Shooting a deer broadside is a straightforward proposition; or is it? On Level ground shoot just behind (UPDATE) QDMA says directly above the front leg and centered). Try to pick a tuft of hair to aim at. Aim Small…Miss Small. This shot will clip the top of the heart/arteries and double lung hit the deer. See
https://www.the-whitetail-deer.com/Anatomy-of-a-Whitetail-Deer.html
This deer often will fall dead on its feet as medical folks say the shock-wave to the heart will cause the blood like a pneumatic hammer to slam into the brain, lights out. The insurance of the double lung hit is the sure backup.
I would shoot for the center of the deer’s body mass behind (where many archers shoot) the front leg, and then slightly back an inch or two as bowhunters do. See the image below where the lungs are much larger above the heart. (UPDATE) QDMA says shoot above the front leg and center mass but does not differentiate gun or bow. Bow hunters often shoot a bit back to avoid leg bone and scapula but a bullet above the leg may drop them faster some say. ( Update) My recent buck was hit center mass vertically even with the front leg elbow using a 300 grain black powder bullet delivering 1600 ft-lbs. The buck never took a step.
See the red spot above the front elbow?
Why? Because an off-hand shot is likely to be not as accurate given adrenaline and the gun sights wobbling around the chest of the deer. By aiming center body you are trying for a larger and longer lung target, a double lung hit known in medical jargon as a bi-lateral pneumothorax, it is deadly and will kill in seconds as well.
The lungs of a broadside deer are very large and long as compared to the heart. I tend to shoot center body behind the front leg, aiming for center lungs for a longer shot. Like this African Springbok where my bullet hole is just a tad higher centered in the lungs.
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Shooting excitedly offhand at the lower third of the body may just break the front leg. I had that happen in my early 20’s and luckily the buck ran towards me and I was able to place shots in his center body as he reached 10 yards away from me and dropped him. Lesson learned.
I instructed students on bow-hunter education for the state of New Hampshire for a decade. Deer don’t always stand broadside and you may be shooting a rifle or bow from an elevated stand. Taking a bow-hunter education course will help you visualize the path of the arrow or bullet. On an animal slightly quartering away is ideal for bow and arrow or rifle as the animal is facing away and the projectile needs to be further back observing the path of the projectile in relation to lungs and behind the off side leg… to catch both lungs.
Calibers I recommend begin with the 243 Winchester/6mm in 90 or 100 grain heads, where the recoil is very low and limit shots to within 250 yards. Hit in the above scenario’s the deer will be recoverable in 100 yards or less. The downside is that they are not good in brushy areas and will destroy themselves before they hit the target due less mass and exploding on small limbs.
A bit more recoil is the 6.5 mm still very low in 120-140 grain heads and will drop an Elk at 400 – 600 yards. Better for a bean field shot but like the .270, every one wants one due to increased accuracy and mild recoil. I love my 6.5 Creedmoor as it is also light to carry. Also a great varmint rifle at very long distances out to 1000 yards. Deer either drop or run a few yards when hit.
A smaller fatter cartridge with a 30 caliber bullet is the 30-30 Winchester and .308 Winchester and has been used across the nation as a deer slayer for decades and is also moderate in recoil and bucks brush well. The .308 Winchester is far more versatile. Often hand-loaded the .308 is mighty fine for deer and elk at moderate ranges out to 400 yards. Deer drop or run a few yards after a hit
The .270 Winchester based on the 30-06 case is an all time favorite along with the 30-06 Springfield but has heavier recoil with off the shelf rounds. A hand loader can custom it for a new hunter. There are reduced loads on the market too for hunters but less shock than full power loads.
I will mention the 7mm08 Winchester and the 257 Roberts as fine low recoil deer rifles but my experience is limited.
The 30-06 Springfield cartridge is good for most African Game and all North American Game and bullets come in many weights. More Recoil.
Many other 30 calibers to numerous to write about here.
Magnums are many and they all work on deer, elk and Moose. These are for folks who can take recoil with a smile. Smarter shooters use 50% reduction recoil pads such as the Pachmayer Decelerator or Sims SVL pads that you can either screw on on slip on. I wrote extensively about these recoil reducing pads in my African Safari Book
I wont go above this caliber here in this article as it requires much more time.
Good Hunting!
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