Hawgz was right on about listening to a shot from a downrange position. My hunting pal stood [safely] downrange as I was tuning my FX. Then again after I added Limbsavers and the Simms Modular Stabilizer. At 20 yards there is no human descernable sound from my bow; however there is a faint ppfttt from the arrow itself.

In my opinion it is as much the deer sensing something wrong and reaction to it. Here in Washington State in the mountains that ppfttt cannot be heard by us above the ambient sounds.

I literally and mentally force myself NOT TO MAKE EYE CONTACT with any animal I intend to shoot at and I think that this has helped me out to 30 yards. I also aim benind the shoulder and in the bottom 1/3 of the deers heart/lung area. Every deer from the Coues, mulie, whitetail, elk, moose, caribou will automatically Duck even if shot with a .270. If one aims at this lower 1/3 of the heart/lung cavity there is less likleyhood that your shot will miss.

Just my two sents worth.

Bowhunter