No and Hell no.

Absolutely never.

I have only taken this shot once. It was at 10 yards, the deer maybe made it 30 yards. The blood trail was about 3 feet wide. I will not take this shot again though.

Never have and dont think I would. However just this past Saturday my brothers friend took this shot and it was a similar situation to Joes. The doe was about 5 yards away he was on the ground and he let an arrow fly it went straight through everything she did not even go ten yards before expiring.

Rifle yes, Bow no way in hell!

Rifle shot wouldn't be in the chest either, I would put it in the center of that nice white patch of fur on the neck!

Too many variables come into play on a chest shot. So my reflex answer is no.

NO!!!

It seems like most of us wouldn't touch it. What if it was the last day of hunting season and he was 20 yards away? I'd be very tempted.

I would wait, he would probably eventually turn broadside.

I am able to make a killing shot yes! would I take it NO! like ckrich said to many variables, a little patience and he'd probably turn.

is the deer looking at you or something else? No to an alert deer and YES to one with its mind on something else.

I would contemplate a neck shot depending on range but I wouldn't even think about the chest.

My guess is that the trend that you have stumbled onto is an increased willingness to take "marginal" shots on deer with modern archery equipment.

I feel that my obligation as a hunter is to make the quickest, most humane kill possible. Certain shot presentations make that difficult to do. However, I am not wholly convinced that this is one of them.

When Chris Brackett was hosting the archery show "Arrow Affliction" he practiced this shot extensively. He made a point of explaining that although this shot had been long held to be unethical with archery equipment, he felt it could be an ethical shot if the placement was exact. Later, he went on to harvest a variety of game animals in this presentation.

IF (and that's a big if) you are confident in you ability to place an arrow in a spot smaller than your fist then this has the potential to be a viable shot. Certainly if the game animal had already been wounded I would take this shot. In other circumstances it may be debatable. Given a shot under 10 yards, I might just take it.

As hunters, it is our responsibility that all kills are made ethically and legally. Each individual will have different opinions as to what is ethical in their book. I, for one, would not take this shot.

I have taken this shot and I have passed on this shot. I know I am lucky to have not have crippled the deer. Its risky but like many of the others have said, in ideal circumstances it can work very well.

For clarification... never over 15yds in any situation. usually a better shot will present itself before the deer closes inside of 15yds.

"Now be honest. This is for posterity." That's from The Princess Bride. Awesome. I shot a deer from the ground less than 10 yards away that was posed just like this. I shot between the front shoulders and it hit the vitals on the deer's right side and she didn't go far. I think you have to consider each situation individually as there are always so many variable to take into account.

I have taken this shot before, if you hit a spot called the thoracic inlet you send your arrow through a mess consisting of among other things, the jugular veins, the carotid arteries, and trachea, with the arrow continuing on to the heart and other vital structures. When i took this shot i saw the deer fall dead 30 to 40 yds away dead within moments of shooting. If you know for a fact that you can hit this spot, its an indentation about the size of a fist, its a very humane kill shot. That being said it is a small opening and you need to know without a doubt you can hit it. So in response to the question if i am on the ground and can be certain of hitting the vital spot i have no problem making the shot, however making this shot requires a substantial level of arrow placement skill and i dont like the thought of making the shot from elevation

If we lived In a perfect world and all was lined up perfect on the last day of the season maybe I would take it but most likely not

too many things have to go just right, plus, no exit would, so a weak blood trail at best...with the old mossberg slugger, i wouldn't think twice, but with a bow, no way!

YES right in the white of its throat. Watch the blood squirt out like no tomorrow.

I have made this shot twice only on the ground and under 30 yrds, both times deer went down within sight. With a gun it's a done deal but a bow it's 50% at best.

Ditto Walt Smith's post, both of them.
Re. Mike Deihl's post: the liklehood of ventilating both lungs from this angle is small. the ultimate goal should be a double lung hit and a good blood trail for recovery (read that exit wound) and an exit wound's chance for occuring with this angle is far less than a braodside shot.

Never with the bow, any time with a firearm.

My issue with this shot is that the arrow will get stuck in the shoulder. Also if you did manage to get through the shoulder you could tear the hell out of the grass bag.

I wouldn't take the shot and be ready for when the deer turns broadside. The shoulder is protecting way to much of the vitals.

Thats a SUCKER SHOT ! Absolutely NO. He's got you pegged and even if you happen to be at full draw you will be forcing a shot that isn't there to begin with. Patience kills more deer than anything out there.

Saw this shot taken twice while watching the Outdoor Channel this week. The first shot was at an antelope drinking from a water hole. The arrow went high and spined the animal. The antelope fell face first in the water and drowned, struggling to get up while the hunter (I will use that term loosely) was pumping his fist. Not only did this nutjob make a poor shot he failed to follow up with a kill shot while the antelope struggled in the water.

