I am in agreement that it is LESS LIKELY for a calm deer to jump a string than an alert one but I believe it to be more than opinion that deer will jump the string less than 20 yards,calm or otherwise than at further distances.I have only had it happen once and it was about 7 yards,but it was a very alert deer to my presence.[:'(]
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You make some good points T-Fox. Lots of times I think I've seen everything there is in the woods and then I see something that defies my understanding of nature and normal deer activity. We all know that deer jumping a string isn't that at all, the deer does not see the arrow, it's simply dropping to the ground to load thelegs muscles for a quick bounding escape and in doing so, it ducks the arrow.I think the x-factor for a deer to jump a string isthe deers anticipation of the shot. When you shot at the deer at 7 yards and he ducked, I think you'd find that it started to drop a split second before you punched the release, that's the only way he'd be able to get out of the way of a speeding arrow at that range. I don't think range has anything to do with it as some guys suggested that longer ranges have less odds of string shot.I think it's more likely that a deer at 40 yards will duck the string if he is spooked but also heis less likelytohear the bow go off andalso is less likely to have detected the hunter at that range too.

I'm looking forward to hearingan update on this deer. Ihope that glew has found this deer already but I wish he were using a fixed head instead of the Rage that shedall of itsblades as soon as it found bone. Even though theRage head lost it's baldes on entry, I think he still might find it if the penetration was good enough. Even a field tip will kill them if the goods are hit.