When do you stand and draw?

[OneShot]

Since I have never killed a deer with a bow, I still have a lot to learn. So, assuming you are going to stand and draw to shoot, when do you do it? Do you stand as soon as you see the deer or do you wait and observe and hope you get a chance after he has come in?

 

[Buckblaster]

If I am out after anything that day I stand the moment I hear the deer coming. I can draw without much movement. On average I draw usually 10 seconds at most beofre I shoot. Then again. Ive only bowhunted 2 years and only killed a handful.

 

[Radar]

As soon as I see or hear the deer I clip the release on the string, stand up and prepare for a shot . If I can do it without being detected . I can also shoot sitting down , but it's harder to take a shot to my right side while sitting .
It's better to get in correct shooting position while the deer is some distance away or their vision is blocked so it cant detect your movement . Slow movements are best , don't make any sudden movements ,as deer can detect movement very well .
If they see you move , freeze and try not to look into their eyes . I have had deer relax again and get a shot off after they have spotted me .

 

[OneShot]

Thanks Radar. I will try to stand SLOWLY. Deer fever is bad enough but having it with a bow is twice a bad.

 

[Radar]

If deer are moving in quickly , you can get away with more sudden movements . You just have to time your movements when there aren't any eyes on you .
Shot timing is also critical . I like to take the first opportunity within range when the angle is correct and I'm confident with the shot .

 

[plinker22]

Oneshot, great question.

I wish I could add some awesome insight to Radar's words, but there is no way. Listen to everything he said in the above two posts. The Dude is a wealth of Bow Hunting Knowledge!!!

 

[squattin dogg]

If you are in a hot spot you may never get the chance to sit down. I have stood for more long periods of time verses sitting .

 

[Trapper John]

What Radar said. As soon as you can without being detected.

 

[stik]

i don't stand unless absolutely necessary. all but 1 or 2 of my deer with a bow were shot from a sitting position.

 

[Radar]

The only problem with sitting down is it restricts your mobility when re-positioning for a shot on a moving deer passing by the stand on the RH side for a RH shooter or vise-versa for a LH shooter .
I can shoot nearly 360 degrees ( minus the tree ) while standing , and about 180 while sitting down .

 

[plinker22]

I can shoot nearly 360 degrees ( minus the tree ) while standing ,and about 180 while sitting down.

One of my favorite shots is directly behind my tree, while sitting, with the bow. That shot just feels really good to me.

I have sat for 30% of my bow kills. I would prefer to stand, for the increased mobility. But your movements must take place at the right moments... and slowly.

 

[OneShot]

Thanks for all the responses.

 

[Boone 58]

Yep i have tried it many ways but the sooner you can get into position once you know they are in the area the better because you eliminate all of the movements at once. I cant tell you how many times this has worked but i have over 50 archery kills to my credit with a compound and probably 90 + % were taken in this manner......

 

[Radar]

I can shoot nearly 360 degrees ( minus the tree ) while standing ,and about 180 while sitting down.

One of my favorite shots is directly behind my tree, while sitting, with the bow. That shot just feels really good to me.

I have sat for 30% of my bow kills. I would prefer to stand, for the increased mobility. But your movements must take place at the right moments... and slowly.

Not hard shot to shoot to the left , but try that shot to your right side behind the tree while sitting down .

 

[easy45]

I stand as soon as possible, normally I only draw when the deer is in rangeand behind something

 

[Headhunter]

I have killed just over 100 deer with a bow. I try to get ready as soon as I believe a deer is approaching. I have killed over half of my deer from the ground so (other than 6 deer I shot while kneeling on one knee) I was always standing. I try to always stand when in a tree stand, it gives you better mobility.

 

[bowriter]

I probably have killed 90% of bow deer while shooting from a sitting position. The only shot I can't make is the one directly behind the tree.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

great replies. I am a HUGE fan of shooting deer when sitting. I practice several angles both sitting and standing. I shoot better and stay a lot calmer when sitting. I stand only if I have too. I believe if I set my stand right that most of my shots will be from The sitting position. slow methodical movement is the key to bow hunting.

 

[plinker22]

I can shoot nearly 360 degrees ( minus the tree ) while standing ,and about 180 while sitting down.

One of my favorite shots is directly behind my tree, while sitting, with the bow. That shot just feels really good to me.

I have sat for 30% of my bow kills. I would prefer to stand, for the increased mobility. But your movements must take place at the right moments... and slowly.

Not hard shot to shoot to the left , but try that shot to your right side behind the tree while sitting down .

