There is no problem with deer hunting as long as you do it the right way: hunt at the right areas during the appropriate hunting season(s), ensure a humane kill to minimize the animal's suffering and recover the body as quickly as possible.

To ensure a humane kill, it is critical for you to know how and where to place your shot. Shooting a deer in the wrong spot will not only cause the animal to run off and suffer excessively but could also ruin the meat, even if you manage to kill it. 

This is why it is important to learn where to shoot a deer.

So, where should you shoot a deer?

There are three main spots where you should shoot a deer: the chest cavity (just behind the deer’s front shoulder), the neck, or high its shoulders. When you shoot a deer in any of these areas, there is minimal pain, the deer drops immediately, and the kill is clean and ethical. 

The chest works because it contains two vital organs (the heart and lungs; a shot at the base of the neck servers its spinal cord, and a shoulder shot breaks the spinal cord and/or servers several major arteries. 

How to Deliver the Right Shot

It takes a lot of practice and patience to get the right shot and hit the deer in the chest, neck, or shoulders. You have to practice your chest shots, shoulder shots, and neck shots as many times as possible.

An important way to understand where to shoot deer is to learn about the anatomy of a deer. Studying diagrams of deer’s skeletal and organ structure will help ensure that your is always accurate. 

1. Targeting the Vital Zone Heart and Lungs

The heart and lungs of a deer are both located in the chest cavity, and that is where to aim if you hope for an ethical kill. The chest cavity is located just behind its front shoulder, at the point where its leg muscles connect with the chest.

Best Shots for the Vital Zone

There are two shots you can take to hit the chest cavity of a deer: the broadside shot and the quartering-away shot. The broadside shot is the most recommended because it has a high success rate and causes minimal damage to the animal.

The quartering-away shot effectively avoids hitting heavy bones or the deer’s shoulder blade.

Both are equally effective but different in execution.

How to Execute the Broadside Shot

Aim slightly behind the front leg, at the lower to middle height of the body.

This angle provides the best access to the heart and both lungs.

How to Execute the Quartering-Away Shot

Aim behind the shoulder on the side facing you and angle your shot toward the opposite shoulder.

This shot ensures the bullet or arrow passes through vital organs.

2. Target its Lower Neck (Neck Shot)

When you take a neck shot, the objective is to sever the spinal cord or major blood vessels of the deer, resulting in an instant drop. Aim at the lower part of the neck, near the base. It should be a quick kill with minimal meat damage.

Note that a neck shot at a deer requires precision and you probably should only try it if you are an experienced hunter. The small target area increases the risk of wounding the deer if the shot is off

3. High Shoulder Shot

The purpose of a high shoulder shot is to break the shoulder blade and sever the spinal cord of the deer. A good, precise, high-shoulder shot leaves the deer instantly immobilized, meaning you won't even need to track it.

Aim at the center of the shoulder, about midway up the deer’s body.

Note, though, that it might require higher bullet energy to penetrate the shoulders effectively.

What About a Head Shot?

Though it is quite possible to deliver a clean heat shot when hunting deer, shooting a deer straight through the head is not recommended. The only vital organ on a deer’s head is its brain, which is very small. There is a high likelihood that you miss the vital organ but inflict an injury that causes unnecessary suffering to the animal.

If the shot is slightly off, it can result in:

• A broken jaw: the deer would be unable to feed and end up starving to death.

• Damage to the eyes: the animal goes blind but remains mobile and alive.

• Wounds to the nose or sinus area cause prolonged suffering without incapacitating the deer.

Avoid Gut Shots

Hitting too far back results in a gut shot, which is not where you want to shoot a deer. Gut shots leave the animal in organizing pain and often lead to a slow, painful death. Plus, it is easy for the meat to get contaminated.

Always aim forward enough to avoid the stomach and intestines.

