ok shooters..share your technique for a walking deer

[bobg]

Ben,

I think you will find the "overtaking method" to be the most reliable. Don't get me wrong, I not advocating for shooting moving targets, nor am I chastising you for doing so, just giving input on your question of method. I used to shoot sporting clays on a competition league for many years and can tell you anytime a target is moving, picking a spot in the front will not consistently work. The most reliable method is to come from behind and overtake the target as this gives you an idea of distance and speed (if you know the relative size of the object you're shooting--which you do). Let me know your results.

Bob

[Chris O]

Id try to stop em first. I took a shot at a stopped pig once. the thing heard my arrow, did a 270 degree spin and was in the woods before my arrow got to where it was. And that was from a whopping 5 yards too!

[alligatordond]

I never had a problem shooting at walking deer. I miss them just like I do when they're standing still.

[Guss]

My experience has been the same as Ben, in some areas you may be better of taking a slow walking shot at a deer that's not alert, as to a standing shot at a deer that's on alert.
                   Guss

[RL]

I used to practice all the time on moving targets. I stretched a rope between two poles and hung a 3D deer on it with pullies. I would have friends pull it at different speeds with a long rope attached to the front. I got pretty confident inside of 20 yards. Just like anything else, it takes practice.

[trashwood]

I like to find a slow grade down hill.  look for a spot behind that will stop arrows.  get some old car tires (often dumped in place).  get your hunting buddy to take the up the grade (too much work for me   ).  roll them down the slow grade.  see if ya can put an arrow thru the center of the tire.  tire may bounce a bit....not as easy as ya think.

rusty

[Doc Nock]

WAsn't it the Wensel boys that told of their dad making them shoot targets inside rolling tires down hills?

My buddy quotes one of their books I don't have to that effect...and whichever--- one of the twins wrote, "...saw a deer running and my mind said, "tire rolling down a hill" and I shot and killed it!" (paraphrased by 3 hand tellin!)  

[Ben Woodring]

The tire idea sounds like a great place to start..and I also am a pass shooter, meaning I catch up swing through the target and release.

[mnbwhtr]

I'll take a walking shot any time at a reasonable distance. I've never had a walking deer jump the string like they do when they are stopped. In fact if they are stopped and alert I'll wait for them to start walking before I shoot.

[BLACK WOLF]

Originally posted by Ben Woodring:
Do we want to stop the deer before the shot, or let them amble along with no reason to be on alert and take the shot?

My suggestion would be to ALWAYS practice shots you want or believe you will take while hunting.

If you don't practice them...you really will never know with any certainty that you can make the shot. If you take it without knowing...it will be just a guess.

So if you want to take moving shots on animals...practice moving shots on targets at distances you want to shoot from.

If you're not going to practice them...I don't recommend taking them when hunting.

   

Originally posted by Ben Woodring:
My question is did my arrow really take that long to get there with the deer walking to be 18" behind the goodies or did I just miss?

You would most likely know the answer to that question...if you had been practicing that shot.

There's a number of ways you can practice it...but it involves you being creative.

Shoot with a buddy rolling tires down a hill with ballons in the center or shoot at basketball sized balls rolling down a hill.

Set up a cable system with a target that moves along it.

Ray    

[Chris Lantz]

With my lack of experience I figured it is best just to let any moving deer walk no matter how slow they are moving or how close they are. I get worked up enough with a deer standing in front of me that I can just imagine what would happen if I tried a shot at a moving animal.

Bleating seems to work for compounds shooters who can draw and hold for several minutes, I've never tried it because I figured it would put a deer on high alert and they would easily pick up the movement of drawing or the sound of a shot. May have to try bleating at a moving deer if the opportunity arises since it works for some people here.