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?
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.
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.
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
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
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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.
I prefer a walking shot. To me, it's no more difficult than a standing shot.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
If you have the skills to hit a moving target, why not. My first deer with a recurve will have to be stopped. >>>RAY
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
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
I also like to shoot-em on the move. If they are standing still, they are more apt to catch you when you move.
Definitely not going to give away my postion to the deer, by making any noise.
An alert deer, is a hard deer to kill!
Jim
Unless I'm going for a last ditch effort to stop a deer that's moving too fast to get a shot, I would much rather shoot at a relaxed deer, even if walking.
Thinking back, I once had a buck coming in to me right at closing time. I thought he would not see me stand but I was wrong and I spooked him. As he left I heard noise over my right shoulder. Another buck had come in behind me and was on full alert when I looked at him. He started to run so I snort/wheezed at him. He stopped in his tracks at about 15 yards. In the dim light the lumenok showed me a perfect double lung hit but I hit the offside shoulder and did not get a pass thru. Left him for the night and found him the next morning. This is how I found him. I guess what I am saying is that on a running deer I have had success with the snort/wheeze stopping them.
(http://i14.photobucket.com/albums/a322/Arrowworks/eightpointbuck05.jpg)
If you won't take any shot but a stationary target, you probably don't hunt hogs. They never stop moving. You learn what you can or can't make. Bill
I take whatever shot I can get. I have had a couple bucks moving faster than I was comfortable with or else would be into cover before I could shoot and I stopped them with a grunt. They never flinched until the arrow hit them. I haven't had a deer jump the string in over 20 years, but a quiet longbow and heavy arrow helps.
Took a 27yd shot at this hog when he trotted by (hogs are pests where I'm from:)). As you can see I did not lead him enough. I was lucky to recover him but would never take a shot at a deer unless it felt just right and moving does not make me feel right. If he/she keeps moving then they'll live another day and I'll be able to sleep that night ;)
(http://i64.photobucket.com/albums/h166/aggie1993/Bows/Harvests/DSC00425.jpg)
I grunted quietly to a small buck. Next thing I knew he was 6 feet in the air with all 4 wheels spinning.
The hardest deer for me to shoot is the one that is staring straight at me. I have never missed a walking deer, but I have come completely unglued from buck fever in staring contests and lost all sense of control over my form in the process.
The best advice you've got so far (by most on here) is why alert a distracted unaware animal. Focus on the spot you want to hit and don't worry about the fact that its moving. When doubt yourself and the shot-- Don't take it. Confidence in your ability is everything.
Patrick
Some times I do,some times I don't.
I'm not stuck on any one method of doing anything when it comes to hunting deer.
I've only ever had one deer jump the string and he was walking when I dropped the string.
He didn't even break his stride,just spun an went back the way he'd come from.
Amazing to watch,but not really the desired result.
I've shot lots of deer at a slow walk but a standing deer is better for most.I never alert deer by sound.Along time ago I started putting a drop or two of scent on the trail were I want him to to stop.This stops the deer where you want with out alerting him.
Only compound shooters need to have the deer stoped or gap shooters or someone that uses hte arrow as some kind of a referance not instintive shooters.
I've never really thought about it. I would say since I started hunting with traditional gear most of my deer were moving.
QuoteOriginally posted by Roy Steele:
I've shot lots of deer at a slow walk but a standing deer is better for most.I never alert deer by sound.Along time ago I started putting a drop or two of scent on the trail were I want him to to stop.This stops the deer where you want with out alerting him.
Only compound shooters need to have the deer stoped or gap shooters or someone that uses hte arrow as some kind of a referance not instintive shooters.
You're a waaaaaaaaaaaaay better hunter than I am. I hardly ever pick the right trail a deer will walk down, they always come on the opposite side of the tree I figure on. The drops in the trail deal would never work for me.
I'm with Biggie. When you grunt-stop a deer, it immediately looks toward the sound. If you can get them to stop every time without being alert (which the grunt will make them) you are lucky indeed. I'll take a slow walk any day, and much prefer it to a deer looking my way....the recipe for disaster.
I agree with both the Big Man and George. Why alert any deer to your presence, especially if your a ground hunter like myself.
I practice on moving targets here in my yard and I have no problem taking shots at deer walking by or trotting by under 20 yds. A deer running by....only if the animal is 10 yds or under.
If you watch a few of the early Wensel videos, you will notice Barry and Rick Blase nailing deer as the come running by...BUT..they practiced diligently on those running targets.
I will either wait for them to stop on their own, or let them keep walking. Back in my "old compound" days, I always stopped them.
Conclusion from the above: Sometimes grunting works and sometimes it doesn't. I use it as a last resort to stop a fast moving deer. Often, because of the noise they're making, they do not immediately know where the grunt came from, though they usually are more alert when stopped than if they just kept walking by. Sometimes they well jump the string when stopped like this, but more often than not, they will not. That being said, I usually take the moving shot if the deer isn't moving too fast and it is fairly close, 15 yards or in. The farther it is, the less likely I am to take the moving shot. And, of course, every now and then, they stop on their own -- but not for long during the rut.
I suppose the difference is whether or not you're at full draw when you grunt them to a stop. If you can't hold at full draw, and as a result have to draw after the deer is stopped, grunting at them may not be a good idea. The last thing I'd want is a deer looking at me when I'm trying to draw my bow.
By the time I grunt a deer to a stop, I'm already at full draw and aimed. As soon as they stop they die. But in the end, it's all about knowing what works best for you and the particular animals that you hunt.
What Biggie said! :thumbsup:
I have never tryed to stop a deer! I shoot when they are walking no matter what my weapon of choice is. Dead deer walking I say. Widow
Depends on the situation and how fast the deer is walking. Like Biggie said, if the deer is walking on by slowly then there's no reason to let him know you're there. Your chances of a good hit on a slowly moving unaware deer are better than on a fully alert deer of any kind.