Rob, I don't know about that. I have stood behind the side of a barn while someone shot arrows downrange. When they went past my location I could hear them go by, especially the ones with vanes, feathers wern't too bad but still could be heard. Reliezing this I poked my head around the corner and couldn't hear the arrow coming but did so as they passed by. So I question weather a deer can hear the arrow coming at him or not, but then again I am hard of hearing or as I perfer to say it, I have selective hearing.