Jumping the string.

[Speedgoat]

What are the thoughts about head up or head down when taking a shot on a whitetail? I shot at a deer yesterday when its head was down and it twisted down and away from the arrow. The arrow entered high left shoulder and came out the neck. The shot was at 17 yards. The deer spun so hard that the arrow knocked it down. Arrow was buried to the fletching and did not come out. I lost the deer. Should I have waited for the deer to raise it's head? Will they duck as hard if their head is up?

[enewman]

They are going to duck. I've shot both ways and I've had them move and I've had them just stand there. Just try to let them get relaxed.

I shot mine this year with a 510 gn arrow. There where 5 deer under the stand nothing moved till the big one was hit and he moved. He was broad side. The arrow went in is leg through the heart and out the other leg. The holes where lined up on both sides. It looks like the arrow was out before he moved. This was at 19 yards.

The bow is very quiet. With that weight of arrow

[Hamshire]

They will duck no matter how close you are - head up/head down. Only way they won't duck is if your bow is completely silent and that won't happen.

You have to aim low.

[150class]

Dang. 17 yards?

Haven't had a deer move that much on me at that distance yet

I have video of a spike completely ducking my arrow at 30 yards though

Suckers are fast

[J Wales]

I believe they duck much quicker if you shoot when their head is down. The process of raising their head forces the torso to drop more quickly.

[jerp]

I believe they duck much quicker if you shoot when their head is down. The process of raising their head forces the torso to drop more quickly.

I agree with this.

[Speedgoat]

I had my pin on the arm pit for a heart shot. It was the fastest duck I have ever seen.

[Traildust]

Are you shooting a Mathews?


Hard to say....alert / skittish deer are fast!

[enewman]

Light arrow=noise=ducked deer= lost deer


Just being a smart ***. It's never fun losing an animal. My friend shoots a 550 gn arrow bow is quiet Deer still moved and we ended up loosing him.

This is why it's hunting.

[jerp]

At 300 fps an arrow travels 20 yards in about 1/5th of a second. At about 1,100 fps the sound of the shot travels that 20 yards almost 4 times faster. It is nothing short of amazing how far a deer can move in that fraction of a second between when the sound gets there and the arrow arrives.

[DOUBLE-Z]

What are the thoughts about head up or head down when taking a shot on a whitetail? I shot at a deer yesterday when its head was down and it twisted down and away from the arrow. The arrow entered high left shoulder and came out the neck. The shot was at 17 yards. The deer spun so hard that the arrow knocked it down. Arrow was buried to the fletching and did not come out. I lost the deer. Should I have waited for the deer to raise it's head? Will they duck as hard if their head is up?

To me sounds like a dead deer. Not the ideal shot, but I would think he would bleed out pretty quick

[Mike Murphey]

Make sure they are relaxed as much as possible....

[justletmein]

Dang. 17 yards?

Haven't had a deer move that much on me at that distance yet

I have video of a spike completely ducking my arrow at 30 yards though

Suckers are fast

I had one last year at 18 yards, completely ninja'd the arrow and clean miss.

[Bill M]

I don't think head position unless looking at you makes much difference. 20 yds here. These are taken from video. I learned to aim very low and hope for lungs when they jumped/ducked.

[Limbwalker]

I believe they duck much quicker if you shoot when their head is down. The process of raising their head forces the torso to drop more quickly.

I also agree with this. Thinking back to all the deer I've shot at, the ones that have completely ducked under the arrow all had their heads down. Nowdays, if given the chance, I'll wait until their head is up. I also think they are more nervous when their head is down since they know it's a more vulnerable position for them to be in.