I've seen people poke, and at the begining of my hunting career have poked, deer with their bows when they get up to it. I quit poking the deer because, even if the deer isn't dead and you poke it and it gets up, there is nothing you can do about it. Worst case the deer jumps up and starts kicking and sticking you. A poke in the butt or eye didn't make a difference, and there is no time to draw and get off a lethal shot. Even with a gun the only thing a poke in the butt will do is give you a chance to shoot it in the arse if it moves. So why bother? Mainly I only did it to give myself a, false, sense of security. How do you feel about poking adead/dying deer, and do you think it would make a difference to poke it and find it wasn't dead?