If a buck is directly under you-

[cedar creek]

I have shot 3 bucks directly under my stand as you say. Two of them dropped within 50 yards. The other went out of site, and i had alittle trouble tracking for the first 75 yds. The platform of my stand caused me to adjust my shot, and the arrow didn't pass through. It got lodged in the lower front shoulder. I wouldn't hesitate on that shot.

 

[IowaDave]

Strip down to a loin-clothe, put knife in teeth, and jump!!!!

Strip down to a loin cloth? Apparently you make the assumption that that's not what I'm wearing when I get in my stand in the first place.
Scent lok is overrated! :grin:

Good discussion on this thread.
Has anyone ever seen a pic of what a deer's vitals look like from directly above? I did a google search & came up empty.

 

[dominator]

I haven't had a deer go over 20 yards after a shot like this - only done it on does but I wouldn't hesitate taking the shot on a buck. My 20 yard pin is flat all the way to 20 yards so I just aim like normal and shoot. Usually when a doe goes right under the tree I let them start heading away slightly and then you can angle the shot right beside the spine and get their heart. Awesome blood trails on pass through's

 

[caleb]

I pass on this shot hoping I will get a quartering away shot as he walks away. You can always draw and let a soft grunt with your mouth if he doesnt turn far enough. He may turn to look back behind enough to give you a decent shot. I actually have killed a lot of deer with the straight down shot. Probably at least a dozen does and one mature buck. But I have also lost two really good bucks with this shot. The first was back when I still shot aluminums with muzzy heads. I smacked the spine and the buck stumbled and then ran and stopped out at sixty yards with the arrow lodged in his back, bent like a horseshoe with the fletching on one side and the broadhead sticking out the other. I saw him about three weeks later and he was struggling. I never could get another arrow or bullet in him and I don't know his fate, sepsis and coyotes most likely. The next time I had that shot I made sure to miss the spine. I ended up getting one lung. Trailed him all over Hells half acre and lost him. He ended up living as I got trail cam pics the next year, the opposite side that the arrow hit him grew a small gimped up antler. Oddly enough I had a chance to kill him that fall and let him pass. I kinda felt like I owed him a pass. He ended up getting killed by the neighbor gun season. So my two cents is to let em walk out and try to make something happen. If not then no shot is taken. Just remember those big bucks are tough, tough, tough. A shot that you have killed ten does with may not be the best choice for a big buck.

 

[bigbukfevr]

i hang a stand in my yard for this particular reason, i hang the stand and practice makin this shot using a rhinehart ball target. its not that tough, just like anything else, practice makes perfect. i would take this shot without a doubt.

 

[jkratz5]

Have taken the shot a few times also. Never on a big buck but have dropped a couple does within 30 yds with this shot. If given the chance I am confident enough to make this shot and would take it.

There was a post on here a few years back that had all the shot placements (it was a game) that gave a real good luck at the correct place to stick the arrow.

Kratz

 

[muddy]

I've killed a couple does with pretty steep shots with no problems. I wouldn't hesitate on a buck if given the opportunity. I tend to place my stands in places where I rarely, if ever, have deer directly below me.