Ok well it's been a hot topic this year. Let's discuss the pros and cons of stopping a deer.

I for one try and gage the body language and the reason for movement, browsing, nervous movement, going from point "A" to point "B", scrape/rub tending, etc.
If it's typical browsing or slow casual movement, I'll try and let them stop on their own. If I need to give a bleat I'll give a quick quiet Ma..if it doesn't work I'll go louder. But it's short.
To me it's like a gun shot..fire one and 3 people will say it come from a different direction, fire 2 or one longer one and it's much easier to pin point. I don't want the deer to figure out my location. I just want to give a loud enough noise that he says..huh did I hear something??

Yes we watch a lot of hunting shows and most all use a bleat of some sort. But bare in mind they want the deer looking at the camera, when the shoot is released. It makes better footage. Most of us don't need that, we need as relaxed a deer as possible to make a good shot.

Anyway my 2 cents..what say you?

For me it comes down to this.

I do not want to give my position away. Even though i have buck in front me, you never know whats coming.
I have done it. In 2005 I did it on a rut crazed 10 I shot. He was so crazed he had no idea. He went by me 4 times that day before I decided to chance it.

It has cost me also, in 2003 and 2004 I had a 150 class 8 within 15 yds with bow back. Deer did not stop, I did not bleat nor did I shoot. I have decided to take it one encounter at a time.

Exactly. Same here.

Really? I guess it could be possible.

The same goes for me. I don't want them to know where I am at. I tend to let them stop on their own terms.

Yesterday was the first time that it ever burned me. But, it was probably only the 2nd or 3rd time I've ever had to do it. I would always prefer to shoot atan unalarmed, disinterested deer that is standing still on his own accord.

I have actually dropped things from the stand before. Accomplishes two things. First, it makes the deer look at the bottom of the stand. NOT at me. Second, it is a vague noise sothe deer is not looking for another deer.

I'm like ya'll, I like the deer to stop on it's on accord. Most deer are cautious enough to occasionally stop and check things out anyways. Of course rut crazed bucks are a different animal. I usually don't "maa" until the last possible second and like Gr8 said...short noise. I prefer to be as quiet as possible though.

I will add

I think it is only a matter of time until we train them in the blah sound also

Obviously, I would prefer that a deer stop on its own, but if I'm fairly sure it isn't going to stop, I am going to stop it myself. If it costs me a shot, so be it, but I would rather shoot at a stopped deer than try a moving shot or not get a shot because the deer just kept going.

Another point, you can usually tell if they are trucking through or just trotting a bit. If he moves a little bit past "the spot" and stops, he might just stay and mill about a bit. He could be there for a half hour for all you know. Give him the chance unless to come back on his own unless he really seems to be on a mission.