Stopping game for a shot vs. letting them stop on their own

[Terry Lightle]

I like to shoot them while walking.
Terry

[CRM_95]

I've stopped a few and never had one spook, but I always use a VERY soft mouth grunt, and only after I'm at full draw and ready to shoot. I prefer to let them stop on their own though if possible.

[fisherick]

In this neck of the woods, anytime you stop them with noise (loud or soft) it puts them in high alert and poor outcomes happen. I now wait for them to stop on there own or shoot on a slow walk or let them pass.

[Possum Head]

I'll lock one up before I watch it walk out of range or into cover.

[tracker12]

Originally posted by Bisch:
99% of the time I let them stop on there own. If I don't get a shot because they did not stop in range, then I come back later and try again.

Bisch

What Bisch said.  Last thing I want to do is burn my hide.

[Tim]

I'll side with the folks that sit quietly and wait.  I haven't had much luck over the years with stopping deer.  I've done it many times with success but have also found they are just too quick if they see the limbs on my bow unfolding in their direction.  I'd much rather have them stop on their own.   If they don't stop they get a free pass.

[joe munno]

A lot of things happen in the deer woods the more you hunt the more you learn so when that buck of a lifetime comes you have to react quick I've stopped some and let some walk it's a hard thing to practice when your hunting but if you can when in the stand try some sounds on a little buck if he's alone in front of you like some guys said its up to you at that time but when you alert the deer you better be alert to and ready to shoot good luck to all this deer season

[joe munno]

A lot of things happen in the deer woods the more you hunt the more you learn so when that buck of a lifetime comes you have to react quick I've stopped some and let some walk it's a hard thing to practice when your hunting but if you can when in the stand try some sounds on a little buck if he's alone in front of you like some guys said its up to you at that time but when you alert the deer you better be alert to and ready to shoot good luck to all this deer season

[joe munno]

A lot of things happen in the deer woods the more you hunt the more you learn so when that buck of a lifetime comes you have to react quick I've stopped some and let some walk it's a hard thing to practice when your hunting but if you can when in the stand try some sounds on a little buck if he's alone in front of you like some guys said its up to you at that time but when you alert the deer you better be alert to and ready to shoot good luck to all this deer season

[SC Bowhunter]

What Graps said.

[ThePushArchery]

For me its situational.

If a deer is meandering / feeding / picking their way down the trail my way, I wait for them to stop, as its very likely that they will based on the previous 10 / 15 minutes of watching them approach slowly.

If its a deer cruising down the trail and I've not seen them stop as they approached, chances are they will not stop on their own, so I will for sure try to stop them for a shot.

If in the first situation, (meandering deer) happens to make it through and approaching my last shooting lane and hasn't stopped like I thought it would, then I'll stop them for a shot.

I draw, get to full anchor, track the deer with my arrow tip, settle it in vertically where it needs to be as I'm tracking it horizontally, and give a soft grunt as soon as I've got my tip where it needs to be. The arrow is usually on its way before the deer is even looking up for the sound.

Haven't had a deer spook from me trying to stop it yet. However, as always, hunting is a never-ending learning experience. So if that monster buck spooks when I try to stop him... my tactics might change    But so far so good.

[RedShaft]

If I have a deer in range I make em stop unless I can get a shot off at a slowly moving deer. I don't get many opportunities. I have to make every animal I get into range into an opportunity as I don't get many and sometimes don't ever get one.

[Warden609]

I try to position my setups to help with natural pauses. Examples would be fence jumps or terrain changes that cause deer to stop before moving on. The rut can be frustrating when chasing is hot and heavy. Happy hunting this season. Shoot straight!!

[KSdan]

Originally posted by MnFn:
A walking deer within my range, I will take the shot. No noise used.

X2

[longbow fanatic 1]

I can see by the comments here that a lot of Killers have checked in. Great stuff!

[Joeabowhunter]

I like them to stop on their own when possible.  I like setups on trail intersections (so I'm hunting multiple trails), they typically stop at the fork in the trail.  If they don't I will give a very soft "mmaaaaa"....  Normally it stops them and they are still calm.

[maineac]

I have tried to stop them and had them duck.  I won't try again unless it looks like I have no other option.  I don't get enough opportunities to not try if they look like they are going to walk out of my life.

[creekwood]

Like others have said, I like to have them walking when I take the shot. I think it helps mute their keen hearing and eyesight to some small extent.

[Bow Bum]

I don't always stop a deer before I shoot, but when I do, I use a small mouth blat.

Shoot straight my friends.

BB

[elkhunter45]

My motto is "If they are in range they are in range." I will, however, pass if they are moving too fast.