Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: traddad_MI on January 12, 2025, 09:32:07 AM
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Do you stop a deer when shooting them or do you typically shoot them on the walk? I feel I have a harder time shooting walking animals with my recurve vs compound and I think partially the issue is I’m shooting at the whole deer vs picking a spot when they’re walking. Thanks for any input!
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Both. Depends on the situation. If they're very close, 10-15 yards or so, I usually shoot them walking. If they're farther away, I try to grunt them to a stop, though I have forgotten to do that a few times. Hasn't been as much of an issue since wolves came back to the area 20 years or so ago. Now the deer are so spooky/cautious, they stop of their own volition after every few steps to check their surroundings, even during the rut.
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I can’t think of a single time I’ve tried to stop one walking. My thought is that puts them immediately on the alert. I have stopped a few bucks over the years that were chasing a doe, allowing me to take a shot. That’s about a 50-50 chance that he will stop in a spot that allows the shot.
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I"ll take a walking deer every time, they don't duck!
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I've had very good luck with stopping them. Of course it is but a split second before my shot is gone.
I don't seem to focus well on a moving shot and tend to rush them without any need.
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If they’re walking with no clue that I’m in the vicinity, I never try to stop them. If they’re walking too fast and don’t present a good shot….I pass.
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shootem walkin most of the time, unless its a little longer shot in a lot of cover, BUT I REALLY LIKE IT WHEN THEY STOP ON THIER OWN. :biglaugh:
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If I want to stop one I just give a low short whistle. That generally makes them pause without looking around. The couple times I tried to mouth grunt or make the “meh” sound the TV guys use the deer either spooked or started looking around. A whistle just makes em stop and pause a couple seconds. I’ve had to yell pretty loud at a couple bucks chasing does to get them to stop, but that’s a different deal.
R
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I always stop them, even with a firearm.
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I hunt in south Alabama, where the deer are wound up tighter than a gnat's butt sittin' on a lemon wedge! they duck a full body width at the sound of the shot with even the quietest bow, more often than not. if you make noise like those guys do on t.v., those suckers will be in the next county by the time the arrow gets there! we aim low and wait for them to pause on their own.
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Thanks for the input!
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I prefer them walking. They can't go in two directions at the same time. Eliminates ducking.
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The only time I'll make a sound to stop them is with a gun. Otherwise I have the same thoughts as everyone else. They can't duck as easily when they're walking.
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I don't make any noise, either shoot or pass.
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My deer always are within 15 yards and hear or see me draw which stops them on a dime and I waste no time aiming the arrow just goes. Been working good for 40 years!
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I shoot em walking. I don't want to alert them. They are more apt to jump the string. Now if I am videoing like they do on the outdoor channel I make that stupid noise they make to stop them LOL. Unreal.
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I like walking better also. As far as I know, I have never had a deer jump the string while walking.
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I've shot deer and javies walking and even trotting a few times. Every animal and situation is different. I never try to stop them.
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The trotting by shot is the essence of instinctive archery just dont stop that swing at release,,,, i never tried to stop a nervous deer but with me they are really close to me if im gonna shoot..
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I shoot them walking but did have a great buck jump the string on a super quiet foggy morning. The reason i know is that my woodsman stuck in a tree with a piece of his back strap on the oft side of the trail and it was a foot off the ground. To this day i dream of that buck. :)
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The buck I shot this year, I had no choice but to stop him, I was already at about 3/4 draw when I grunted at him to stop, finished the draw and let it go. Worked perfectly. I've shot them walking as well but as others have said I have a much much harder time picking a hair on a walking deer. I also get like tunnel vision and have clipped branches i didn't see while shooting at walking deer, this never ends well.