Fellas - I know this one has been touched on before but I'd like to hear some thoughts on strategies on WT's regarding shot placement with stick and string. I'm specifically worried about WT's jumping the string.

I'm a recovering wheel bow guy... so this is all new terrain for me. Every trad video I watch on line... the animal seems to be in motion on impact. Sometimes they are just starting to react... sometimes the arrow hits god knows where because the animal has spun/dodged so much.

To test my set-up. I had my son stand by my target the other day... I took a 30 yard shot and he said he could a thump and a hiss. That said... shoot close? If so - how close? Aim low? My bow is quiet... but it's not silent. Should I switch to vanes? Shoot out of a blind - to dampen sound?

Any thoughts would be appreciated.

Get your bow as quiet as possible. Less feather and less helix is quieter as long as you can tune it well. Most important pick your shots. A deer walking in leaves is making noise and sort of committed to the next step. Shoot at only deer that are not alerted. A standing alert WT can jump in every direction at the same time. Even a WT munching on acorns is noisy. Use any cover noise available. Vanes are quieter but I settled on a 3" parabolic as working very well for me. It is funny how my kill percentages went way up when I got old and thoughtful. You still need a bit of luck for high strung Texas WT >>>----> Ken

Most of what is on television is some hunter grunting a buck to make him stop. As soon as you do that, he is on the alert to any action coming from that direction. I never try to stop a deer as long as they are within my comfort zone. Alert deer are spring- loaded.

A relaxed deer will sometimes, if not most times not react to the sound of the shot until it's too late. Watch their demeanor...if they are relaxed and mincing through the woods, it's a safe bit you won't have them jump. Sometimes though, ship happens. The shot I like best is when they are at a slow walk. I don't aim to hit low (under the deer) but aiming to hit the heart isn't a bad idea.

What size and shape fletchings are you using? Your shooting off the shelf? Nothings ever completely silent

What George said X2. I always look at the top of the heart on a broadside Deer, for shot placement. We all know broadside deer are as rare as hens teeth, so no more then 1/3 up from the bottom is about right if on level ground, mid body height wise if from a tree stand to allow for some downward movement. Personally I had way more deer jump the string when shooting a compound bow.

I am with George there. Never never attempt to stop a walking deer for a bow shot. >>>-----> Ken

3x George. No experience with whitetails, but exactly what happens with impala, too.

I always aim low for the heart (always).

If they don't duck they're dead. If they do, they're dead anyway. 8^)

Another tip:

Try to take your shots when their head is up (preferably looking away).

With head up, they do not have the anatomical/flexible leverage to duck as easily.

When their head is down they are cocked, and ready to go.

Best I got.

YMMV

Rick

I get my bow as quiet as I can. And "try" to shoot at a calm target. I aim where the top of the heart should be. If the deer doesn't jump the string I'll hit where I aimed, if the deer lowers itself to jump the string I should still hit the lungs. It's great when you got the perfect shot and everything goes to plan, but sometimes you have to adapt to the situation like I had to do with this buck.

You should only shoot at a calm, relaxed animal no matter what it is. I don’t know how many of you know Chuck Adams but his neurosurgeon friend tested a deers reflexes. They can jump a string faster than any bow or crossgun. You’d need a firearm to ensure you’re faster. That being said if guys admitted how many times they get multiple shots w a stykbow you’d not believe it. The sound is much less and much less frightening apparently. That doesn’t mean take long shots. It means don’t worry about it as long as your animal is calm.

It all depends on where you hunt. In some places if you don't aim low you'll never kill a deer because they all string jump. In other places they're dang near asleep. Personally, I've never had a deer string jump after grunting them to a stop.

I agree with JRW. I've hunted whitetails in the rural areas of northern Pennsylvania that reacted very differently ( calmer ) than ones in the suburban areas of Allegheny county and western Westmoreland county.

I try not to shoot at a dead-broadside deer because you never know what they might do. Too far forward and you get the shoulder, too far back and you're in the guts, on your hands and knees with a flashlight all night long and that aint cool. I'd rather wait for a quartering away angle when their eyes are less likely to detect my draw- plus with a quartering shot you have a bigger target and depending on the angle of quarter, anywhere from the back of the shoulder to just in front of the ham will result in a fine shot because the arrow has nowhere to go except forward---- and into the goodies. And now, more to your question-- I ALWAYS pick a spot just a shade underneath the deer- maybe an inch or two. I just focus on a leaf or something just beneath where I want to hit. The deer where I hunt WILL drop down. It seems counterintuitive to aim at something different than I want to hit, but I have yet to Shoot under one by doing this- and I have shot over a bunch of them by not doing it. I have found that when they squat, even flinch a little, they do me a tremendous favor. This deer was hit squarely and perfectly--had he not dropped, I would've shot the pine cone that he was standing over.

Very helpful fellas. I'm shooting off the shelf 5" feathers currently... will tinker with my brace height and maybe vanes to get her even quieter.

I went from 3 X 5"shields to 3 X 2.25" shields, they are quieter and they shoot a little flatter. They do not however cover up a bad release or form so you need to be consistent.

Relaxed deer and I very much agree with the use of "cover noise". I once closed the gap on a WT when I was walking on crunchy snow by only moving when a jet from the not too distant airport would fly over when it was outbound. The deer was also in the woods so it was walking on crunchy leaves. I was on the edge of a field. Worked like a champ and I had venison back straps that day.

Just pick your shots wisely. Watch for signs of nervousness and pass if the deer seems spooky. At least, that's what I do.

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