I hear a lot of people say that they aim for the exit hole. Does this mean that they pick a spot where they want it to exit and put there pin on the otherside according to the angle they think the arrow will follow. Or do they mean put your pin on the side closests to you where you want it to exit. Because I have always aimed in the lower 1/3 of the deer and if you do the thing where you draw a line in your head to the exit hole then you would be putting your pin in the upper half of the deer which would cause a high shot or miss for me. Thanks for the help-Sam

nuge, is your question based from hunting from a stand? Height wil have something to do with it as well as distance to the deer. If the deer is broadside to you and you are at a steep angle to him, then yes, you may have to aim at the top half of the deer in order to take out both lungs. If the deer is further from you or ground level, then you may be OK with shooting the bottom 1/3 of the body. Each situation is different. I find the "shoot for exit" to be most valuable when shooting at a quartering away angle. And yes, you have to plan to shoot where you want the arrow to come out the opposite side of the deer.

Here is an excellent reference book which helps show where to shoot. As you can see from the cover, it shows north american animals in natural positions, with their internals drawn in. It also refences aiming points in many different positions.

http://www.safaripress.com/1-57157-267-8.html

If I am following this correctly.......then from your example there is a pretty steep angle ! On an angle like that......I think what people are suggesting .....is that on a lower 3rd behind the shoulder shot......you may only get one lung ! I have made those shots and recovered deer but a lung and some arteries were both hit !

Typically the high shot with a low exit would be better in that situation.......taking out both lungs ! It is hard for some folks to shoot that high though (on a steep angle)......so I think everyone tries to say "aim for the exit" !!

If you pick an exit hole that would make you hit or miss high, then you need to pick a different exit hole.[:-]

It's like throwing a jab. You want to hit the nose but you swing for a point about 3" behind the point of the nose to really give your opponent a good nosebleed.

First thing to do is study your quarry's internal anatomy. Learn the location of all major bones and vital organs and how they lie within the animal. Then you are able to visualize where the organs are inside the chest cavity, then visualize the track the arrow will have to take to get both lungs, both lungs and the heart.... When you get good at visualizing the internal structure of an animal's anatomy, it's almost like you've got Superman's x-ray vision. No matter what angle the animal is to you, you can practically see where the organs and major bones are. That tells you about where the exit hole needs to be on the other side. Pick the location you need for the entrance hole where it will track through the vitals, but aim for the exit hole.

I always thought it was an encouraging saying. I guess its true.

I understand the imaginary line thing, what I'm trying to say is...do you put your pin on the entrance hole of the imaginary line, or do you put it on the exit hole but on the entrance side.

You put your pin on the point on the imaginary line where you want it to enter the deer to make the propper exit hole.

I carry this saying as my signiature to try and bury it in my brain.

Once upon a time I didn't "aim for the exit" on an animal that wasn't so much quartering away as he was foreward of my position. Still looked like the standing 3-d target in my backyard(perpendicular to me), but not directly next to me- foreward of me. This equalled an illusion of being broadside when in fact he needed to be shot as if quartering- the arrow entering a little further back than normal so it would enter/exit through both lungs. In the heat of the moment that didn't occur and that lesson haunts me to this day.

So therefore I say "aim for the exit hole", and yes you want the arrow to enter the side of the imaginary line facing you in order to exit the offside of the imaginary line.

I have the same question as Nuge in his last post. I don't think anyone answered it, at least so I could understand. nuge phrased it perfect (for me) in his last post.

That is my question. Thanks

do you put your pin on the entrance hole of the imaginary line, - yes, but you have to decide where this entrance point is based on where you want the arrow to exit.


or do you put it on the exit hole but on the entrance side. - no, that would not make much sense