Poking the deer...
 

I've seen people poke, and at the begining of my hunting career have poked, deer with their bows when they get up to it. I quit poking the deer because, even if the deer isn't dead and you poke it and it gets up, there is nothing you can do about it. Worst case the deer jumps up and starts kicking and sticking you. A poke in the butt or eye didn't make a difference, and there is no time to draw and get off a lethal shot. Even with a gun the only thing a poke in the butt will do is give you a chance to shoot it in the arse if it moves. So why bother? Mainly I only did it to give myself a, false, sense of security. How do you feel about poking adead/dying deer, and do you think it would make a difference to poke it and find it wasn't dead?

RE: Poking the deer...
 

i dont think it really matters if people poke it or not. no matter what the only thing it might do is kick like you said. it could possibly get up and run another 20 yds but nothing is going to be done by poking it. i always walkup tothe deer with my knife in hand.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I think the only reason you might poke one, or I usually walk up to the butt and give it a little nudge with my foot, is because if the animal is going to thrash or try to get up, you want them to do it before you try to grab their leg to move them into field dressing or picture position, which could definately hurt. I saw another guy that just walked up and grabbed a leg and got his arm tore open for his trouble. As long as their eyes are open and glazed and no sign of life, they're probabaly dead. If eyes are closed...get ready.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

The only reason I poke it is to make sure it won't be poking me back.:)

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I laugh every time I see someone on those shows do that. I just don't get it. Look at the thing....it's not breathing, it's been down over a half an hour....what's the point?????

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I agree with mobowhuntr, it's ridiculous and then they say, "ah he's done". It makes more sense to approach at such an angle you can watch the eye and then poke it, it's the only way other than taking it's pulse to know if it's completely done.

I usually call out a few choice names when I see them do that on television.....it's more like monkey see, monkey do on footages.....[&:]

RE: Poking the deer...
 

look at the eyes to see if its dead if you want to poke him poke him in eye then if there is any life in him he will at least blink

RE: Poking the deer...
 

A couple of years ago there was a story on here about a kid who tried to drag his deer out with his belt that was still attached to his waist. He went for the ride of his life. I poke all my deer and will continue to poke, prod and take the pulse of each deer before I stick my head anywhere near the legs.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

what if it was a bear? would you rather poke it with a stick or weapon or with your finger?? i don't see anything wrong with poking them, like someone else said, then if they do some kicking or whatever you don't get hurt. Or if its a bear, you hopefully can shoot him again before he eats you if he has enough life in him.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

Let me clarify....I don't have a problem with it....if you feel safer poking that critter, by all means, poke away. I just laugh at the "Stars" that do that, and the manner in which they do it. Cracks me up.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

i dont poke it.. I look at its eyes and they are already changing color. If I shoot one.. Its F ' ed up.. No need to poke, kick, stick touch or whatever..

RE: Poking the deer...
 

i havent seen a deer yet that was lying on one side with its head down get up and run..:Dhow about you guys

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I remember seeing on a show once, where the guy, all in one motion, poked him with an arrow and as he was poking him he was on his way down to his knees. If that deer had been alive he would have been screwed. :eek:

RE: Poking the deer...
 

Sorry for coming accoss as all defensive or whatever mobowhuntr, wasn't intending to, just trying to say that i see why a person would poke.

Neither have i, but there are many things i haven't seen, doesn't mean they don't or can't happen. nothing wrong with trying to prevent getting hurt.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I had a post on this very same thing a while back. I call it the Jackie Bushman courtesy poke. I've killed my share of deer and have yet to walk up on one playing possum. All of the deer that I've perosonally walked up on that were still alive either got up and ran before I got to them or were to close to death to get up. Bottom line is if the deer is still alive you're going to be able to tell long before you get to within poking distants. JMHO

RE: Poking the deer...
 

seen a video where the deer jumped up got the hunters 300 mag caught in his antlers and took of running, they did get gun and deer back but i bet that got real interesting fast not knowing to chase or run .A deer is usually dead unless they have their eyes closed or blinking and see if they are breathing. No need to poke when i shoot.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

My dad had a moose come awake on him. He didnt poke it, and him and the guide were standing at its feet when it picked its head up. Luckily my dad had his 300 wetherby mag locked and cocked. He put another round in the heart, and was real lucky the nerves didnt cause the legs to start kicking or they'd both been screwed. I always approach a downed animal with caution because of that story. Knife, rifle, bow or hand gun, im ready to fight back. I drop my guard after the poke. With deer its not much of a problem and i dont usually poke, but w/ anything that could really harm me, im careful.

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Considering how long it typically takes for me to find my deer I think poking would be a waste of time. :)

RE: Poking the deer...
 

POKE THE DEER! Had an incident several years ago where hunter from neighboring lease contacted game manager on place that I hunted then. Hunter told of huge buck that he had shot and trailed to property line.Manager took hunter and half grown lab that he was training to be a blood dog to find deer. When they found the deer, it was a puny 1.5 yr old basket rack that had been gut-shot and was still on his feet. Hunter took another shot and put deer down, but it was still kicking every once in a while. They put drag rope on deer and started out of woods with guns slung over shoulder. Lab pup would attack deer every time it kicked. Suddenly deer stood up and dog really attacked. Deer took of running in circles on the end of 12 foot rope. Dog was in full attack mode , and hunter hit the eject button leaving my friend to deal with the deer on the end of the rope.He finally got a tree between him and the deer with a wrap on the tree and took up slack till he had the deer snubbed off to the tree. Finished killing deer with knife. POKE THE DEER!

RE: Poking the deer...
 

I have never had a problem with deer killed with a bow. I think it's due to to time I wait before I start tracking. Even if I see the deer fall from my stand I wait plenty of time before I go to it.

NOW..... gun hunting is quite another story:D Last year I shot a nice 8point with my trusty H&R single shot slug gun at about 40yrd slightly quartering toward me. The slug went through the front shoulder, boiler room and out the otherside through mid rib. The deer ran (stumbled) 15-20 feet and fell. I'm thinking....good shot BigJ. Give it about twenty minuets or soand go get him.

I ate a Snicker bar:) and drank a little water, sat back and basked in the glory of yet another sucessfull hunt. Now mind you, I can just see part of the deer the whole time and he ain't moving one bit! I get down from my stand and start walking to the deer, my trusty H&R in hand and it's single shotchamber reloaded with the potent Winchester Supreme Silver tips. As I get about oh.......two feet from the deerI can see that he is laying on his side with his head toward me looking VERY lifeless.I reach with my gun andpoke him. Just then, he jumps onto his feet!Ijump back startled as all get out and proceed to put another round into him killing him dead on the spot.

I never in a thousand years would have thought that deer was alive.

Moral of the story.....Allways pokeIf I didn't and just knelt down I may have been hurt:(. For me at least It dosen't hurt to extend out your arm and give a poke as you get to your deer. It only takes a second and it's a pretty surefire way to tell if the deeris dead.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

i dont poke the deer, i leave them sit about a half hour before i even leave my stand to look for it.

RE: Poking the deer...
 

a deer or bear doesn't die with its eyes closed. If eyes are closed be ready.