When to draw
 

I went hunting the other day and a friend of mine was trying to film the hunt. Well a couple of doe came towards me late in the day and he was on them so I drew when I thought she woulod be at my shoting lane in about 15 sec. Well that didn't happen. She took more like a minute so I had to let down and she saw the movement. Not so bad though because she didn't spook she just gave me a harder shot at 40 yds instead of 20. The bad thing is my buddy saw me let the draw down and turn the camera off, cus he thought she was out of range and he had some does around him that he was going to take. Needless to say I spooked the deer around him and we didn't get the shot on film, but we did get a good doe. Q. What are your guys thoughts on the right time to draw.

RE: When to draw
 

I really can not answer this question with a good answer. You have to watch the deer's movements an try to predict the movements an watch the pace that they are moving. If they are feeding along you can bet that you are going to be holding a draw for a little bit. You have to be sneaky an may need to draw more than once. The deer maybe be on a steady walk with some place to go if so you better be drawing whey he or she gets in range. I have found that a buck on a steady walk that is most likely going from one bedding or feeding area to another would not see you if you were in the tree waving your arms. I always try todraw when he is behind a tree or something is between me an him. Hope that helps a little good luck with your hunting trips.

RE: When to draw
 

Bowhuntert is absolutely correct. The situation will dictate when you should draw. I like to think that if I can see the deers eyes, then they can see me. Also always try to draw on a deer thats behind something, moving, or looking away, and be wary of other deers eyes. If another deer sees you draw, she'll most likely stomp, thus alerting the other deer and put them on edge. More likely to duck the arrow.

RE: When to draw
 

Good answer!!

Every situation is different and there is no teacher like experience. Stay after them!;)

Dan

RE: When to draw
 

I draw when I want to shoot, often I stop the deer before I even draw and make a very quick shot, normally the sequence goes, stop the deer, range, draw, shoot but I agree, every situation will dictate a difference response.

RE: When to draw
 

You are saying that you stop the deer before you draw your bow?

RE: When to draw
 

And as we ALL know, getting busted is gonna happen from time to time. . .it's part of the game. Don't let it get you down.

RE: When to draw
 

Like mentioned before every situation is different. Even if you think you drew you bow back at the perfect time the deer can and often do change their minds and go either around or through your shooting lane. One thing I have practiced and feel is a very important and that is to hold my bow at full draw for a long time, until I get the shakes bad. After I start shaking Ill bear down and shoot. I try and make this part of every practice sesion. One it helps you be able to hold the bow longer, gets you better at making the shot when your arms dont have much left in them, and trying to make a perfect shot when your arms are shaking is about as close to the real thing as you can get.

RE: When to draw
 

If I am gonna have to stop the Deer I get to full draw and then try to stop'em;)

Dan

RE: When to draw
 

Thanks guys for your response. I asked because my buddy said that he drew when he was going to shoot. I agree with the majority that every situation is different, I just wanted to hear other peoples prospective on that. Thanks again, and Passthru thats a great tip I'm going to add that to my practice routine.

RE: When to draw
 

Good question road dog, refreshing to see a thread more directly related to hunting situations than what's been posted lately.

I too struggle with the decision of when to draw. I concur that it's best to draw when the deer are not in plain view with the hope that when they step in the open you are ready to rock, but they do seem to have an uncanny sense to stop in the thick stuff, leaving one in the situation you were in - at full draw for an extended period of time. You did what I would have done, some times it works, other times it doesn't.

RE: When to draw
 

I try to draw at the first good chance, I'd rather risk having to hold for a few minutes that getting caught with them in my lap.

I also try to draw when either I can't see the eyes, or they are moving.

RE: When to draw
 

Sometimes, not all the time yes but again, every situation dictates what needs to happen.

RE: When to draw
 

Agreed that you have to read the deer to make a decision.

Whenever I set up a ground blind or a treestand, I ALWAYS have a designated draw area. I assume I know where the deer are coming from, and if they play their part, I have a spot that I know ahead of time is my draw spot. If its in a tree, many times I will cut extra oak limbs full of leaves and hang in front of me to give me additional screening for my draw spot. Thinking all these things through before the deer is there greatly ups your odds.

RE: When to draw
 

When they ain't looking.

I always draw first then stop the deer. Even then, one busted me and escaped.

RE: When to draw
 

I draw whenever I feel the time is right, as every situation is different. That’s a poor explanation, but its as best as I can put it.
I’d rather error to drawing on the early side, as opposed to drawing at the last possible second.

RE: When to draw
 

I must be different
I never draw earlier, I wait until I can shoot the deer. Meaning if they do get spookie and stop in front of they are in range and I can shoot them.

I never pull back until I can shoot the deer. Meaning I pull back, within 3-10 seconds I am shooting;).

I do this for two reasons

1. who knows what a deer is going to do 40 yds out
2. who knows what else will come in;) In 97 I was going to shoot a nice doe, as I waited a big buck came by, so I shot him.

I never want to tip my hand early, is the best way to put it.

RE: When to draw
 

X2

I don't want to hold my bow back for longer than 20 seconds. Not because I can't, but becauseI feel I am more accurate when I draw, put the pin on it, then release as opposed to draw, wait, put the pin, release.

RE: When to draw
 

Great topic. I would also say it depends on each situation, or watch the deers demeanor in his movement when preparing for you shot.When Isee deer creeping through the woods, taking their sweet time either feeding, or alert for some reason, I wait until they are in range and not lookingbefore I draw. When I see deer unalarmed and on a steady pace moving on a trail or even just through a field or open woods,I feel more comfortable drawing a few steps before they are in range as an immanent shot is going to happen. Example, if I see a few Does feeding through an area picking their heads up, randomly looking around, then continuing to feed and walk, Im much more careful about drawing. When I see a buck rapidly approaching nose to the ground, you just have to time it just like Payton Manning to Marvin Harrison lol. Draw a few steps before youre clear shooting area, try and stop the buck, WHAM!! Touchdown!!

RE: When to draw
 

I draw just before they get into shooting range or a shooting lane, then stop them! I'll draw when there behind a tree, walking or not looking. I usually have an idea of where and when I'm going to draw before I even see a deer. I'll sit on stand and think about all possibilities, "OK if a deer comes down this trail, I'll try a draw when its right here or here, if it comes down this trail....etc..." I try to play it out in my head!

RE: When to draw
 

To clarify my statement, I've never drawn before a deer was in range. When I draw, more than likely the shot is coming soon, but I've had cases where it took a while(or even had to let down and redraw).