I wouldn't consider it a difficult shot if the deer was walking slow inside of 15 yards. If it was walking fast at 25 yards, then I see the potential for lots of things to go wrong. At the sound of the bow, the deer may stop or it may not. Lead it a bit, and if it stops then you hit too far forward. Not a shot that should be taken in my opinion.

" Maybe Zaft felt that was his only chance at the buck "

Beautifullt put ABM. I think it WAS his only shot, so was that one shot, at an unknown distance, ground level on a deer that had slowed from trotting to a (fast) walking better than not getting the shot at all ? Remember, Zaft wounded this great animal and lost it.

AL F - its offseason, and topics like this makes everyone think. Ethics is the core of our sport. A little less than half of the people in two threads, two different boards, would take quartering to shots, shots that are NOT reccommended by the IBEF. Why would they take this shot then ? Testimonials have shown that it kills deer within 40 yards and deer can be lost as well. Sure, the same can be said for any shot, but most agree that a broadside and quartering away shots are best. So why settle for an iffy quartering to shot, and in this case a fast walking shot ? Because maybe its the only shot you have, and rather than not shooting, you'd rather take the high risk shot (you being anyone) ? If thats true, and I think it is, than thats poor judgement IMO, and the core of bowhunting has shown its true colors in people.

My closet ? I have botched shots before, but not on fast walking deer of quartering to me animals. Closets can be closed if the person can honestly say they learned from their mistakes. Would Zaft take that shot again ? I bet you $1,000 he would. Would I ever take that shot ? I can 100% honestly say I would not, not even on that animal. Why ? For the very reason of my example - Zaft shot, wounded and lost a fantastic animal. Had the farmer not found it, the animal would have been lost and thats a true shame.

NO NO NO. One should never wing a shot and hope they get the deer. THe Zaft shot was horrible. I have taken a couple walking shots at deer, but they were less than 13 yds and walking SLOOWW. Wide open shooting windows too, so that defelctions weren't a worry. Although some might disagree since I said I would have shot at pic A, I feel my shots are pretty conservative. I've only taken a couple shots that have even come near 20yds. I never had regrets for not shooting, nor have ever wanted to take an arrow back(redirect it maybe )

NO!!!!
In hunter eduacation, you are taught NOT to shoot at moving deer! No exceptions! I have drawn on bucks that come in on the run hoping that they would stop. Only then will the arrow fly.
Zaft took a very big chance and it did not go his way. Someone else found his kill. The trophy animal deserved better.IMO

if it is not a good high % shot i do not shoot. i had a doe this season 15 yards streight on shoot and i was really wanting another deer. but passed on a shot and let her walk. the things that go through your mind at the moment of truth is amazing. i am glad i made the decision it was the right and ethical decision no matter how easy it seemed at the time.

This guy is supposed to be a great 3d archer and hunter and he blew the shot.Did he kill the animal or coyotes,no one will ever know.Enough can go wrong when you think you have the perfect shot,why risk an iffy one?

Good topic Stealthy. And let me say that I condsider your opinion very ethical.
It's hard for me to say if I can fault Zaft for shooting. But, I will say that it was a bad shot.
I actually shot at a buck that was walking fast at about 25 yards. It was my first year of bow hunting and I did what I would do in shotgun season. Found the lane that he was going to go through and shot when he got there. Only problem was that I made a liver hit instead of a lung hot. I didn't realize how much a deer could move before the arrow got there. I found the deer after waiting six hours about 300 yards away. This was a learning experience for me, and to this day I would never take the shot again.
I will only shot at non-moving deer or, like you will wait for that tail flicker and step.
To answer your other questions.
No - I would not have shot at the Zaft buck.
No - I don't think that any shot is better than no shot.

Wheres all the guys who take quartering to shots ?

well I can only speak for myself on this one and the answer is if I have "any doubt" and I do mean "any" then I dont take the shot
There will always be another time to take a good shot

OK, so Zaft took a bad shot (and isn't he supposed to be some great archer?? Hmm...) and HE DID NOT ACTUALLY RECOVER THE DEER. I say that cause he was unable to use the meat, so he only revered a deer's remains, or recovered a deer's antlers.

So your question is answered by your own example. Is any shot better than no shot? NO. Zaft proves it or he would have had some meat in his freezer. He got lucky that the farmer even told him about the deer instead of walking over and getting it himself.

The better question to ask is "How far can I and do I want to track this deer if I shoot?" The place I hunt now only offers me about 40 acres, so I could shoot a deer and he could run off the property and I MAY have a hard time getting permission to get him,depending on which way he goes. So, I need to take good shots.

Maybe if you have 1000 acres its not as big a deal, you can walk a few miles tracking deer, but I think the Zaft buck deserved a quick, humane kill as much as any doe I have ever shot.

--Jim