What do you do

[RickE]

when the animal is walking?  Do you stop them or just shoot them.  If you shoot at walking animals how do you practice for it or do you do anything different.  

I usually try to stop the animal but that doesn't work so great either, since they are now alert to your presence.  I've had some screw ups doing both but I'd like to get better at shooting walking animals.  What do you do???

[kennym]

I've had some luck stopping bucks, but never does. If 15 yards or under, I'd rather just swing with em and let it go, if over, no shot for me....

[Rob W.]

I shoot them on the walk. The act of grunting messes with my shot sequence if I'm at full draw or not.

I have practiced in the past with moving targets and it's a lot of fun. One of those foam soccer balls tied to a rope dragged across the yard works well. Aerial targets at 3d shoots are also great practice. It seems like the timing of those shots comes fast with trad equipment especially at closer ranges.

[Sean B]

If they're walking slow enough and, as Kenny, under 15, I just pick a spot and swing with the shot. I never try to stop a deer.   An alert deer can be as tough to hit as a walking one.

[Cavscout9753]

I shot a coyote on the trot once. Though to be entirely honest... eh, its a coyote. It worked out ok, first arrow dropped him (back a bit further than wanted but it dropped him and he reached back and bit the arrow in half, second arrow ended it quickly, but not before he bit that one in half with his last breath). That being said, I don't trust myself to shoot at a deer on the move outside of maybe 5-10 yards max. Thats just me though, they're too large and its an unpracticed shot for me. Last thing I want is a nice deer gut shot because I got overly excited. There'll always be another one down the road. I've stopped some, but then they're just too alert for me to shoot. Now I try to stick in spots where they mosey by nibbling or have a small scent spot out front behind a tree for them to maybe get curious and stop for a sec and check out. I know a lot of guys pull off the trot-shot like a charm, but they are muuuch better shots than I am. Haha

I wait for them to stop. Sometimes they do stop, and sometimes they don't!

Bisch

[kennym]

I should have said walking, no trot or running here!!

[Gordon Jabben]

I think I shoot just as well at a walking animal and prefer it to a standing shot.  The deer is less likely to jump the string.

[Cavscout9753]

Haha I apologize, by trot I meant simply moving. Bad use of the word on my part - you're original question was clear, my response was not. And there is merit to Gordon's post about them being less likely to be alert at the shot. A good point.

[kennym]

No apology necessary!! Just wanted to be clear on it....  

[Stumpkiller]

I work with them moving.  Whistling messes up my anchor.  ;-)

[Wabasis]

I usually shoot them while they are walking. It seems like most deer that we shoot with a bow are 20 yards and under so the arrow gets there pretty quick.I was trying to remember some that I've shot that were standing still and not very many come to mind.   :confused:

[Thumper Dunker]

Stopped and not looking my way. Unless ten yards or under coming into me.

[joe ashton]

IMO stopping a deer puts them on alert.  maybe not red alert but still, now it is looking for what ever.. If they are moving SLOW pick a spot. moving fast let them go.

[Marshallrobinson]

My belief is a steady slow walk is better, only because they are less apt to string jump. Only string jumping deer I have ever encountered were the ones that I stopped.
If I have to stop them then I aim under and if they don't drop the it's a clean miss. If they do drop, I got 'em.
I don't have to consider any of this when they are walking.

[RickE]

Yeh Joe I hear you.  I had a shot at an elk and stopped him.  When I shot he ducked the string because he was now alert.  I think I should have just shot at him walking but it was 28 yards and that may have turned out badly too.  Second guessing myself now and I'm not sure what the answer was for me.  It didn't turn out as I wanted it to that's for sure.