As far as deer goes, a yearling to me, and most I know is a 1-1/2 year old deer, Sometimes called a "long yearling" since it is more than 1 year old. Technically, a yearling would be a one year old animal. Deer of less than 1 year are referred to as fawns.

As for where to aim on a deer, I was a believer in the lower 1/3 of the body until last year. I should have known better, but shot at about 10 yds, from 17 ft up, and aimed at the lower 1/3, because I anticipated the edgy buck ducking. He did, but at steep angles, the drop of the deer does little to effect the point of impact of the hit. (imagine a deer directly below you, of course you wouldn't aim at the lower 1/3 - you couldn't. Now move that deer away from the stand 5 yds at a time in your mind, and envision the drop of the deer, and where you would have to aim, to compensate for the drop. - the further out you get, the more you must compensate - to a point).
In my case, I got a glanceing non lethal hit due to my stupidity.

From now on, when stand hunting, I will not compensate for a deer ducking. I never used to - the worst I ever had was a deer that ducked, and I ended up spine shooting it.


Might I suggest that in TX, most hunting is not done from 20 ft, and possibly more hunting is done on the ground. A hunter would have to consider a deer dropping, due to the noise of the shot, more than a stand hunter. Its all relative, even though the deer might drop the same amount in both situations, the person on the same level as the deer would experience a larger drop, than the person perched 20 ft above, because of the angle. If you doubt me, draw a little picture - estimating a deer dropping 6" at 15 yds. The guy in the ground must compensate 6", the guy in the stand 20 ft up, will only have to compensate about 1".

Edited by - farm hunter on 10/08/2002 20:10:36