I' ve shot walking deer inside 20 yards with no problem.

Shot one walking at 30 yards and hit high and 3" back from where I wanted to. Fortunately I hit an artery and he died within 20 yards. I will NEVER take that shot again. It was really, really stupid.

My limitations are inside 20 yards I' ll shoot them walking. Outside 20 and inside 30 I' ll bleat them to stop and shoot only if they stop. I will never shoot outside 35, too many variables not in my favor to get a clean kill. That boy better be standing still, not alert for a minute, and without any wind before I think of a 35 yarder.

Shooting at a deer or any animal that is walking is just like shooting birds in flight.Except for all the shot.
What I mean by this is simply follow thru.If you are following the deer as it walks and are holding on the spot, then the arrow will hit exactly where you are aiming.

If you are trying to time the release then you will run into alot of problems.Don' t ever try this.

I shot a deer walking at 35 yards and hit exactly where I released the arrow.I know others that will do the same with the same results.I also know a guy that tried to compensate on a walking deer and aimed forward,in the shoulder,and hit it right in the shoulder.I also shot a bobcat that was waliking at a decent pace and busted him right thru the heart.

I much prefer to shoot a walking deer than try to stop him with some kind of noise.This will bring a deer to full alert in most cases and when you release the arrow,the deer bolts(jumps the string) and the result is a less than desirable shot.


A fast moving animal is a totally different circumstance and I say take your chances at trying to stop the animal.

If I cannot stop the animal, I will not shoot the animal.

I have let big bucks and little does walk because of my ethics.

Jim

I' ll put in my vote for not taking a shot at a moving animal. I have had a few instances years ago when I attempted this and usually it didn' t work out. I suppose if you practiced moving shot and are consistent on them then it would be OK. I for one do not practice moving shots. Like mentioned earlier usually a bleat or soft whistle will stop them in their tracks. I have found a few instances espescially when bucks are chasing does that you have to actually yell at them to get them to stop. When yelling loud to get there attention though you better be ready to shoot as soon as they put on the brakes. Below is a picture of a buck I shot in 97' (Sorry for the shotgun kill pic on the bow site) That I basically had to scream at to get him to stop because he was running after a doe that had just come through my area. I yelled HEY HEY HEY!! to get him to stop for a standing shot.

I shoot walking animals all the time when they' re around 20 or less. I think they' re less likely to react to the sound of the bow than an animal standing still that' s not making any noise. 30 yards is another matter. I' ve shot a couple that way but they were moving at a steady slow rate. The lead is no problem really.

I used to see quite a few people that would answer this with a " sure why not, I practice on moving targets at 3D shoots all the time!"

Well, yeah. but those moving targets don' t change direction like a deer can!

Thundermug, So what about all that can go wrong with any shot on a live animal?

I said before that I would never take a shot that I don' t practice. I practice moving shots.

I agree with T Fox

I' ve shot a few walking, and I' ll take that shot every time inside of 20yds.
I' d prefer a slow, steady walk, to a deer standing still, he' sless likely to jump from the shot noise, and less likely to pick you out as you prepare for the shot, draw, etc. A 15 yard walking shot is very easy.

I guess its safer to take a 15 yard shot at a walking deer than it would be to take a 40 yard shot at a deer standing still.