I agree with what you guys are saying....the excuse is way overused. Alot of folks don't want to admit they made a bad shot, but we all do at one time or another. However, deer can and do react to the sound of the shot. Do they always?.....nope. In fact, I've rarely seen it personally, but it does happen. Can they duck far enough, fast enough to avoid the shot completely???? Maybe...if it's a longer shot, a slower bow, and they are alert when you take the shot. At close range, it's definitely not a problem. I think it really only comes into play at longer ranges. More often than not, they will squat some, but still be hit. Like I said before...if you look at all the circumstances surrounding your shot opportunity, you should be able to make the shot count, even if the deer does jump the string.