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Straight to nearly straight down shots

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IowaBuckMaster

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I have never had the opportunity. I DO NOT want to hear if you would or would not take the shot Or about waiting for a better shot. I've read all the stuff on the should and shouldn'ts.

I saw on a Kisky video where he zipped one straight down. It was recovered.

I want to hear about, if you did shoot a deer straight to nearly straight down, where you hit, if recovered, how far deer went, details like that. Anyone hit a spine straight down?

Real curious. Thanks for info.
 
I took a striaght down shot once. Last I saw of the doe she was running through the woods with 26 of the 28 inches of my arrow stickig straight out of her back.

Don't think I'll ever do it again. But them I'm not a famous DVD hunter or a buckmaster.

The 'Bonker
 
Think I would wait and hope for a better shot. I would think at an angle like that the kill zone would be very small.
 
I shot this doe straight down last fall. I was using a NAP Spitfire expandable. Hit her just to the side of the spine. Her back legs buckled and she spun a 180 as she was going down, never moved again. I'm guessing a blade slipped between a couple of vertebrae on the way in since her back legs gave out. I donated her to HUSH so never did an "autopsy". Her ribcage was full of blood so it looks like I hit an artery/vein going in. I got about 8 inches of penetration, the ribs are tough coming off the spine. I took this pic before climbing down out of the stand.
johnson.jpg
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Anyone hit a spine straight down? </div></div>

I've killed several with "on purpose" aiming at the spine shots that dropped them in thier tracks.

If I had been off a few inches of course I would have only got ong lung and may not have recovered the deer. Not condoning it...but I have done it successfully.

No trackin' that's for sure... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif
 
I always set up for very close kills. I've killed somewhere around a dozen or so nearly straight or straight down. Spined a few and dropped them where they stood. One lunged a couple.....all recovered in good time. I won't hesitate. I even practice the shot. Aim through the back right into the pumper. I shoot a 625 grain arrow and a narrow 3-blade head....probably helps a bit to. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif
 
After not harvesting several deer because I waited for a better shot, I am a believer in the "take the first decent opportunity that you get" philosophy. I have taken two deer straight down and spined them both. No tracking, but I did have to take a second shot on each.
 
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: kelcher</div><div class="ubbcode-body">After not harvesting several deer because I waited for a better shot, I am a believer in the "take the first decent opportunity that you get" philosophy. I have taken two deer straight down and spined them both. No tracking, but I did have to take a second shot on each. </div></div>

I have also spined three bucks with this type of shot, none were straight down, but very sharp angle. All three dropped in their tracks but all required a second shot in the boiler room.
 
Shot one a few years ago straight down, had to lean out a little to shoot around the platform. Missed the spine by about an inch. Arrow centered between the two front legs. Broadhead was an inch out the bottem and broke off when she tried to jump a log and didnt clear it with her chest.

Single lung, 100yard recovery. GREAT BLOOD the whole way.

Dean
 
Thanks for the info all.

A lot goes into deciing to shoot. But I'm not as afraid of taking this shot as before. Shooting a Switchback at 64#s. 3 blade 100 grain muzzys.
 
I won't hesitate to take a nearly straight-down shot. I've never taken one straight down, probably not really possible for me with a cameraman, but I've killed many deer at 5 yards or less.

One thing I was told by a wise big buck killer many years ago was to get back from the shoulders. Aim 6" back so you can have a clearer shot to the lungs without chancing hitting the tips of the shoulders which can potentially cause a lost animal. The back of the lungs and liver area on a straight down shot are your best bet if you don't spine the animal. Also, like any shot, make sure you practice the shot before making it on a live animal.
 
I shot straight down on a descent 8 point, broadhead must have hit off to one side cause it sliced the whole side of the bucks hide,leaving a 10 inch gash on it's side. The deer stood there shaking like it was freezing the offered me a broadside shot for the kill.I wouldn't want to take another shot like that but sometimes its hard not to.
 
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