plus years so he is bound to have a few like that.

[coachcw]

my :  It depends on one skill set . With the kn I shoot I'll take a frontal wtih a little angle , you can blow right throw and hit atleast one lung , If your gonna take a neck shot you better hit the base of the head at the neck for a quick kill. slightly quarting towards you shoot on a elk you can still hit booth lungs if you hold tight right behind the shoulder , quarter away hit the last rib , I've made these shots with good outcome and had a really broad side shot go bad when I missed the yardage and shot right over the lungs .This is aways a touchy subject because there's so many varibles as far as skill and epuiptment . I see the penitration thr whitetail guys on tv get and just shake my head . If I shoot game in the rain I give them 5-10 min then get on the trail when the blood gets washed its a bitch .