The second quarter towards shot was from an elevated stand on a whitetail. The deer was recovered the next day by a jubilant hunter. I would have been a little more subdued knowing the animal had to suffer all night prior to dying. I'm guessing it was all about the horn for this guy and little about a good clean kill.

In both cases the Outdoor Channel should be embarrassed to air such crap. I would consider neither hunt successful let alone worthy of airing. Remember, these jokers getting on TV are the face of the hunting world and should be held at a much higher standard.

I have noticed an increase in this type of shot within the TV hunting community. I am guessing the fast emerging trend Dave is going to mention is the success of the front quarter shot made more lethal with today's faster bows. Just a guess. I look forward to the conversation.

The only way I take this shot is if killing this deer means I eat and not killing this deer means I starve. Since I have family and friends I could count on in desperate measures, that deer walks.

If the deer I was looking at had a lovely detailed drawing showing me exactly where his lungs are like this one does... heck yes! ;)

Absolutely "no" for two reasons, I'm bow hunting elevated, which makes this a very poor shot, the animal will suffer, possibly even die much later, which is wrong and unethical, period ! Your question was addressing bow hunters, why so many stated yes with gun I dont know. Second, if I were ground hunting, this shot would kill the deer, however, it will needlessly suffer because your not likely to take out both lungs, or heart for quick kill, and you might even destroy meat meat through contamination. The animals deserves to pass on this shot.

At hunters safty course 35yrs ago it was not a shot to take with a bow and I hope things have not changed

Took this shot with a rifle twice. Very deadly. A bow????? Depends on distance, angle, and size of deer.

I would take that shot with a camera and a rifle! But not with a bow. I taught hunter safety for ten years and I never would take that shot with a bow. To many things can go wrong. Its not worth the animal suffering, no matter the bow or the broad head.

i would definitly take the shot from a ground blind less than 30 yards,but no way from a tree stand.

I would have to agree with many of the posts above, certain situations, such as the last day of season, a VERY close range shot, or if you are absolutely certain that you are good enough to make a good kill shot. Personally, I am confident in my abilities but I don't think I would take the shot. As a few of the posts above stated, if you wait long enough and play your cards right..good chance he'll turn and give you an even more certain shot opportunity.

On the last day of the season yes.

I know they say that you can't kill with an arrow nocked. But there's no way I would take that shot! The chances of crippling the deer are high and the track job will be terrible. Unethical shot.

under ideal or almost ideal conditions, i would, but only if i had a nice solid, weighty, head on my arrow. but only for the non-monster whitetail that live where i am.

I've never takened that shot with a bow and will not. The opportunity presented itself the first day I went huntin' here in Kentucky. A lone doe came up to a bedding area and wasn't sure exactly what I was and walked straight towards me.
I decided to pull back and when I did, she turned completely around and took a couple of steps in the opposite direction ... then she took a half of a step and looked over her left shoulder. DOA, 15-feet from the shot.

The reason for not taking that shot with a bow, is, I took the brisket shot in 1978 with a 30:06, at the Kentucky State Typical record, from 12-feet and regret it to this day.

Just as 3BladeScud mentioned, the tracking job was hard to say the least, but I was persistent. The deer jumped a fence after being shot and I had no idea whose property it belonged to. While waiting on my side of the fence for almost an hour, I heard a truck come down a dead-end road, it stopped, 2-men started talking in a hushed tone, a tailgate came down and my 1978 State Record was claimed by a man and his son cruising the back roads.

What part of this shot makes it not for the Novice Hunter?? or anyone else for that matter!
What if this animal were say a Cape Buffalo,Brown bear,African lion,or hippo something that would hand you your ass to you on a silver plater? because here taking unethical/marginal shots may get you or someone hurt or killed.

dont ever hunt from the ground with a bow so no...broadside yes, and qaurtering away at not to sharp and angle yes. other then that i hold my fire.

Nope dont think so!!! Well If given the perfect setup I may at less then 10.....um NO!!!!!!!!!

Absolutely not.

Yes, I have a few times. Once on a cow elk. If the shot is close I don't see an issue with this. Obviously most people do but I have never lost an animal.

Too many things can go wrong in bowhunting. I would say, hopefully, one would be at full draw and wait until he turns broadside. There are a lot of great broadheads and super punching bows out there but one has always to figure in the human error. More times than not this buck would be severely wounded and get away only to die a slow and unnecesary death. The coyotes eat well enough anyway. Just wait guys, just wait.

Absolutely Yes!!!!! I cant stand hearing this crap about ethics! come on were hunters not Hippies. Jeez I get sick and tired of the "experts" telling me whats ethical. I wanna kill a deer and I have got a good opportunity here to smack those lungs so @#$% yes i would take the shot. There Deer not pets and I for one want to eat. Just my two Cents

It would depend on the time I had put in taking practice shoots with my bow that season. If you as a hunter are confident from the start then you will make a good shoot. If there is any doubt in your mind don't take the shoot wait for another day.

