Strike a balance when compensating for ducking the string.
QUESTION: I've heard you should aim low when shooting at a deer with a bow because they might jump the string, causing you to miss high. My question is, how low should you aim?
ANSWER: A good general guideline is to aim for the bottom third of the deer's body - basically aiming for the heart.
If the deer doesn't duck the string, it's an ideal shot. If it does, you should still hit vitals.
Of course, much depends on circumstances. An alert deer is more likely to react quickly than a relaxed one. A deer with it's head down will react more quickly and potentially move more between shot and impact.
The hunter's elevation and shot angle also factor in. The force of gravity is greatest on an object traveling parallel to the ground and less on an object traveling up or down. That means the effective distance on a steep, downward shot is actually less. If you practice shooting on flat ground and set your pins for distance, and then hunt from an elevated stand, you might hit slightly higher - all the more reason to aim low.
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