Shoot / don't shoot?

[tdickens58]

I would kneel down and wait. I've been in this situation before with deer (not as nice as the one showed) and have never had a good opportunity to shoot, but it doesn't hurt to try!

[jamaltwy]

looks like he's got you pinned!! kneeling i think would make him nervous to get up and split very fast ... staying motionless will put him more at ease and with a slow draw when he stands up should get you a great shot.......

[lockmaster]

I voted to "freeze" and wait for him to stand...and this
brings up an "old school" thing which is important and works well.

I don't know HOW I ever managed to get this close to that
buck without him being in the next county before I could
say "d%&*!!

The "old school" thing I referred to is that IF you walk upon ANY deer in a situation like this suddenly...(which is extremely rare), the obvious to me of course is "freeze". Second, avoid looking the deer in the eye (which is the natural thing to do) but turn your head slightly and slowly to where you can still "see" him out of the corner of your eye. If you don't want to do that, then "squint" to the point of barely being able to see him. If you are close and look a deer in the eye with yours wide open, it will get nervous because he will KNOW you're a "predator".

Eventually, the deer will look away and you MAY be able to
kneel, creating a lower profile of yourself....but kneel in a position where you can draw comfortably if the opportunity arises.

If I get THIS CLOSE to a buck like this....I will DEFINITELY take any and all precautions to keep him at ease....but then the wind changes and so you utter the words....D$%&!!! *&%&$ @((#@
;D

[Greg Krause]

My second choice would be to keep walking at a steady pace quartering away from the deer and never look at it. It may stay bedded for a few seconds thinking that you will walk right by without seeing it. as you walk get to full draw and get aimed as well as you can(in this sitiation I would be walking backwards) and pause just long enough to get on target and squeeze a shot off. I have done this in suburban settings before and i know Fred Bear swore by this method in low pressure areas. It's like a grouse, when you stop they feel threatened and flush, but they will hold tight and let you walk right on by.

[BT]

good points both

[tdickens58]

I like Skipmaster's and Lockmaster's methods of handling this situation.

My extra two cents.

[stilllearning]

He looks like he sees me so freeze and wait.

[akdd]

I think that freezing and waiting to see what he does would be the best option.