I don't think the issue is solely an ethical one. It's a bad shot because the deer is facing you, possibly alert and maybe in a position to jump the string or move enough to turn the kill shot into a miss or wounding shot. That's what makes it a bad shot. The fact that it's "unethical" is because taking a knowingly bad shot is generally frowned upon. Also, it's a little contradictory if you've correctly answered this question on a bowhunter ed test yet practice the opposite once afield.

And the attitude that being "ethical" makes you a hippie rather than a hunter is bogus. Part of being "ethical" is showing respect and concern for a sport we all enjoy to partake in that is constantly being threatened by those that think we are ALL unethical simply because we take life.

I think the difference between being a successful hunter and a skilled one on this matter is the patience, practice, and ability to wait for an animal to give you a great shot or to get into position to take such a shot rather than depending on your $$$ modern-day bow and a prayer to get the job done.

If you want to take that shot, go right ahead, and congrats if you succeed, but just because it worked out still doesn't make it a good shot.

I would never take that shot! That is probably one of the worst shots ever, If you just wait a few moments the deer should move broadside which would be a much better shot!

This is a very lethal shot. I have seen P.H.'s suggest this shot on Cape Buffalo. I know they have more experience than I do.A good sharp broadhead will do it every time

By the by, I don't bow hunt because I don't own the gear any more and don't have the time to practice with a bow and also with my firearms. I'd rather be very proficient with a rifle than mediocre with a rifle and a bow.

As for ethics. If you're shooting that deer with a bow AT ALL, you're taking a less ethical shot than any rifle hunter. If it's all about "minimizing the suffering of the animal" and your preaching ethics, you should not hunt with a bow.

There's no such thing as a perfect hit that will always drop your deer dead instantly (unless you hit it in the brain). The ethical shot is one where you have the skills to hit the critical heart lung area from whatever aspect the animal presents to you with whatever weapon you decide to use.

The picture is actually inaccurate. At that angle, the shoulder bones are blocking your optimum penetration path.

Those of you that think this is a good shot just don't know deer anatomy. If the deer was straight on, you have a very small tunnel to get the arrow through.

Anyone that bowhunts knows that you have an 8" or bigger broadside area to shoot, and you need every inch of that room for error in field shooting. A 3" tunnel is not something you're guaranteed to hit every time. Hunting isn't some target range where you make precise shots with a bow every time.

Get real here.

If you are on the ground and at close range(15 yards or less), I have come to a conclusion based on everyone's comments. You should absolutely take the shot, because it is a deadly bow shot. Every post I read from hunters who have actually taken this shot recovered their deer very quickly, most of the time seeing them go down. I have never had an opportunity to take this shot but it sounds like a very good and ethical shot, based on that most deer went down in 30-40 yards in other posts. I will say that taking this shot from an elevated position or at longer distances sounds like a terrible and unethical shot. Accuracy is the key with this shot apparently, but if a bow hunter cannot hit a target the size of a fist under 20 yards, then he should start practicing a lot more.

I've taken that shot 3 times and each time the deer ran about 30 yards or less. When I shoot a deer quartering away or a when the deer is giving me a "perfect" side shot, and my arrow goes through both lungs it runs alot further. I'm not sure who wrote the book on what it takes to kill a deer or what is and is not ethical but when I shoot a deer in the heart it dies quickly. I hope I've given you all something new to think about. By the way, I will take this shot again.

No, I think I would wait to see what the deer does. He could possibly turn or move himself into a better position for a clean broadside shot. If he bolts, he bolts. That's why it's called hunting.

y not wait. after all, being patient is what most of us are taught the first day we ever went in the woods with dad or grandpa or whoever...

Gunning down coyotes on the run at 100yards isn't any better than taking the above shot at a white-tail, a poor shot is a poor shot. (On another subject, I wonder why there are so many educated coyotes out there?) It shouldn't matter whether you're hunting whitetails, coyotes, or whatever else. Unethical behavior on one's part isn't justified by the fact that there are those out there that do the same or worse.

Yes, ethics are foggy and a line that ultimately you have to draw yourself. But if you want to base your "Do I shoot or do I pass on fill-in-the-species" ethics on what is and isn't a bad shot, this shouldn't be too hard. On that whitetail, and the described shot on a running coyote, there is a lot of room for error, e.g. it's probably a bad shot. This has pretty much all been said before, but depending on a fast bow and good broadhead to get the job done doesn't make for better hunters, it leaves wiggle-room for error and bad judgement.

Animals die grisly deaths in the woods all the time, for me passing a shot and waiting for a good one isn't only about doing my best to ensure a humane kill (which is crucial), it's also about setting an example and improving my abilities. For those that are on the fence about this situation, I hope that the thought of passing on this shot isn't seen as a missed bag but rather an opportunity to develop better hunting and woodsmanship skills. I hope that some of you who have taken this shot in the past will perhaps challenge yourselves to do differently.

no just not right