When you are hunting whitetail deer with a crossbow, it’s important to know where you should be shooting. This can help you avoid taking unnecessary risks and inflicting irreparable injuries on your target.
When a deer is facing away from you, it’s generally best to aim at a broadside spot. This will allow your arrow to enter the deer’s vital area and exit through its heart and lungs. This is a great option if you are hunting in a heavily used travel corridor or where deer tracks are commonly seen.
When deer are quartering away from you, they are heading towards you at an angle. This is a much more limited window to strike any of the vitals since the shoulder blade on the near side prevents the arrow from entering the heart and lungs.
This shot and angle can be lethal, but it should only be used by hunters who are confident in their ability to locate the deer and take a perfect shot. This will save you and the animal a lot of stress. It’s also a good idea to use this shot only if the deer is within 45 yards and you have a clear view of it. This is because the longer the distance, the more things can go wrong.