ORIGINAL: stinkbelly
I passed on a cow last year at 10 yards because she wouldn't turn. It would be an easy shot, but I didn't know what to do. She was facing directly at me. After the fact half told me I was smart for passing and the others said I was stupid. The ones that said I was stupid also said to shoot at the neck. They said shoot just below the jaw when she was facing me. Their reasoning is that center will hit spine. Left or right will hit one of the jugular veins. This also sounds very risky. To date, I have only shot at perfectly broadside elk.
I am not one to second guess folks shot choices (well I will on my kids!), however you said the key to the entire thing here, you said "I didn't know what to do" When in doubt, don't shoot!!
Some have the knowledge and the experience, such as elknut, to make different decisions than some of us who just aren't sure where to put the arrow.
Make you decision based on your knowledge and feelings of comfort AT THE TIME THE SHOT PRESENTS ITSELF.