Jacob Dingel Even a broadside shot can come with problems. That's why sorting out exactly where and when to shoot will help you become a more successful bowhunter. would be in-between or around leg bones and shoulder blades. It's a terrible situation, and should never be a consideration. The other "no shot" is the one directly from the rear. In the past, some bowhunters were touting this as a good shot, but the shot is totally irresponsible and should not be attempted under any condition. The vitals should be the only target for bowhunters. Clear Path to the Vitals The blood from a vitals hit will be a mixture of bright red and frothy blood. The trail will be easy to follow. A liver hit produces dark blood and the trail will be sporadic. It's best to let a liver shot deer go for at least three hours before trailing. A gut-shot deer will produce very little blood, but a mixture of digested material might be seen on the arrow. A gut-shot 62 deer is best recovered if given time to bed down and expire. Having a clear path to the vitals is the most important opportunity for which a shooter should be looking. Your shot also depends on the distance to the deer and the deer's action. It's best to always take a closer shot when the animal is calm or distracted. Taking a shot at a deer that is aware of your presence can be a big mistake. If the deer spooks on the shot, there is no way to be sure of a responsible hit. It is better to pass up the shot and wait for another day when conditions are more favorable. The art and science of shooting, tracking and recovering deer would take an entire book to cover and can't be jammed into one column. However, if you study the attached images and focus on where to aim to hit the vitals, you'll improve your chances of success.