Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I had a deer come straight at me when I was at full draw, it was checking out my decoy. I held for as long as I could and I knew the buck was either going to figure out the doe was plastic or see me let down so I aimed about 10 yards to his left at his feet in a debris free patch of mud and let the arrow go hoping it wouldn't know where the shot came from. Right or wrong?

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

That's just retarded.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I dont see what that accomplishes? He could have seen your bow shoot, and if he didnt he would be alert. Then there is no chance for you to knock a new arrow. Plus he could here your bow in the tree most likely and spot you.

Just slowly let down....seems like the best thing to do [&:]

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

why wouldn't you just slowly let down?? shooting an around will make noise, fling an arrow into something making noise, then you have to grab another arrow(making more movement), nock it, attach the release, then draw, then hopefully he will still be on your property by the time your ready to take another shot. just putting it into reality for you. sorry if i sound rude, im not trying to

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Way to dull your head.:eek:

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I'm thinking I let down and I am busted in the tree, no way I see the buck again from that stand again this year. I shoot the ground and all it is is a thump and maybe the buck isn't sure what happened. I couldn't hold it any longer so I was letting down no matter what. The buck was at about 20-25 yards looking my way but not directly at me. After the shot I got the big lollipop jumps for about 50 yards and he stopped to look back so I am thinking I may not have been busted. Usually when I get busted in the tree it is a dead run and no looking back. Constructive critisism is appreciated.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Not sure about you but one of my rigged hunting arrows runs 20 bucks.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

yeah to add on to what i was saying, you will probably ruin the broadhead and possibly mess up the arrow as well.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I am out a broadhead.... but I'd pay $20 to see the buck again. If I let down and the buck spots me, does anyone think I'll see that buck again in this area?

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

If you honestly believe that shooting an arrow into the ground is going to scare a buck LESS than letting down then keep at it. Oh and i forget about the lighted nocks. That puts me at 30 bucks an arrow.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

That is kinda what I am asking... which is going to scare a deer less. I've heard of people throwing things at deer when they are trying to get out of their stand to keep the deer from seeing them under the assumption that the deer is scared less by having something thrown at it, being whistled at/grunted at etc.than by seeing a human in a tree. Unfortunately I know first hand that an arrow buzzing by a deer without hitting itdoesn't have a long term effect on some deer. I wanted to be able to find the arrow so I chose some soft mud for recovery rather than just launching it into the woods. I'm not saying it was the smartest thing in the world but I wasn't thrilled with the idea of the buck spotting me in a the tree either.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

let down of course. i dont see how that would make more noise thand shooting and hitting the ground.
or more movement that shooting then knocking another arrow.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

i have been in this situation a good bit. im a ground hunter. i just go with my gut feeling. if i get him, woo hoo! if i don't, i'd still happy that i didnt shoot him and let him run off injured and scared. just let down next time. its not a big deal. half the time, they wont run lol. theres always next time. youll get him!

GOOD LUCK!

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I truly appreciate the feedback even if it's to point out that I'm an idiot. Most of my success has come from learning from my mistakes.... not repeating them. Looks like this is probably a learning experience:)

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I don't think your an idiot, and can understand your thought process. I myself would have let down. But you thought it thru, and did what you felt was right.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

If you can't let your bow down in a controled manner than it sounds like your pulling too much weight. How much are you pulling?? It's not speed it's accuracy and control.

Do you feel like you've been kicked in the nads...Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt. Good luck Kiddo!

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I only shoot 65 pounds which I can easliy draw and hold. The problem was the buck was taking a very round about way to the doe decoy and in retrospect I drew way too soon. I swayed just a bit and the movement got him to look up briefly, I used my leg to brace myself against the stand and he seemed o.k. with me then. He went back to looking over the decoy. My arms are now burning and I realize I am way beyond any graceful let down. I figured the 2nd movement would be the end of it. I had no expectations of getting another arrow on my string, I just wanted to avoid him pegging me in the tree. I was hoping for some responses of similiar experiences, i.e. "I drew on a deer and he saw me let down but I saw the buck a few days later" or "I drew on a deer and had to let down and that was the last time I saw the deer". I have a lot of respect for other hunters experiences and the fact that most are suggesting to let down is telling me that was probably the smart thing to do.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Just tonight (my 65th sit of the year) I realized how NICE it is to shoot my bow at 60#'s (for the very reason cited in this thread). I drew my bow near last light (to see if I could still center my pin housing if a deer came in) and just marveled at how easy it is to let down with this poundage.

I can put my intended target inside my pin housing and draw it straight back....never letting it come out of the housing. I can let down doing the same thing.

I don't see me going back up in #'s.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

That doesn't make much sense at all. The deer had to have heard your bow go off and you would make far more movement knocking another arrow after doing that. My guess would be he ran off after that. Spooked or not he prob went just far enough to where he thought he was safe then turned around and stood still and tried to pick you out.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Lmao!

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Maybe you can drop a few pounds in draw weight so you can hold longer ? Something to keep in mind for next year. No sense in doing now, you'll have to re-sight most likely.

You want to be able to control your let-down, especially for a situation like that. Learn to hold your bow back using back muscles, and not just your arms. You'll be able to hold longer.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I can definitely see your thought process. I have had deer less scared from a missed shot than from seeing me let down. You did what you felt is right, and that is ok by me. Like the others said, maybe just a dulled broadhead is what it cost you. Who cares if people get on you, you are not an idiot and the move sounds pretty smart.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

I would have let down just because it is habbit I guess.

I completley understand what you are saying and would tend to agree with your thinking. I have missed deer on more than one occasion :(and if you are shooting a quiet bow then they uaually don't even give it a second thought. Deer hear things falling from the trees every day of their lives. To have an arrowhit the groundten feet or so behind them wouldn't be anything out of the ordinary for deer.They willusually jump a little and take a few hops, look around, and go back to what they were doing.

I know around here, this time of year, bigpine cones are falling left and right and they make a heck of a racket as they tumble down the branches and hit the ground.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Ummm, how much closer do you NEED this animal to be and are you sitting on your decoy ( yeeeeee-haaawwwwww )??....20 to 25 yards would make my day for a shot...the norm the last 2 years has been 30-40 yards, and if he wasnt looking at you a let down and re-pulling would have been best and possibly filled the freezer.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Arrows and BHs are to expensive to shoot into the dirt.

Pluss you have a better chance of letting down.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

Usually when I get busted in the tree it is a dead run and no looking back.
That $20-$30 really adds up in your neck of the woods!

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

IMO if you can't let your bow down without making a lot noise or motionyou are shooting too heavy of a draw weight.

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

??? seriously

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RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

let me get this straight letting down will get you busted but fireing then nocking a new arrow, then drawing back won't ? I'd let down way less chance of getting caught

RE: Let down or shoot the ground?
 

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