I heard the deer coming before I saw it, and I readied my bow in hand, hoping that the small cedar in front of me would block any movement that I might make in drawing.
Instead of the lineup of deer I was expecting, a single deer came along the edge of the timber, giving me barely enough glimpses to make out that it was a young buck.
Not being much of a trophy hunter and wielding a traditional one-piece recurve, I was more than ready to send an arrow and have him quartered and, in my freezer, as soon as possible.
Steadying myself, my heart pounding, my eyes followed the deer as it slowly came closer. I would have exactly one gap at 15 yards that would allow me a clean shot, and I needed to be ready.
The sun warming my shoulders, I tried to calm my nerves as the buck stepped out in front of me, and turned, stopping in the perfect spot. All I had to do was draw my bow, and release an arrow. However, instead of the broadside double lung shot that I had conjured up in my mind, I was presented with a complete frontal shot.
This type of decision is always tough as a hunter, wanting to fill that tag, yet also wanting to do what is ethically correct and make a good clean shot on the animal. As a gun hunter, I would have taken the shot in a second. But as a bowhunter, I sat and watched the buck eventually turn and walk off, leaving me with no other shot opportunities. You win some, you lose some.
I second-guessed myself many times on the way back to the truck later that morning. I sent off a text to one of my bowhunting friends and asked what they would have done. The answer came back unanimous with mine, which made me feel a little better. There would be other deer and other opportunities.
As bowhunters, the frontal shot (head on shot through the chest cavity) is something that has been debated for years. Is it ethical? Is it lethal? It’s often the type of shot that presents itself quickly and leaves you very little time to make the decision. Which answer is correct?
Let’s start with the anatomy of a whitetail deer. A good ethical shot is often one that puts an arrow through both lungs and/or the heart. When a deer is standing facing you, the lungs and heart became a smaller area of vitals.
While there is certainly a chance at hitting the heart or one of the lungs, even with a good broadhead the margin of error is higher than a broadside shot. Add in the obstruction of the sternum, shoulder blades and other leg bones that can deflect an arrow or impede penetration make it a high stakes shot.
Missing or only partially hitting the vitals will likely result in a wounded animal that ends up suffering and is likely not to be recovered.
“I mostly avoid frontal shots, much preferring deadly double-lung hits behind a broadside buck’s shoulder.”, shares well known bowhunter M.R. James, who has been hunting for over 50 years. “Broadside shots generally offer better blood trails and complete penetration. Even if off target a bit, a broadhead can still slice the heart or liver.”
Chris Crow, a hunter from Colorado tends to agree. “When it comes to frontal shots, like everything else in bowhunting, it’s a matter of risk that doesn’t always reward,” he says.
“Despite the big-name heroes who swear by it, chances are it won’t work out. If an ethical and effective shot has not presented itself, then that means you should not take it. Plain and simple. These creatures deserve our best efforts and our deepest respect. Sloppy decisions make for terrible outcomes.”
Yet many hunters will tell you that the shot through the chest cavity can indeed be very lethal. A large number of bowhunters will argue that frontal shots are extremely effective, and they shouldn’t be ruled out as an option.
“My second archery deer was a frontal shot full pass through. Even with my short draw and relatively low draw weight the arrow passed through the whole length of its body and took care of him quickly!”, shares Anna Y., a blacktail hunter from Oregon who has been bowhunting for 15 years.
Then she adds, “If it’s deer only, that’s my answer. But we also archery elk hunt, and I’d never try that shot on an elk.”
Aiming directly between the two front shoulders about halfway up its chest will drop a deer when executed properly. “If you can put an arrow in a baseball-sized group with no issue, you should technically be able to kill a deer with a frontal shot at close range,” said Illinois bowhunter Matt Jacobs. “Especially if the shot is close, there is no reason not to take it. It’s distance shots when it starts to get a little trickier.”
As in every hunting situation, even the best shots come with other variables. The distance of the shot, the angle of the shot, and the state of the deer — is it slowly moving along with no worries, or is it on high alert?
The willingness to take a frontal shot or not will all boil down to how confident you are in your abilities and how much you are willing to put at stake to fill your tag.
