Low percentage shots

[gigglemonk]

#5177

On Thursday morning a small forkie came within 15 yards of me. He was coming at me head on, stopped to browse a bit and never presented a broadside. He wrapped his head back to scratch his haunches a few times which opened his chest up quite a bit. 10 minute went by, I came to anchor when he was scratching again and didnt shoot.

Ive never shot a deer head on before and kept second guessing where the vitals were at that angle. Im confident in my gear: heavy arrow, HFOC, Tuffhead, and with my accuracy at that range.

When I let the arrow down he caught the movement and bolted. Of course he then stopped 50+ yards away, perfect broadside. Out of my range.

My buddy was saying I should have taken the frontal shot as legal bucks can be scarce.

Im sure Ill get another chance sooner or later to take a low percentage shot. Just curious about others with more experience have to say.

[Jason Wesbrock]

#38005

In my opinion, you made the right decision. There’s a reason why they call them “low percentage shots.”

[handirifle]

#38025

A hunting buddy of mine took a head on shot, on a small Ca forkie. His buck ran about 30yds and fell over dead. I say it depends on how “head on” it looked to me. I suppose it would have to be more of an “angling towards” shot before I would have. A straight head on, I don’t think I would have either. With a rifle, and then a neck shot,yes not a bow.

Either way, you were uncomfortable with the shot, so you absolutely made the right choice. I will not take an iffy shot even with a rifle. I want a clean, quick, humane kill.

Good call.

If no more show up, at least you do not lose sleep because of the wounded deer you never found. Happens enough even with high percentage shots. No sense pressing our luck.

[Stephen Graf]

#38476

A shot not taken is not regretted. Good call. I don’t know how you resisted, having come to full draw.

[paleoman]

#38548

You made the right decision. Not sure I could’ve though with what you describe:wink:

[FUBAR]

#38576

I too would have held off on a frontal. Good call

[Don Thomas]

#38691

Absolutely the right decision; not even close. Of course you CAN kill an animal with a shot taken from virtually any angle or range. That certainly doesn’t mean you should take the shot (unless you’re desperate for some footage for your hunting show). This choice always boils down to balancing the chance of a clean kill versus the chance of a wounding loss. If you have to think about it, the answer is virtually always NO. I’ve never regretted a shot I didn’t take, but I sure have regretted a few that I did. Don

[David Petersen]

#38773

To amplify what Don and others have said: Do I believe your set-up would have gotten the job done with proper arrow placement? Absolutely! Did you make the right decision not to shoot? Absolutely! “Can” and “should” do not necessarily equate. One of the hardest and most important character-building aspects of hunting is building the willpower not to shoot at every “opportunity.” In my books this ability for self-restraint under dire temptation is a primary marker between mature and true hunters, and all those who give hunting a bad name by doing sloppy work arising from sloppy morality erupting from personal weakness. You done good and what goes around comes around.

[wildschwein]

#38791

Good on yah for your restraint Gigglemonk. It sure can be hard to say no sometimes…

[Nate Bailey]

#38829

I’ve lost a bear with a perfect lung/heart shot with my 300 win mag. I think my bow would have done a better job on that particular shot, but it was a perfect broadside and I know I hit him right as he bit at it before he left. My point is, after losing a animal that was hit well there is no way I’ll take a marginal shot! You made the right choice.

[Reg Darling]

#38835

You absolutely did the right thing. At an oblique frontal angle a 2″ lateral error can land you arrow a foot or more farther back on the body. I passed up a straight on shot at one of the biggest bucks I’ve ever had within bow range last year and to be honest, it wasn’t even a matter of a noble ethical stance–I didn’t want to take the risk because wounding and losing a deer is the absolute lowest depth of misery I’ve ever experienced in hunting.

[gigglemonk]

#40340

Thanks all

I feel like I did the right thing and hearing everyone echo that is good to hear, er, read. Im gonna have to pick up some of Mr. Petersens books. The group of hunters I fell in with here could use some new reading material. Not too mention myself.

Ive been lucky enough to recover the 4 deer Ive shot and I planning the same thing with the 5th.

Anyone harvest anything over the long weekend?

[wildschwein]

#40384

Nope, but I did shoot the mushroom out of a Squirrels mouth :shock:! And yes it was intentional (thats my story and I’m sticking to it).

[Ben M.]

#40720

Gigglemonk,

I have only my admiration of your self-control to add to this thread. But since you asked, I took 3 doves this weekend. 12 days ’til whitetails.

-Ben

[archer38]

#47597

Man !! I can absolutely relate to how hard it is to make that choice ! Great patience and restraint. As for the long weekend, I took a nice 250 pound Black Bear on the opening day here (sept. 1st). I posted a photo on the gallery here.

[WyoStillhunter]

#48666

I read somewhere that “a true sportsman is known by the shots he doesn’t take.” We all have a shot or two we wish we could take back but I have never regretted the decision to pass. You made a good call.

[Rogue]

#48789

Steve Graf wrote: A shot not taken is not regretted. Good call. I don’t know how you resisted, having come to full draw.

I love this statement. I too have never regretted a shot not taken.

[Shane Balow]

#49195

good choice!!!

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