Ive never had a deer come in and sniff and arrow, but last year I had a coyote come in, and at half draw my release broke, and the arrow flew out about 10 yards and stuck in the ground, he saw it stick in the ground, and ran to it, I though he was going to grab it, but it only took a tiny sniff and he was hauling tail getting out of there, kinda funny actually, except for my bleeding lip from hitting myself when the release broke.lol