Stopping Deer

[BigJ71]

This time of the year is great (obviously) for reading about hunting stories and such. One thing I've noticed though is a lot of hunters will call out to deer to get them to stop so they can shoot them usually with a "maaa" or something of the sort.

While I have done this myself on more than one occasion, I only do it if the deer is on a good pace and I don't think I can make a clean shot. If the deer in just slowly walking I won't make a sound and I will shoot them mid stride or when they stop to browse or what have you.

I've actually been studying this for some time and there is areason why. I have found that approximately 90% of the deer I shot that I had to call to stop have ran out of sight, most of them pretty far (over 100yds) before dying.

Conversely, approximately 90% of the deer I shotwithout making any sound,fall within sight (under 50yds). Most of the time they will react to the impact and run for a bit then stop or continue walking until they fell over just as my deer did this year.

I believe the deer that hear your mouth call, stop to look to see where the sound is coming from and automatically go on alert. I think they know what they heard just wasn't quite right and are ready to bolt but being curious animals they hesitate. When they get hit by an arrow they now KNOW something is wrong, instinct kicks in and they flee.

If they don't hear a sound, and are not on alert,all they can compute is a sudden pain. They react to it but then calm down quickly. Nature is a rough customer and deer get injured a lot. Deer don't have the brain capacity to compute things like us and can't reason out what just happened. This is why (IMO) the deer have reacted the way they do.

I've been studying this for many years now...it just takes time to gather the data.

Just thought I'd share my findings....opinions anyone?

[goherd1111]

Interesting to say the least. I have never thought about it like that. I always make the "maaaa" noise and stop the deer. For some reason I don't feel comfortable shooting at an animal while it's in motion.

[Jimimac]

I hardly ever make a noise to stop a deer. I hate ratcheting up the attention of an otherwise undisturbed animal. To me personally, that never made any sense.

If the deer is really moving through with a sense of purpose, I will make an attempt, but otherwise, Ijust let thingsplay out.

[gzg38b]

Great post. Now that I think about it, I've noticed the same thing. I've stopped deer that were moving fast and they usually run further after the shot. Every deer I've shot without stopping I've watched fall (except the one I hit in the liver).

Interesting theory. I think there's something to this.

[BigJ71]

ORIGINAL: Jimimac

I hardly ever make a noise to stop a deer. I hate ratcheting up the attention of an otherwise undisturbed animal. To me personally, that never made any sense.

If the deer is really moving through with a sense of purpose, I will make an attempt, but otherwise, Ijust let thingsplay out.

This were my exact thoughts many years back when I decided to conduct this little experiment. While I know it's far from being "controlled" the results were somewhat surprising.

[mobow]

Your results are overwhelming, but nothing like mine. I've notnoticed any connection, at all. I used to do the Maaa, thing, but after spooking one I've changed. I now do the tick tick noise, like a cowboy uses to giddyup his horse.

Even if I had the same results, I would rather track a bit longer than shoot a moving deer.

[mcouey]

Last year I "stopped" a small buck with a mouth bleat before I shot him.

When I made the sound, the deer immediately trotted directly toward my stand looking for the "doe" he'd heard. It brought him about 10 yards closer. He was looking for the doe when I put one through his boiler room.

Indeed he did run approximately 100 yards after he was hit even though at the time I shot him he didn't seem to be on "alert" for anything dangerous.

Good observation, one I have never before considered. I'll be paying attention from now on.

[BigJ71]

ORIGINAL: goherd1111

Interested to say the least. I have never thought about it like that. I always make the "maaaa" noise and stop the deer. For some reason I don't feel comfortable shooting at an animal while it's in motion.

I really don't like to shoot them while walking either but after a few kills I realized it's not that big a deal. My aiming point (depending on distance or speed of the deer) will only vary a couple of inches.

I think even a marginal shot will have better results if the deer wasn't on alert before the shot. They just don't feel the need to continue running.

You have to understand how they think. and the manner of which they compute things. If not on alert and presented with a sharp pain, it seems like they equate that with the immediate area they are in. They all seem to "get out" of that immediate spot very quickly (10-30yds) but then once cleared, they will stop and some even have looked back with curiosity before becoming weak and fall over.

[Jimimac]

ORIGINAL: mobow

Your results are overwhelming, but nothing like mine. I've notnoticed any connection, at all. I used to do the Maaa, thing, but after spooking one I've changed. I now do the tick tick noise, like a cowboy uses to giddyup his horse.

Even if I had the same results, I would rather track a bit longer than shoot a moving deer.

Or the flip side to this is that you alert the animal enough that when he hears the next noise (your arrow release), he jumps the string and you end up with a wounder that you may or may not ever find. Heck, you already admitted you spooked one that way.

Y'all do what you want. Me, I much prefer a nice relaxed deer and let the game come to me instead of forcing the issue. When a deer is relaxed and moving through, they stop quite frequently on their own.

Why push it unless there is no other alternative?

[virginiashadow]

If no alternative I stop them...and yes I have noticed they bolt alot faster and farther after they hear you mouth something. For me, I like em stopped before I shoot.