Here at Bowhunting.com, we talk a lot about what it means to be a “good hunter.” For us, that starts with having an ethical mindset, and there is no more critical time to make the right choices than when you are ready to let that arrow loose.

When it’s time to shoot, two concepts are absolutely crucial for making responsible decisions: shot opportunity and shot placement. While they sound deceptively similar, they're not the same, and knowing the difference is key for every hunter out in the field.

Understanding Shot Placement and Anatomy

Shot placement refers to the unchanging goal of every hunter: To aim for the heart or lungs. Period. No matter the shot angle or weapon, these are the only organs you should intentionally target. While other organs like the liver can be lethal, they do not always guarantee a quick, clean kill.

A proper understanding of deer anatomy is foundational to ethical hunting. If you are unsure exactly where to aim, you can't be sure your shot will be effective.

For new hunters, a simple way to visualize the vitals on a broadside deer is to imagine a horizontal line across the middle of the body and a vertical line up the back of the front leg. (See illustration below.) Where these lines cross is a good starting point to aim for the heart and lungs.

The Ethics of Shot Opportunity

Shot opportunity on the other hand, is all about evaluating the moment. It's the decision to either take the shot or pass on it. That decision can change moment to moment depending on a few key things: Your skill, your weapon, and the specific situation.

For example, a beautiful broadside shot that's a slam dunk can quickly turn with a single step of the animal, putting a branch between you and the animal, or shifting it’s front leg and shoulder back protecting the vitals behind bone.

It’s also important to know the limitations of your gear and your skill. One bowhunter might be deadly accurate at 40 yards but another might only feel confident out to 20, and a lot can happen while an arrow is covering those 40 yards, no matter how fast your bow is shooting.

The bottom line is that a hunter must always be honest with themselves. You must evaluate the situation and your own abilities to determine if the opportunity is a high-odds chance for a clean, ethical kill. If you have any doubt, pass on the shot.

Avoid these Unethical Shots

• Head Shots: This is one of the most common mistakes I see with new hunter assumptions. While a head shot can be instantly lethal, the kill zone is tiny. A slight miss can result in a non-fatal injury. The risk is just too high.
• Running Shots: You should never take a shot at a running animal. The odds of hitting the vitals on a moving deer are incredibly low, especially with a bow. Wait for the deer to stop.
• Texas Heart Shots: A shot directly from behind the animal is a very low-percentage shot that should never be taken.
• Straight-Down Shots: When you're in a tree stand and an animal is directly below you, the extreme angle makes it nearly impossible to hit both lungs and the heart. You'll likely just get a single lung, which doesn't guarantee a quick kill. You’re best to hold off and let them walk out a few paces and present a better shot.
• Stacked or Sky-Lined Shots: Always know what's behind your target. Never take a shot if there's another animal or an unsafe backdrop behind the deer. The projectile can pass through and hit something unintended.
• Out-of-Range Shots: Never take a shot beyond your effective range. A deer can react to the sound of a bow – we call it "jumping the string" – and that can turn what you thought was a clean shot into a marginal one.

Ethical Shots to Pursue

It’s always better to be safe and have a potential opportunity at that animal again, rather than wound the animal and never see it again. Sometimes, you just have to let the deer win!