Where to aim when shooting a deer with a bow

Shot placement on a deer is more critical for bow hunters than it is gun hunters. Bowhunters like myself must think about how much penetration our arrows will get. Therefore, it’s important to understand the best shot angles when shooting at a deer so our odds of killing and finding them are increased. So where should you aim when shooting a deer with a bow?

Aim at the heart when shooting a deer with a bow. Deer usually drop their body’s at the sound of the shot, so if you aim for the heart and the deer drops, you will still hit its lungs. If the deer doesn’t drop, or it’s a close-range shot, you will hit its heart if your aim is true.

It’s important to avoid hitting the shoulder bones which can limit or stop your arrows penetration. Therefore, take shots at deer when they are standing in positions when the shoulder bones aren’t blocking the vital organs. This can take discipline because sometimes a deer will be within shooting range while standing at a bad angle. In this situation, be patient and give that deer a little time to move and provide you with a better shot angle. Waiting for a better shot angle can be the difference between you finding your deer or not.

Lastly, think about how your arrow will exit the deer. The entry and exit of your arrow can be very different depending on the deer’s body position and the elevation at which you shoot it. For example, if you are shooting straight down at a deer your entry will be in the top of its back and your exit will be under its chest or stomach.

I have included several pictures below to show you where to aim and shoot a deer based on its body angle. Try to avoid taking shots at deer unless they are standing broadside or slightly quartering away. Other shot angles can still effectively kill deer but they come with more risk of not finding your deer or wounding the animal without killing it.