[Mr.Coon]

there is always talk, books, articles, and shows about finding deer and never any about what to do when the deer actually shows up. this to me is the most important moment in bowhutning, and it is also,the least talked about. it is do or die time and what makes a successful bowhunter. beginning bowhunters are to often not taught these skills prior to their first hunts and are forced to learn by trial and error, which results in undead spooked or wounded deer.

to me, one of the most important aspects of what to do when a deer shows up actually occurs before ever entering the woods, and that is practicing "hunting shots".

taking shots that haven't been practiced should never be done on live animals. such as shooting from a sitting position, from the knees, and odd body positions. shooting walking deer without practice. shooting through tight cover. that sort of thing.

i have found that the more i practice "hunting shots" in the most realistic scenarios i can artificially produce the less i have to think when a deer walks buy allowing me many more shot opportunities.

if i don't practice a shot. then i don't take it. it adds a lot of fun and challenge to practicing when you try these things. i practice sitting on my butt from the ground( surprisingly easy and comfortable), from the knees leaning around trees, from hunting height in the stands i will be hunting from. i also like to hang branches on my deer target and shoot the the open spots. i have a deer target on a rip cord. we set it up in the woods and practice shooting it as it passes in front. i also practice strictly with my broadheads. this gives me the utmost confidence to take my practiced shots while hunting. when a deer shows himself i know i am ready and he will be dead.

if it wasn't for my practice regiment i would have not have killed 75% of the deer that have passed in range of my pointed stick. where i hunt, i don't get a lot of opportunities so i have to make the most out of anyone i get.

what are some tips that you guys have for when a deer shows up at your stand? we could all use some moment of truth advise.

 

[VorTexan]

I always carry a field tip and take a shot using my rangefinder at a leaf etc. just to get warmed up so to speak and know what my bow and myself are doing at what I am aiming at. Usually I hit the leaf and am comfident in the hunt.

 

[Joe W.]

Good topic...

I agree....most new hunters are not taught how to get in position for a shot when a deer is nearby. There is a whole cat/mouse game that I feel is the coolest part of bowhunting.

Moving when the deers head is down and freezing when he looks up.....when to draw....when not.....grunting to stop a moving deer. All these things I had to learn the hard way.

I don't know if TV is now helping or hurting young hunters. You see them talking in the presence of deer on TV and you see three guys stalking whitetails on the ground. That would never work with the deer I hunt.

 

[CareyHamil]

bad

I see these shows from the north and out west. Guys talk and move around with deer within hearing distance. I figure these deer are a)used to seeing hunters that let them walk untill.... or b) these larger deer don't seem to spook as easy. The deer I see down here in the south are very skiddish, and if a young hunter tries some of that stuff that is on t.v. there coud be some very hard lessons learned. I think you have too read between the lines on these hunting shows. They are designed more to sell products and entertain than they are to educate. If a hunter were to gets about 15' up in a tree, using the limbs to break up is outline, and make sure that said hunter is in the shade. Also make sure that stand is placed in a good location ... and said hunter should see some success. You have to keep your movement small and slow and quiet. just take the stuff on t.v. for what it is ... hollywood and editing. Real hunting on tv would be boring. :darkbeer:

 

[rocketshooter]

I always carry a field tip and take a shot using my rangefinder at a leaf etc. just to get warmed up so to speak and know what my bow and myself are doing at what I am aiming at. Usually I hit the leaf and am comfident in the hunt.

Whew,I'm glad to see that I'm not the only "leaf shooter" out there! It is good practice,but I usually only do it in the mornings before I leave-the deer I hunt do not travel far from bedding to feeding,so I don't take any chances in the evenings!

 

[I SKUNKED YOU]

I shoot at leaf's also, This gives me extra confidence that nothing changed while getting into stand. I also try and shoot about 25-50 arrows a day during season.

The first thing I do is take some deep breath to calm down so I don't blow the shot. Remember all the pratice & form you aquired from shooting all summer. Try and watch the direction the deer path will take him. No quick or sudden movents. I like to get either 20-25 feet high or get in a tree with lots of cover.
When a deer comes in I try and get in position as soon as possible (sometimes this doesn't happen). When the deers head is down or is behind a tree or brush draw your bow. When he walks into a shooting lane settle that pin on the lungs (right behind the shoulder blade) and slowly release the arrow.
If you hit the deer through both lungs he will usually run about 30-40 yards and will stop gasping for air & then fall over. Dead in less than a minute.