Is that a challenge Rader? I can easily make that shot to the right and around the tree! But, I am Left Handed. :grin:
The left around the tree is the "Impossible" one for me. Gottca Bro!

great replies. I am a HUGE fan of shooting deer when sitting. I practice several angles both sitting and standing. I shoot better and stay a lot calmer when sitting. I stand only if I have too. I believe if I set my stand right that most of my shots will be from The sitting position. slow methodical movement is the key to bow hunting.

Well said there Richman. I also try to position my stand in a manner that I can make most shots while seated.

 

[Big J]

I hunt in a gametamer!! No need to stand and get 360 degrees shooting!! One quiet coll arse stand!! Best I have ever used!!

 

[POSSUM HUNTER]

SHOOT SITTING DOWN IF POSSIBLE IF I HAVE TO STAND JUST DO IT SLOWLY WITH MY EYES TRAINED ON THE DEER TO NOTICE ANY LEARYNESS IF THEY CATCH MOVEMENT.

 

[Radar]

great replies. I am a HUGE fan of shooting deer when sitting. I practice several angles both sitting and standing. I shoot better and stay a lot calmer when sitting. I stand only if I have too. I believe if I set my stand right that most of my shots will be from The sitting position. slow methodical movement is the key to bow hunting.

All three of the does I shot that one day at Cathole Hunt club were from awkward shooting positions that I couldn't have taken while sitting down.
Two of them were on my right side , slightly behind the tree , and one was directly behind the tree .

 

[102]

I probably haven't bow killed as many deer as many of yall have on here, but I'll throw in my philosophy when it comes to "when to stand up".

For me, it just depends. Am I hunting the rut? (chasing phase). If so...I DO NOT SIT unless I am just too tired from all the standing I have been doing since I got in my tree. I simply need the extra couple of seconds to settle my pin.

In early Fall...and in a feeding area, say a White Oak flat, I will sometimes sit if the leaves are crunchy enough. But heck, I can't tell you how many times I've had deer get almost under me w/o detection, in leaves where I could literally hear ants crawling.

I do not like to shoot deer while sitting. Why? Because I do not spend countless hours on the 3-D range and in the back yard sitting in a chair and shooting. I can shoot while sitting, I'd rather be standing.

In short, experience is the best teacher for knowing when to stand. But short of that, I'd say your chances are far better if you sit little, stand lots, while bow hunting.

102

 

[OneShot]

[All three of the does I shot that one day at Cathole Hunt club were from awkward shooting positions that I couldn't have taken while sitting down.
Two of them were on my right side , slightly behind the tree , and one was directly behind the tree . [/quote]


You shoot three deer in one day with a bow? Dang, You da man!!

 

[Radar]

[All three of the does I shot that one day at Cathole Hunt club were from awkward shooting positions that I couldn't have taken while sitting down.
Two of them were on my right side , slightly behind the tree , and one was directly behind the tree .

You shoot three deer in one day with a bow? Dang, You da man!! [/quote]

Yeah , and Richmanbbq was there to help me recover them all .

 

[CZ284]

Any way I can make the shot. In reality, probably 60/ 40 sitting to standing. I usually try to position my stands at about a 45 degree angle to the right of the most likely approach of the deer since I prefer to shoot sitting down if possible, just less movement. Last year the two I killed were from the same stand, one standing because the deer cut behind me at the last minute, the other sitting because it stayed on the trail they normally move on.

Also, a lot of times I'll set a stand up with a lot of branches behind me to break up my silhouette so can't really shoot behind. I can't remember the last time I got "busted" moving and believe this type of setup really helps.

 

[richmanbarbeque]

[All three of the does I shot that one day at Cathole Hunt club were from awkward shooting positions that I couldn't have taken while sitting down.
Two of them were on my right side , slightly behind the tree , and one was directly behind the tree .

You shoot three deer in one day with a bow? Dang, You da man!!

Yeah , and Richmanbbq was there to help me recover them all . [/quote]

Oneshot, never shoot three deer in one day. I shot one the night before and had to check it in so I was late getting to a stand. Got a call from Scott, he had one down. A few minutes go by he has another one down. I said let me atleast get changed and hunt for a few hours and I would bring the 4-wheeler to get you. ALMOST got to the stand, he calls again, third one down and he's out of arrows. I didn't even make it to the stand that morning. It took us till early afternoon to get them out of the woods, checked in, and processed. He had his limit and I was looking foward to an afternoon hunt just to rest. I was plumb wore out. One of the best days I have ever had in the woods.
Kinda funny. We had 2 guys,2 deer and gear on my little Honda Recon.

Of course we followed up the following year doing it again only I stopped at 2 and stared at the third thinking "I ain't shooting three tonight". Great hunts done "the cathole way".

 

[Radar]

Even though it was hard work , it was one of my most memorable hunts and unique tracking challenges I have had .