I can give you guys a first hand "Real World" example of speed vs. an alert deer "Ducking" an arrow.....(you guys do realize that they really aren't trying to avoid the arrow right?)

Anyway........1999.
I'm in a treestand about 18 feet up watching a creekbottom......from behind me on the slope came a lone large doe. She traveled a trail parallel to the slope and was almost at the same level as me. It was like shooting from the ground.

She spotted something she didn't like and was staring a hole right thru me.....but she was right there at 20 yards. Wide open absolutely perfect dead broadside.
I knew I shouldn't even try, but I did..... I drew back and she never moved, but she was at full alert.
It's one of those moments you know isn't going to be perfect, but you just can't stop yourself.
I held dead on her heart and released......

I was shooting a Mathews "Ultra Max" at 67# and a 350gr. arrow going 302fps.

She did the textbook "Duck" to bolt the second that release triggered.....I mean I don't even think the arrow cleared the bow yet.
But she never made it.
ALMOST......but didn't make it......I was holding dead heart, and that arrow was true at release......it hit her right at the base of her spine, still broadside, and destroyed the artery running under the spine. She bled out in about 5 seconds.

This is just my opinion now, and not fact, but now in my head.......from experience, if I have a good solid hold on a broadside or quartering deer......with any of my bows shooting 300+fps, 15 yards and under equates to a dead deer. I don't care HOW alert they are, I just don't think they're gonna make it..... I just adjust a bit and aim DEAD center heart
If they are not alert to begin with , there is NO WAY they are dodging an arrow that fast at any yardage under 20.....in this case I aim "TOP" of the heart.

An alert deer at yardages of 20 and beyond are BAD news for any speed bow......if I almost missed clean at 302fps on a dead broadside deer at 20 yards that should tell you something......especially since I was aiming pretty low.

Edited by - Matt / PA on 01/30/2002 17:51:22