 

[Kickin_Killa]

Pick your best time to move for the shot and when you do, move slowly.

 

[AtTheWall]

Deer spotted in stand. The minute you spot the animal, analyze it's activity and alertness with your eyes scanning shooting lane, animals eye/ear/head movement with periodic scans to the kill zone and body angle presented. As you focus on the animal, always run the range in your head mentally. Hopefully those that are challenged with yardages have pre-ranged points within their shooting zone and have these ranges memorized. If not, range the animal quickly only when the eyes and head are not within the peripheral vision of the animal, take that yardage and work from there on the angles if it continues to move. As the animal settles into the right shot angle, keep your eyes on the aim point spot and draw the bow only if you can guarantee it's vision and hearing will not bust you doing so. As you draw, only focus on that spot with the range rolling in your head. Keep the eyes on that spot and let the pins just come up. Do not focus on the pins, only the point of impact, and hopefully you have practiced this drill over and over so the pins automatically find the range necessary to dial the distance in (pin shooters). Single pin or adjustable shooters, you have to compensate or dial in your yardage (watch animals eyes and ears dialing in..adds more steps). When you hit the anchor point stop breathing and let some air out and hold that as they eyes continue to burn that impact point. Note the animals front leg closest to you, if it's back hold off the shot if it's vertical or slightly forward (broadside) you are set. Quartering, only focus on that sliver of the area you want to drill the arrow into and visually analyze it's exit through the maximum vital area. Same from elevated stand, remember to bend down from the waist, do not drop the arms and aim down, bend down and let the sight flow down into the impact spot your eyes are fixated on aiming low..way low and visualize the exit opposite of your arrows entry mark.

Trigger shooters should lightly touch the trigger and hold using a steady squeeze staring at the aim spot (a hair or spot if you have to). Thumb/backtension shooters should pull through the shot practiced over and over again. Do not jerk or target panic the trigger...relax and let the shot go off like a dream. Make yours shot happen without dropping the bow arm to watch the animal after release.....maintain that sight picture after release as long as you can even after THWACK. Try to watch the arrows flight through your sight and focus on it's point of impact holding the bow dead on as much as you can. Watch the animal run off and listen intently for direction if it clears view. After the shot, immediately stare back at the point of impact and memorize this spot immediately. This is your first tracking point. Go down out of your stand and view back toward your stand for reference. Recover arrow if it's a pass through and analyze/smell and read the signs the arrow and ground provide. Give the animal time, 30 minutes minimum, even if you hear it crash and move out on the blood trail 20-30 yards and come back to your shot point. This will reassure how well your hit was and blood trail will be. Immediate blood continue to hold for roughly another 30 minutes to making it an hour after shot. No immediate blood, give it more time and then proceed tracking. Shots made further back liver/stomach give it 2 hours and go out slowly using your ears to listen for sound. Do not press further if you feel the shot may be marginal, you do not want to pressure/jump the animal. Come back, mark your spots and give it time. Never move hard onto a marginally hit animal...have patience. Go back and grab others, and gear and prepare for a long track if necessary. Give thanks during recovery.

 

[Allen7791]

Agree 100% with hambini! I went to school with a guy who films hunts and he said that alot of the things you see on hunting videos is added later on for "dramatic" effect. So don't read to much into them. Its all trial and error. My dad was a rifle hunter, i wanted to bowhunt. Everything I have learned, I have done so the hard way. It takes time spent in the woods, and knowing a little something about the animal you are hunting. I think a person cant get some good ideas from videos and magazines, but the only way they'll learn is to just go hunt.

 

[SPECIALIZED]

I always carry a field tip and take a shot using my rangefinder at a leaf etc. just to get warmed up so to speak and know what my bow and myself are doing at what I am aiming at. Usually I hit the leaf and am comfident in the hunt.

I do not usually carry a ranger finder,busted three times while using, so,I have set up small markers <sticks> at different measured distances and take a shot like you with a field tip to make sure every thing is OK.

