Deer tactic's... Stopping deer for the shot?

[crankn101]

I like to shoot them at a slow walk, they never know what hits them.

[bowhunter15]

Anyone who watched my 10 pointer video from last fall knows that I shot him walking. They also know that earlier in the hunt I unsuccessfully tried to stop a buck between two pine trees. Depends on the situation. If they're close, ill shoot, if a tougher shot, ill try to stop them.

Bleating vs grunting/whisling/some other noise: bleating seems least likely to spook them. I exclusively bleat now, and more often than not bucks won't even look my direction. They just stop looking straight ahead, give two tail flicks and keep walking, or get an arrow in the chest. The bad thing is sometimes they don't stop right away. Sometimes it takes a second bleat to stop. Sometimes that means a missed opportunity.

[ Post made via Android ]

[virginiashadow]

I try to make the best decision based on all of my senses. I really like for them to stop on their own, but will stop them with an "errrr" if necessary. I will also shoot them on the slow walk at 12 yards or so and under....outside of 12 yards I notice some accuracy issues when trying to shoot them on a slow walk so I rarely ever do it.

[PLB]

I've stopped the last 5 bucks I've killed bowhunting. 2007, 2008, 2009 and both in 2011. All with a simple bleat.

[ Post made via Android ]

[xpauliber]

I've stopped most all of the deer that I've shot and never had a problem with them spooking.

I wouldn't be against taking a shot at a SLOW-walking animal IF I had practiced the shot in the past on the range. I haven't practiced shooting at a moving target and I would bet that most other people haven't either. Zap sounds like he practices this quite often and that's exactly what it takes to be confident when the opportunity presents itself. It also sounds like alot of guys have gotten the experience necessary to make those shots by practicing in the actual harvest situation and now they are quite confident in their ability to make those shots.

I've never taken a shot at a moving animal and I haven't practiced shooting at a moving target on the range so there's no way that I can be confident that I will be able to make that shot under pressure in the moment of truth. So I will stick with stopping them before the shot.

[dan]

I have shot many at a slow walk, but most stop or hesitate offering a standing shot. I think a person who practices at a still target can easily shoot a deer at a slow walk at close range. Stopping deer in my opinion makes it much easier to miss cause you have to shoot the deer where he stops, and quickly, or he will catch on and take off. When they stop they lock onto you, and often jump the string now that you put them on edge. I would rather catch them by complete surprise, and have them have no idea they are being hunted till the arrow passes thru them.
With that said, I have stopped some deer, because they were moving to fast for an ethical shot.

[GRFox]

Good read.

I have always stopped my deer no matter the distance. I have never had any issues doing it, but I suppose it wasnt necessary to stop them in some situations when I have. When I stop thm I give them a "baaahh". I have never had one pin point me, and thinking back, it would seem like as they stopped they didnt lock on me, it seemed more like they couldnt figure out what the sound was or where it came from. Just my experience, but as I read through this thread I realize that I have never really though about NOT trying to get them to stop, I just always did it as as if it was what I had to do.....amazing to see how learning from what I saw in hunting videos growing up still has such a prelevant impact on certain aspects of the way I hunt.

This year I am going to shoot one walking!

[BJE80]

I find it very difficult to shoot a moving target with a bow.

[dan]

bump

[moosehound]

shoot him walking or wait til he stops.

[Mario]

I have always tried stopping them with a little grunt or whistle... But ever since last year I will be rethinking this strategy as I had a nice 10 pt within 15 yards moving at a fast walk... I grunted at him in an attempt to get him to freeze and he bolted for the thicket about 40 yards away :(, he then turned to take a look at me in my stand...

[kurt]

the buck i shot this year i stopped but it was moving to fast for the untrimmed public land shooting windows. But outside of a rut suitation i usually dont id rather not but wont dismiss the idea every suituation is so different.

[dan]

the buck i shot this year i stopped but it was moving to fast for the untrimmed public land shooting windows. But outside of a rut suitation i usually dont id rather not but wont dismiss the idea every suituation is so different.

Exactly... I stop them if I have too...
Going thru my video footage recently, its amazing how many deer bolt at the sound of a grunt or noise intended to stop them. But in some cases, you have no choice.

[Country]

top

[Jay]

I just hope they stop after the shot!

Amen brother!!! I've lost them every way you can imagine. Stopping them, waiting for them to stop, shooting them walking, you name it.