At this point? Not really.
At least not with ONLY that information on the set up. More information and testing by the shooter would be needed.

HOWEVER.

AFTER getting repeated penetration on bone, CONSISTANTLY, with a set up, where time after time I saw for myself that my set up did indeed penetrate ANY heavy bone structure on a whitetail AND did indeed consistantly reach the vitals, I would be much more likely to “pick a spot” further forward (aka further from the paunch).

IMHO, getting the broadhead into the vitals is the objective and common sense tells me the less resistance I have to go through the better off I am BUT the knowledge of KNOWING I AM able to get THROUGH the heaviest bones on a whitetail would be an added insurance policy.

The “perfect shot” would be nice if we could always get it but with a superior penetrating set up that has shown me to consistantly break through the bone threshold……I’d much rather to err into the shoulder area rather than the other direction.

Liver and paunch shots arent aided much by a set up capable of superior penetration and I’d just as soon never have another..even if (for me and me only) I HAD TO shoot AT the shoulder to insure I didn’t endure the heart wrenching ordeal that acompanies a shot “too far back”.

This is a question that has laid upon my mind ( again only for MY consideration) for many months now and I do not yet “know” my setup will give me the bone penetration (should it be needed).

I sincerely wish I had the answer and had it last week.

NOT YET convinced my lighter (bow poundage)setup WOULD get through the scapula and heavier upper leg bones, I took my “normal” behind the shoulder shot on the biggest buck of my life.

A less than good shot, branch hit, deer moved..?? Whatever the reason, the hit was a abit higher than mid body and just at the rear of the diaphram broadside. I watched with a prayer in my heart as he went out and slowed then bedded down.

Confident a two hour wait would result in a dead buck, I sat and texted a buddy with trembling hands, fully prepared to sit there and watch and wait.

10 minutes later the farmer came from behind me cultivating the picked bean field and passed within 50 yards of the bedded buck and pushed him into the swamp (or accross the road?) The blood trail gone in the standing water covering acres.

I’m still looking for him 5 days later. Sick, heart broken, and unable to “hunt” for a bit. The hunt will go on into the winter as the swamp freezes over.

The arrow shows an obvious liver shot and a high one. Decent blood to where he bedded, a pool of blood…..then nothing. No paunch smell or slime on the arrow, just solid dark red blood.

So do I WISH, I could know my set up WOULD allow for “more forward shots”? uh……yep, and I’m going to get there. The age old “dont aim at the shoulder with an arrow” comments and preachings ALL include “because you cant get good penetration there”.

GET the penetration consistantly and that rule is then, by description, non-existant at least FOR ME. THIS SAME SHOT with a firearm is considered not only ethical but extremely lethal. It will be the same for an arrow CAPABLE of penetration with the same hit.

My first “lost” deer at age 57. Shot ON my birthday. The biggest I’ve ever dropped a string on.(20 inches wide or better, medium high tines 8 or 10 in number, heavier than normal mass).

I’ve been unable to hunt since last friday but…I’ll be back out there soon. I’ll be “hunting” but any bird or other animal activity consistantly in one area of the swamp will warrant an investigation.

I hestated posting this but…..in reply to your question that many will NEVER accept?

In MY case, and MY case only,

YES. IF the vitals lay behind the shoulder with the angle I am shooting (not all angles do) AND I KNOW, my arrow/bow/broadhead REPEATEDLY will give me the penetration needed.

Hopefully, those replying here can give this matter THOUGHT and not JUST repeat the mantra often repeated against it. The point remains IF you can CONSISTANTLY get the arrow through the shoulder bones, INTO the vitals, well then…..end of discussion IMO.

Some won’t agree but FOR ME, the description of an “ethical shot’ is one that PENETRATES THE VITALS, by point of aim, producing a quickly dispatched game animal. Should that point of aim be THROUGH heavy bone, and CAPABLE of such…..the end result would speak for itself on if the shot is ethical.

This was my belief before this past week, yet now it is forever stamped into my thought processes with burning letters. I WILL have a setup capable of such and WILL take that shot. Anything lethal and FURTHER from the non lethal areas is a huge plus IMHO.

As living proof that “crap happens”, I’m going to prepare for it to never happen again.

No offense to those having a different opinion. Never will we all agree nor will every situation be “right” or “wrong” for us all. The above is simply my thoughts, my plans, and the reasons for such. Some will scoff at my “accuracy” and I can accept that. The shot was not great. Im not at all happy with it.

BUT, had I “aimed” 6 inches further forward? 😥

God Bless,
Steve Sr.