I've never stopped a deer to shoot with my bow. Tried once but he didn't stop so I shot him anyways as he was pretty close.

I'll take my chances with them stopping on thier own.

Ya Know, when I posted this I was going to make this point more pronounced but figured folks would read it and understand. But just for the record. Most of my shots at "moving deer" weren't moving. I probably should have referred to it as "un alerted deer" but I couldn't because some shots were indeed done at a walking deer.

Like Jimimac has posted, most of the time the deer will just stop on it's own, if oblivious to your presence they will simply do as deer do....and that involves a lot of stopping.

The ones I have shot while walking I felt were very easy shots, really after a few it's really no big deal and I have found the results far out weigh the (what I conceive) minor risk.

This is a perfect example......

Yep it's possible your deer thought he heard a doe and came in to investigate, but once hit with an arrow he figured out pretty darn quick it wasn't a doe and got outta dodge!

Believe it or not he was on alert, maybe not to danger but to "something" making noise. He could have thought it was a doe, or just some strange sound that he wanted to investigate because it sounded like a doe. Once the arrow flew the jig was up though.

A deer waking through the woods will step on branches and have them kick up on them,or fall on them etc...They react to it but then go about their business.

They will also have things spook them and they react the same way. I can't tell you how many posts I've read where a hunter takes a shot with their bow....misses and says something to the effect. "the deer bolted for a few yards then stopped" or somethinglike that.

The deer reacted to the arrow whizzing by and got out of that immediate area only to slow back down again. Sure they may move out of that area after that but they're not sprinting away.

John,
I guess I don't know what you're point is. If you shoot a relaxed (not voice stopped) deer and he goes 50 yards VS an unrelaxed, voice stopped deer and he goes 100 yards, whats the difference?

It may not always be true, but your chances of making a better shot are with the stopped deer. A double lung, heart shot deer won't go 100 yards no matter how disturbed he is, most of the time (90% or better).

Not all relaxed deer go through the woods stopping frequently. I've had bucks with a nose full of hot doe trot at a fast pace long enough to get well out of range before stopping.

I think it's best to asses each situation individually, then make the decision whether to stop it or not. Some need it, some don't. Incidentally, I prefer not to stop them. This year it almost cost me a deer by not doing so.

I guess my point was/is.. On a less than perfect shot it would be better if the deer was not on alert than if it were. The deer (I have found) will not sprint away if they weren't on alert before the shot. So if a less than desirable shot was made the deer usually won't go too far and this obviously makes recovery much easier or even possible where it might not have been had the deer sprinted away.

I agree, a double lung or heart shot deer will die soon (for the most part)no matter how alerted they were. It's the not so perfect shots that this will help. I think a lot of folks get them selves into a situation that they wouldn't have been in if the deer wasn't alerted to them by a mouth call.

I too have had many deer especially bucks in rut cruise by with no intention what so ever of stopping on their own and in those situations I will try to stop them.

I also agree it's best to access each situation as it comes. I've just been gathering some information over the years and wanted to share.

I would suspect you are correct......But, on the flip side of this, wouldn't it be better to give yourself the very best odds at a perfect shot? In my mind, that's with a stopped deer. Now, the flip side of THAT is.....they may be more likely to "jump the string" so maybe it's 6 of one, half dozen of another....I dunno, but I think I'll continue to stop them.

If they're moving fast enough that I can't shoot them on the move....I have 2 choices:

1) Try to stop them
or
2) Let them walk

I guess the caliber of deer would make my decision for me (ex - I'm not going to try and stop a doe or a non shooter buck). I've stopped ONE deer.....and he's at the taxi. I've tried to stop a couple more and they paid me NO mind.

Well, I must be clear here, when I'm talking about a moving deer. I'm not talking about a buck cruising by like on a mission (we've all seen that)or one that'schasing.I'm talking about a scene most here have also witnessed.

I deer strolls into your area with not a care in the world stopping every so often to feed or what have you. Sometimes (actually most of the time) they will stop on their own in a spot where you can get a shot off. When I have this type of situation happen to me I will not stop the deer. I will find an opportunity to draw then I will wait for the deer to stop on it's own. If the deer doesn't but is just meandering around and will soon meander out of my lanes I will let the arrow go.

Again at the risk of repeating myself (too late)there are a lot of variables to consider: pace the deer is walking, distance away, etc...

Alright! We've come full full circle!

Now that I really think about it, many of my bucks stopped on their own, but a few havent either. I always have tried to stop them or have them be still if I am gonna shoot them with a bow. I have never taken a moving shot on a buck with my bow. I mouth grunt at them to stop them. I have had one buck react negatively to a mouth grunt, as he jumped immediatly out of his skin...for what ever reason and I didnt get a shot as he bounded off, he didnt even look at me he just exploded away... the others I all got still shots on them.

interesting topic, I agree with the logic of stop them first, giving thehunter the best shot...worry about the tracking later.. as a great shot takes care of that anyway...