Wait for the Right Angle

Deer hunting requires a lot of pNever rush a shot; wait for the deer to present a broadside or quartering-away angle for the best results. Always prioritize a humane kill over a rushed shot.

Aim for the Vital Triangle

The vital triangle of refers to the area where the heart lungs and major arteries of a deer overlap, and this is the perfect area to place your shot. The chances of a clean kill are maximized in this area.

Place Your Shot According to the Weapon You Use

Where to Shoot a Deer with a Rifle

• Broadside or quartering-away shots are ideal.

• Bullets with high energy can penetrate bone and reach vital organs.

Bow or Crossbow

The best Aim slightly lower and farther back than with a rifle to avoid shoulder bones and ensure penetration into the lungs or heart.

• Broadside and quartering-away angles are preferred for arrow penetration.

After the Shot: Tracking and Recovery

• Observe the Deer’s Reaction. If you hit it in the heart or lungs, it will likely kick back its legs, run a short distance, and then collapse.

• If it hunches its back and walks away slowly, follow the blood trail.

• Bright, frothy blood indicates a lung shot.

• Dark red blood suggests a liver shot.

• Green or brown material signals a gut shot.

Some Necessary Deer Hunting Gear

There are many kinds of gear you might need for gear hunting, but one of them absolutely has to be an LPVO. Having variable magnification on your optic ensures that you can see those vital parts and make a humane kill, even if your target is far away.

For all the exciting deer seasons coming up in 2025, check out some good LPVO options from Gogunnr! 

Gunnr’s Odin FFP LPVOs: Perfect for Deer Hunting

Gogunnr’s Odin optics come in three models: the Odin 1-6x 28, Odin 1-8x 24 LPVO, and the Odin 1-10x 28 LPVO. These three Odin optics offer every possible magnification range within the capabilities of an LPVO, which makes them perfectly versatile for deer hunting.

7 Reasons You Need  Gunnr LPVO this Deer Hunting Season

• They come with a cantilever mount, directly compatible with the Picatinny rails of most hunting rifles. You can use them with no additional adapters.

• The lenses are made of German Schott glass, which gives clear image quality, even in low light, with no chromatic aberration.

• Gogunnr Odin scopes feature Bullet reticles with extended 1 MOA hash marks for precise windage and elevation adjustments. You can compensate for bullet drop at varying distances without even adjusting the scope's elevation turret.

• Odin scopes generally weigh about (about 4.8×1.65×2.44 inches in size), making them just as lightweight and maneuverable for your hunting setup.

• The exterior of each optic is made of 7075 aluminum alloy, durable and can withstand harsh hunting conditions.

• They are all tested to withstand 1,000 impacts at 1,000G and 2,000 live-fire rounds.

• They are also waterproof and fogproof. They are built to withstand temperatures from -59°F to 149°F and have an IP67 waterproofing rating.

Common FAQs About Where to Shoot a Deer

Where to Shoot a Deer with a Bow?

When hunting deer with a bow, aim for the chest area, which contains the heart and lungs. Aim behind the front shoulder, in the area known as the "vital triangle." This angle is the Broadside shot, and it gives you a clear path to the heart, lungs, and major blood vessels.

Ensure your shot is strong and accurate so that the arrow cuts through the deer’s vital organs and causes a swift, less painful death. 

Where do You Shoot a Deer to Drop it in Its Tracks?

If your goal is to drop a deer in its tracks, you must aim for the central nervous system (CNS), which includes the spine or the brain. You should aim for the upper part of the shoulder, just below the spine, or go for a clean headshot.

Note that both shots require exceptional precision and are generally riskier than targeting the vital organs (heart and lungs).

Where to Aim for a Quartering-Towards Shot?

To shoot a deer that is quartering toward you, you have to take a quartering towards shot. Aim at the front of the shoulder, angling your shot towards the opposite side of the deer’s chest cavity. The bullet or arrow should pass through the deer’s shoulder into its heart or lungs without being obstructed by any bones.