to stop or shoot on the move

[bowmaster12]

i know each situation is different but do you guys preffer to stop a walking animal or to shoot them while still moving say on shots 15 yards and under.  If shoot on the move is there a good way to practice this style of shot?

[Biggie Hoffman]

I've never understood why a guy who has a deer walking by unconcernidly wants to put him on alert by making a noise.
If you shoot while he's walking, he'll most likely never hear the shot.
I guess for training wheel, mechanical aroow launchers, it's different as they are trying to put a pin somewhere but for us, it makes no sense to me.

[Tom Leemans]

I prefer them stopped but if they were walking slow enough, and were close enough, and I felt right, I'd take the shot.

You can practice by rubber blunting a rolling soccer ball or something.

[wtpops]

I shoot on the move or when they stop on there own. I feel that I do not want to alert a animal that I'm there. The first sound they hear from me is my bow going off.

Just my thoughts , it's always worked for me

[weezy]

If you pick a spot and follow through, it's no different than shooting live or clay  birds with a g_n. The key is to follow through.
Bob

[straitera]

Might definitely alert the animal out of the shot altogether with any attempt to stop it at 15 yards. Trust the slow moving shot to your instincts.

[rickshot]

“Feels right” and “seeing it happen beforehand” tends to dictate my loosing the string. Those ears work too much like pin-point radar for me to give myself away if I’m close and on the ground; odds could be more favorable though if off the ground, which might also allow extra time to wait.

I’d guess the best way to practice would be on a horizontally moving target…but aerials couldn’t hurt too much. I used to have an air cannon rigged up in my shop that would launch soda cans downrange in front of a backstop. It was a lot of fun and good practice with lead and follow through…something moving slower would be tame in comparison.

[Doc Pain]

I always prefer a shot on a deer or elk slowly moving.  Anytime he is moving, he is making noise and that will help cover up any that I might make.  I also believe that they pick up movement in their surroundings quicker if they are standing still.

[Bill Carlsen]

I'm a pretty fair shot on moving targets. So, if I have a chance to shoot at an animal while it is walking I'll take the shot if the opening is there. Running shots are a whole different ball game and I only attempt those on small game.

[lt-m-grow]

I almost always stop them.  I stop them with a mouth grunt.   And I have grunted at many deer - mostly to call them nearer - and I have never seen them get nervous-alert.  Curious yes, but not scared.

I also bet that if I gave any of you 10 moving targets and 10 stationary targets, most shooters will make better shots on the stationary targets.  Sure some shooters may do ok on the moving targets, but I am sure overall I would be money ahead on the average.

[shadman]

I prefer a walking shot. To me, it's no more difficult than a standing shot.

[bozara]

I've only tried to stop a buck once...disconcerting to me to have him look right at me prior to the shot when I could have shot an oblivious deer.  I guess a walking target is no different to me than one that is stopped, especially if it is alert and looking right at me.  I've never tried to stop an elk - if he's moving too fast I pass.

[bornagainbowhunter]

I am with Biggie on this, why try to stop it if it is only walking.  I have shot may deer walking and see absolutly no problem with it.  I am not sure that a person would shoot better on a stationary target rather than a slow moving one unless he or she is a gap shooter.  Shooting instintive on a slow moving target will make you "focus" more. IMHO

A good way to practice this is the old balloon in a tire game.  Tape a baloon inside a tire and have your buddy roll the tire for you. Lots of fun.

[Stinger]

40 years ago or so, my father and I rigged up a contraption to practice moving shots.  We got one of those old styrofoam surfboards and outlined just the front shoulder of a deer on it and then hung it from hooks on a long close line tied between two trees.  The end of the 'target' was then attached to the line on a fishing pole.  One of us then reeled the target from a good standoff distance while the other shot.  It was nice because we could vary the speed to simulate different speeds a deer might walk.  We could also shoot broadheads at that target because the foam would keep from getting a pass through in most cases.  Back then you could buy those boards for a dollar or two after the summer season.  Oh yea, we had a grass hill behind the area where we did the pulling to act as a backstop.

[KentuckyTJ]

I think folks that shoot instinctive have a much easier time shooting at a walking deer. As far as instinctive shooting practice we go bowfishing all summer and can actually hit a fish swimming much faster than a deer walking. Great practice.

You can also practice with someone pulling a target while you shoot at it. Make sure you have a long rope though. You'll be amazed how easy it is with the gear we use.

[Plumber]

I say dont screw with them. at 15yds if its a normal walk the shot aint that much different.If they are running at 15 yds then I would try to stop them.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

I have killed deer at a slow walk, but I much prefer to stop them with a soft grunt. That being said, I've never once had a deer jump the string after stopping them for a shot.

[woodsman 365]

If you have the skills to hit a moving target, why not. My first deer with a recurve will have to be stopped. >>>RAY

[KSdan]

Walking. Almost every deer I ever shot in the past 20 years.  I have even waited for them to start walking- it means they are relaxed. Never had a deer jump the string from what my eyes can tell.

What everyone else said for practice- but with that said I have never really "practiced" the shot.  I just follow the spot as I am drawing and . . .

By the way too- I hear so many tell me they wait the for the leg to be FORWARD when they shoot. Though I don't sweat it either way when they are walking; the anatomical truth is, I would rather the leg be BACK as the shoulder blade moves up and out of the way when the leg is BACK.

Good hunting
Dan in KS

[wingnut]

I don't have a camera on them so the "AGGAAGAG" noise is not necessary.  I shoot an unalarmed animal every time.  Moving slow is just as good as standing still if it's in my range.

Mike