I’ve heard it by many hunters over the years, “Never take a frontal shot on a big game animal with bow and arrow.”  This is a shot most archers, even veterans, shy away from, and I often find myself asking why.  If you know your equipment, the anatomy of the animals you’re hunting, and more importantly, their behavior under any given situation, then you’ll understand why a frontal shot can be effective.

The author depended on a frontal shot to drop this bull.

            My last frontal shot came on an African lion.  It was bedded, facing me, at 42 yards.  The cat had not yet seen me, and my intent was to use the wind and sneak around for a side shot when it stood.  Several factors prevented me from reaching this point, which is when I consider taking a frontal shot.

            At first I couldn’t get a shot due to tall grass, but I repositioned myself and when the cat stretched out it’s neck, a window opened.  Quickly I reached full draw and seemingly in one motion my  BowTech Allegiance sent a broadhead under the cat’s chin.  The arrow ran the full length of the body and exited near the tail, destroying the atrium and piercing the lungs.  It was the perfect angle and the situation was right.  The cat went eight yards and died, and we captured it all on film.

            On one of my best Rocky Mountain elk, the bull came running to the call.  When I saw small tree tops swaying, I reached full draw, and held.  When the bull broke from the trees he stopped, looking for the source of the sounds.  There was no wind, the sun was in the bull’s face and he was obviously not aware of what I was.  He stood facing me, and at 24 yards, I put the arrow right in his throat.

            The vanes disappeared into his deep chocolate mane.  He went 40 yards and collapsed.  When field dressing him, I found the broadhead in his pelvis.  On the elk, lion and all other animals I’ve taken with a frontal shot, the blood trail has been immense.  Never have I missed a frontal shot, nor had an animal turn on me upon release.  This is not a bragging point, rather an example of how the frontal shot can be highly effective when selectively taken.

            The key to making a frontal kill shot is being able to hit a small target, under pressure.  If you shake at making a lung shot on a broadside animal, then a frontal shot is likely not in the cards.  However, if you’re drilling animals and have the confidence you can hit a small kill zone, then no longer will a facing animal at close range walk away from you.

            I’ve heard numerous stories of archers who have let big bulls and bucks walk away, despite the fact they were within 15 yards, staring at a hunter who was at full draw.  This is where knowing an animal’s anatomy is crucial.  Where the windpipe goes into the body, there is a soft window of tissues which are great for a broadhead.  Avoid shooting too low, beneath the windpipe, as this is where bone and cartilage become a factor.

            I use the bottom of the windpipe as a reference to the lowest point at which I’ll take a frontal shot, and a few inches above the base of the windpipe as the highest.  Above the windpipe there is a narrow margin of neck muscle you can shoot through, prior to hitting the spine.  This gives you a shot window of about five inches high by four inches wide on elk, a bit smaller on deer.  If this window is not within your comfort zone, then the frontal shot is not an option.

            Another factor to consider when evaluating a frontal shot is body position.  Ideally, the animal will be on level ground, where an imaginary line can be drawn all the way from the throat to the anus, or at the highest point, the base of the tail.  If the animal is below me, where I’m looking at the arrow to exit out the stomach, I won’t take the shot.  This is because the target entry spot, beneath the throat, is quite small, not because the arrow won’t pass through the vitals.

            Distance is another key to consider.  I won’t take a frontal shot beyond 30 yards, simply due to personal preference, but this decision also depends on two other factors.  First, I don’t want to risk an animal jumping the string or seeing me move, then flee; the closer they are the better.  Second, because an animal is facing me, it’s likely already on alert (unless I’m sitting on the same trail it’s walking up), and this means a quick evaluation of it’s next move.

            After considering wind, distance, light and angle of the animal, predicting its behavior is the last item on my checklist as to whether or not I’m going to take a frontal shot.  This comes from years of hunting experience, and observing how animals behave, both disturbed and at ease.  If I sense an animal is on edge, I won’t take the shot.  If I’m confident I can send a speeding arrow into the kill zone when an animal is facing me, I won’t hesitate.

            The more time you spend in the woods, the more animal encounters you’ll have, the more familiar you’ll become with their behaviors.  Combine this with educating yourself on the anatomy of your quarry and honing your shooting ability, and the odds of connecting on the frontal shot greatly increase.  But one factor you can control that will help make that frontal shot is a fast-shooting bow, one you know will get the arrow to the sweet-spot before the animal has a chance to move.

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