 

[Razor Dobbs]

I sweat blood.

 

[gonehunting 45]

Once I'm on stand and it is lite enough to see. I start going through every possible shot that may take place. I pick when I will draw back well befor any deer show up. I run this through my mind over and over. That way when a deer comes in I have it all planed out. I'm not serching for answers as it happens I all ready have a plan. Of coarse some deer don't go by the rule book and all the planing is thrown out the window. LOL

 

[bigdog02]

I find I have one big problem when I am on the stand and a deer is coming.
I wait way too long.
I am more impressed with watching the deer move through the woods, catching the details up close that you miss through a scope, like what plants it is eating, sounds it is making, etc.
I delay too long and before i know it I have my shot chance, but I have to much more carefully get into position since it is usually on top of me by that point in time.

 

[old Graybeard]

When his head is turned away I slowly draw and shoot him

 

[hobbs4421]

great post

Some great advice on here. One thing I find important is to definately be practiced up for the season. I do not shoot at a deer unless I have practiced that particular shot. Also, and I have found that it works great to get in ur stand and use your range finder b4 the deer come out, so u have an idea of your yardage. I range a tree at 20yrds, 30,and 40 just so I know roughly how far a deer is when it comes around the stand. Once you have a deer in an area you feel comfortable shooting, mark your spot b4 u shoot. This gives you an idea of where to look for blood, arrow, or any other signs. I learned this the hard way when I was 12. Shot at a deer, didnt know if I hit it, got excited and out of my stand, and could not find any signs. Great post, thanks and take care.

 

[ryan76chev]

I just want to say thanks to everyone that has posted on this thread. This is my first year bowhunting/hunting period and it helps to have all the advice I can get. :darkbeer:

 

[Mr.Coon]

a note on the video thing. i know a lot of people don't like him now, but Dan Fitzgerald's video's are about the only ones that i have seen that cover in dept what to do in the moment of truth. "down for the count", "abc's for better bowhunting", and basically all of the old video's without the unbearable Guy Fitzgerald all have a lot of good advise on them. come to think of it, i have never seen dan explain why they even chose a particular stand site. they just setup on trails.

as an impressionable youth of 14 when i started bowhunting Dan was my mentor sense no one i knew bow hunted. the video store guy would buy dan fitzgerald videos just so i could rent them over and over again. when i turned 20 all of there product pushing started aggravating me so i quit watching. then the final straw came, they got a tv show and sold out MUZZY and i had to watch fat guy preach the gospel to me and grill turkey breast every show.

anyway, if you want to learn something about shooting deer watch the older Dan Fitzgerald shows.

 

[findog]

Developing Ones Confidence

I shoot at leaves sometimes too, but only in the right circumstances. Stand preperation, shooting, and learning how to calm your OWN nerves is important. These and others mentioned above all develop confidence. Don't be afraid to shoot some does. Slam a few of those, and your on your way. Good luck on your first year!

 

[DocB]

I try to stand all day in my "stand". A big mistake a lot of people make is to sit in their stands. When that deer shows up at 10:30 and your sitting there it's awfully hard sometimes to stand up and then draw without being seen. If it's been raining I won't sit at all. If it's dry and the woods are noisy I'll sit some but probably not much. With that being said three years ago I was climbing out of my stand and had already lowered my bow when a six pointer came out of nowhere. I was just five feet off the ground. I hoisted the bow back up, turned around, knocked an arrow, and drew without a release. While I was doing all of this he just kept walking right towards me! At full draw and 15 yards away 5 feet up a tree he finally saw me. He wasn't the one I wanted and I didn't shoot but it show you sometimes you can do everything wrong and it doesn't matter.

 

[VeroShooter]

Good Question

I think you are right when you say that it's the practice that makes it all come together. I shoot a lot. Almost every day in fact. Last night I was hog hunting and got shoot one at 25 yards. I remember checking around my stand after getting there and looking at every spot that I thought I may see an animal and how I would hold which pin if it came out there. When the opportunity arose for a shot I was on absolute autopilot. I distinctly remember thinking after the shot that I really had no conscious activity just prior to or during the shot - it just happened. The result - a great "roaster" piled up only 20 yards from my arrow in the ground.:darkbeer: