I understand what yall are both talking about. Still, I am VERY confused after reading those posts. I would imagine some less experience bowhunters, might be confused. I think I know what yall are trying to say. But just for the sake of clarity...
my experiences have been my best teacher...here goes:
ONE-I don't care how relaxed, or how close your deer is, when the MOST quiet of ALL bow strings is released, even the "deafest" deer in the woods has at least a little reaction. Sure there may be the occasional exception, like heavy background noise or the deer being distracted. But I can't remember a time when I have not seen a deer drop at least a little before my arrow got there. Even when I shot in excess of 300 fps at CLOSE (5 yard) range.
TWO-The BEST way to find out where to shoot your deer at ANY given distance is to practice under actual hunting conditions, full dress rehersal, stand, pack, broadhead, safety belt, tree stand and all, from a height approximate to the height you'll be hunting in the woods. Preferably at 3-d targets at VARYING distances from straight down to your maximum distance. IT IS NOT THE SAME FROM A TREESTAND as it is from flat ground.
THREE-for my money and time in the woods, I am AIMING LOW EVERY TIME I KILL A DEER. Yes, I may want my arrow entry point to be a little higher, but that is not where I am aiming. Out of MANY bow kills over the last 25 years, I can probably count the number of "12 ring bullseyes" on two hands. That percentage is MUCH less than 10 percent of my overall bow kills. Deer rarely hold perfectly still upon arrow release. RARELY!
FOUR-The BEST advice I or ANYONE for that matter could give about taking a bow shot on a deer, is to FIRST picture the path of the arrow pryor to your release. Imagine entry exits PRYOR to your release. Imagine vitals affected PRYOR to the arrow release. Avoid shoulder entries and exits. And to dispell a "myth". Muzzy (and any other broadhead) is NOT "bad to the bone". Broadheads and bones do NOT mix well. Shoot vital organs...NOT BONES. Big bones like humerus (front leg) and ball joints, and femurs (rear leg) WILL STOP ARROWS.
FIVE-Generally speaking,
The higher I am, the lower I aim.
The less "relaxed" a deer body language, the lower I aim.
The closer the shot, the lower I aim.
At the longer distances, the noise of the bow seems to affect deer reaction less. Also, my arrow tends to fly truer to ground flight characteristics as I approach the 25 yard shot distance. Therefore, at longer distances, I USUALLY do NOT need to hold as low.
My set up is a fairly flat shooter to about 23 yards. from the ground. From my 25 foot stand, make that about 26 yards flat.
TWO examples: A deer feeding toward me on a calm, quiet day. It has "floppy" ears. It is munching and popping acorns. I am 25 feet up on a mid-winter leafless flat. The deer has no idea I am near. It gives me a slightly quartering away shot at 15 yards. I visualize the path of the arrow through both lungs exiting just behind the off side shoulder. I put my top pin about 5 inches up from the bottom of the deers chest, well behind the shoulder. At the shot, the deer drops a couple inches before arrow entry. SLAM DUNK DEAD!
NEXT example: Same deer, same scenario, but...the deer is 30 yards away. Now, I put my 25 yard pin near the deers, back and "box" the vitals with my 35 yard pin. Basically I am aiming RIGHT at and not below the vitals of the animal. WHY? Because the deers vitals are presented to me at a MUCH flatter angle. Simply put, I am looking at a "flatter" target. Experience has taught me that at this distance, the deer will not react as much to the sound. I theorize it is more "muffled". Though I still will aim low, I will not aim as low as I would at the 15 yard shot. Also I know at this distance, my arrow will not shoot as high as it would have at 15 yards.
Hope this helps!
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