(Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

My dad and I had this very same discussion on the phone tonight. Is It the right thing to do? I hear allot of story's of people blahing, grunting, whistling, yelling, etc, to stop there deer so they can shoot It. Some of the times these story's end In spine shots or misses being your alerting that deer before you shoot. I'm not saying It's right or wrong. What do you all think? Tell me why also.

As for myself, I will not do It. At least I haven't yet anyway. I don't want that deer to know that there's something else around. No wrong or right answers here, just a friendly discussion that maybe we/me can learn something from.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I've done it successfully, but prefer not to unless he's trotting in quick. If he's feeding in, let him come. I never liked firing on a buck with him looking right at me even if I'm at full draw. Like you said, no right or wrong.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

It depends on the situation.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I fixed It for ya!!;):)

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

Only as a last resort Steve. I am like you in the respect that I do not want that deer alert, looking for me. I would however do it without hesitation if it was a bruiser moving way too fast or chasing a doe. ( What would I have to lose type situation.)

LT

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

Easier to hit a deer where you want if it's not moving. ;) I totally understand the argument about an alert deer though. I've not ever had one jump the string because of my stopping it though. And if he happens to be chasing a doe, you've got to do something to stop that bad boy. In fact, I'm going to by a whistle for just such occasions. They are so "1 track minded" when they are chasing, it's dern near impossible to stop them.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

My brother had this problem 2 days ago. He had this buck come by at 15 yards twice hot on a doe moving fairly quick. He tried just about everything to stop this buck, nothing worked and no shot.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

my first ever year bowhunting a got a shot at a pretty decent PA buck...not huge..probably 90-100 inches...would been an awesome first buck...

had 2 buddies squirrel hunting in the area and trying to move deer a little bit for me..i didnt ask them too..cant even remember if i had knowledge of it prior to shooting..

anyway, a doe and yearlings came by quick...i grunted at them a couple times..nothing...a minute or 2 later here they come running again...same way they just ran in...but behind them is the buck. im already standing...i ID him as legal(atleast 4pts to a side) and something id LOVE to kill...hit full draw...he was heading into my last good lane...."BAH!!" he froze and as he froze i released...i was so quick on the release it wasnt funny...but he froze and swung is neck and was looking right at me...

watched the arrow fly PERFECT for hit vitals...lighted nock made it even easier to see...

as the arrow is flying, i watched him start to sink towards the ground......

sure enough by the time the arrow got there, he was much lower...arrow hit him high in the back above the spine and lungs...still trailed him...200-300yds of pindrops ended and it started raining...called out the crew for the next day...i think there was like 7 of us....we ground pounded for 4 or 5 hours...im convinced he was fine...

almost quit bowhunting and sold the bow...glad i didnt...but i came VERY close..i was sick...

rifle hunting, that was my common practice...either shoot them on the run or stop them...

in the tree stand, i will now let them pass before i stop them and shoot them...just not worth the risk....

only thing to do without letting them blow completely outta range is maybe stop them and HOPE they feed or walk slowly and drop their guard...then shoot...

my view is you didnt likely spook the buck...its running from someone else or chasing does...chances of that buck coming back through are pretty decint...he uses the area and you went undetected...on the other hand, you shoot him and wound him or miss him....your gig is up...chances of shooting him from that stand again are slim to none for the most part...

tough decision...what ive done since then was stop them when needed...the buck i shot last year i stopped...he actually watched me stand and draw...but i waited till he dropped his guard before releasing...worked out...different deer react differently to different things...observing deer and how they react is probably the best way to go about it IMO

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

One time down In Missouri in late Dec. I was hunting. I was hunting only about 100 yards from a road and I heard a car hit it's brakes. About 8does came running over the hill on a dead run. I was funny I just yelled hey and they all froze. I shot a big doe who was stopped about 10 yards from me. I have also whistled and got a buck to stop for a shot

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I dont like to, but I will stop one for a shot if I think thats all I got.
Use to whistle at them befor grunts or Blah!! come into the picture.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I depends on the situation. On deer under 20 yards....... maybe. On deer 20 yards or more.......No. It would have to be the last resort for me to do it.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I would only try it if he is maving in fast other wise i would let him walk where he wants and not alert him

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

It depends on the situation. If he is taking a path to where he will likely cross several shooting lanes, I'll keep quite and hope he stops in another. If he is chasing a doe, or is moving fast for whatever reason, or I am about to run out of shooting lanes, I'll definitely make a grunt sound to try and get him to stop.

As has been mentioned, when in hot pursuit of a doe, it is almost impossible to get one to stop, but I am sure gonna at least try.

As far as spining one, aim lower in anticipation of him "jumping the string".

