shot / no shot

[BT]

You are on your way to your afternoon stand and stop to test the wind.
As you turn to put the wind in your face you suddenly realize that you are being watched
What do you do?

25 yards - wind in your face - Deer is stomping it's foot and bobing it's head.

[royden]

Drop to the ground real quick - he doesn't have you yet. Wait for a better shot.

[lockmaster]

DO you REALLY want to know?

FREEZE every cell in my body, say about as million prayers in 3 seconds.

Look at that very alert "poise". I would not attempt to move at that moment for ANY reason! As soon as I saw the last traces of the white flag going down through the brush, I would go back home and "clean up". ;D

If one of my prayers that he hear something and turn away for just 3 seconds comes to pass.....I'd draw and slam an arrow through both lungs!

[Greg Krause]

stop right now and don't move. hopefully he will look behind him for a second or 2 before as he turns to leave. if you are lucky he will try to leave slowly and offer a broadside or quartering away shot. I have seen a deer do this many times when he does not know what spooked him. if the wind was at youyr back he'd be gone for sure.

[tedicast]

Freeze and pray.....it's about the only thing you can do. Schances are, the game is over already though.

[hopesman]

Right now, I think the critter thinks that I am competition so I'll oblige him by acting like him while all the while trying to sneak an arrow into the WB and get to full draw Chances are slim but any other option to me has always proven unsuccessful. With a gun in my hand, I would probably try to wait him out All of this depends of course on keeping my cool while my heart is going like a race horse ;D

[ruckerduck]

I've been in this exact situation. IN fact, it was my very first bow hunt. I did exactly what everyone is saying. I froze. It took about 3 minutes, then he decided I was not there. He dropped his head to eat and I launched an arrow. Unfortunately, it hit a twig and careened over his back. He lifted his head briefly, then continued browsing. I actually got a second shot. I waited for him to come around a clump of trees into a lane. It was the perfect broadside shot, about 25 yds away. I draw back, release, and THWACK!!. I had not taken into consideration that he had moved up the hill and was now about 4 feet above me. It was perfect placement, just about 3 inches below the heart. It thwacked the pine tree a foot behind him. He bounded off, as well as an equally impressive buck that I hadn't seen in the thickets where he came from. I was stillhunting.

[BT]

I had the same situation a number of times and 1/2 of the time I froze and if I did it soon enough the deer would just slowly turn to exit.
Only a couple ran.
I have never had the shot because the arrow was in the quiver.
However....if the arrow were nocked at the time I believe I could have easy had two of them.

[Greg Krause]

admin said:

I had the same situation a number of times and 1/2 of the time I froze and if I did it soon enough the deer would just slowly turn to exit.
Only a couple ran.
I have never had the shot because the arrow was in the quiver.
However....if the arrow were nocked at the time I believe I could have easy had two of them.

I have taken a few deer when they turn to walk away. most of the time if it is during shooting hours I am moving slowly to my stand and always have an arrow nocked.