I remember a Will Primos show where he specifically noted that Mississippi deer are notorious for being severe "string jumpers", even when not on alert,and he had to aim lower as compared to other parts of the country where he hunts. I had never heard it regionalized as being different in certain places until then or since then, but who am I to argue with Will Primos?

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I tend to hunt funnels areas or swamp edges that allow deer to travel through.
In all my years of hunting, the heavy majority of deer are trotting or walking through and don't offer me a relaxed shot.
So the "BLAH" has worked well, however, it depends on their demeanor as they approach.
If they appear alert I become cautious as too why they are alert and wonder if it is possibly from me / scent, etc..?
Typically when I stop deer they immediately become alert, of course, and this leads me to try and shoot lower by a few inches.
This is a guess from experience and trying to compensate for them dropping down before they lunge.

Example: I had a nice 8 pointer on archery's opening evening of 2007 pass by me. He trotted through, from my right side, to behind me.
As I got position I only had 1 shooting lane cut in that direction and to stop the buck I had to bleat.
I believe because I was on a knoll and he was under me, the trajectory was steeper, which left me with a smaller aiming point for the vitals.
Unfortunately I DID not compensate for the bleating along with the steeper angle and the buck was on "HIGH" alert and he proceeded to jump my string.
I'm not sure any compensation would have mattered, as this bucks belly hit the ground during his frantic scare while he lunged.
The funny thing is, he took one 10' lunge and walked to about 40 yards as if nothing happened.
At that point he turned back in my direction and flicked his tail, which is equivalent to the middle finger, never knowing what happened, or did he??!!!

So... I marked down YES, but it could have been marked down as under certain circumstances.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

Only if I have to. If the walk is slow enough, I'll shoot. Too fast & I'll try to stop it.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I've had mixed results.

I had a good 8 pointer trotting by me really slowly in '06....and I got caught sitting down....bow on the hook. I "mahhh'd" to stop him....and didn't have time to get a shot off. I made a mistake. I SHOULD HAVE not made a sound and just accepted "defeat". What I did was I alerted him to my position....and I didn't see him in that vicinity again all season.

Fast-forward to 11/6/07.....and the SAME buck is coming in from behind me and to my right. I get to a shooting position as he passes behind me mere feet from my tree. He came to a stop (undera sapling)at less than 10yds and stood there looking at the few does that were also under me. When he went to dog one of the does....I again tried to "mahhh" to stop him. No dice. I tried it louder....and he stopped.

I nailed him.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I can't remember a deer I haven't "blaaah" (stopped) in the last 4 years.

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I voted "depends on the situation" I have done it and not done it both to success!

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

x2

But more of a Mahhhhhh.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I chose"it depends". I have done it, but prefer not to. I will only do it if they are moving quickly....then they usually don't know where it came from. Once you alert them...I have found that I had better aim low, cause they are like a springboard ready to drop and go.

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RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I have done it twice so far this year. I would rather not having to do it, but if I have a deer come in that wont stop on his own, you can bet that I will do it again.

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I usually only grunt b4 i take a deer if he's on the move, gets him to stop and look your way, opening him up to a vary of good instant drop kills, bottom of the jaw,head, and right through the heart, but i have also had bad experience's with this, one time it spooked him and i ended up with a messy gut shot, ended up tracking the blood trailfor about 1500 yards, so my opinion, only do it if he's on the move and u got him in ur sights!!

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

Well I don't know the answer to this question, but I'm glad you brought it up. It almost seems like you are just going to have situations where things just do not work out no matter what you do. I tried stopping a buck once and he jumped 5 feet straight up and took 2 or 3 big bounds before stopping and checking things out. (out of range of course). I recently shot at a doe who had stopped on her own, but then took a step just as I shot, and I ended up hitting back more than I wanted. (story to be posted later) I've also had a buck jump the string, but this was a different situation where he was alert of me.

As for me, I'm will probably try stopping again, but it kind of depends on the situtation - how alert he is, how many shot lanes are going to be open etc. Mostly I think on the demeanor of the deer. But if I do stop a deer, I will be aiming low (heart shot) in anticipation of the deer jumping the string. I would much rather take a shot at a deer that has no idea I am there - if only so that the deer does not run as far, etc. I think if the deer realizes that a predator is there, it may want to go farther when hit than just bedding down somewhere close, but this is just my brain rattling around thinking out loud...

RE: (Blah!!) Stopping deer
 

I generally bleat with my mouth as I rarely have deer stop exactly where I would want them to. I think the key is to start softly so not to alarm the deer, then if that is not working, loudly. If I see no reaction then, I whistle. You can also generally tell by the body posture/what it is doing if the deer will likely be easy to stop. I have had to yell to stop a buck once even. I agree, you want to avoid getting a deer keyed up before the shot.