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Bow Hunters! Do You Meh?

Do you stop a deer for a shot??

  • I always meh.

    Votes: 3 4.4%

  • I never meh.

    Votes: 7 10.3%

  • I meh when I have to.

    Votes: 58 85.3%

  • I meh when I shoot a deer on video because I want people to think I’m cool.

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    68
Hunter260

Hunter260

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 14, 2019
Messages
1,585
Location
Ash Flat, AR
I’m on the fence on stopping deer, and only do it when absolutely necessary. Has stopping or not stopping a deer for a shot ever cost you a deer?
 
Lost a doe earlier this season because I thought she would stay still and didn't know where I was, she stepped as I took the shot.

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I tried it once and it screwed me. So, never again with archery gear.
 
Meh works.
The major downside of course is that is gives away your position.

I sometimes wonder if on longer shots, 30-40 yrds, freezing a deer with a Meh could be a mistake as it puts them on alert and makes them more likely to jump the string.

With that said, I took a buck at 35yrds this year, quartering away, after freezing him with a Meh.
 
My 8 pointer last week was chasing a doe, he got two Mehs and then a HEY!

Only problem with stopping them that I’ve seen is if they stop in the “wrong” spot your pretty well screwed .


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I'm a novice compared to many on here, but here's my 2 cents. If they are walking slow at 25 yards or closer, I shoot for the leading edge of the top of the heart. This is my preferred method. If they are farther, or moving faster, or it's windy, I will bleat. If I think they will pick me, then I let it fly. If I think they won't, I will let them look away before I release. And yes, several times, I stopped them too late or early and couldn't recover.
 
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I try to give the deer a chance to stop on its own, but if it appears the deer won't stop naturally in my shooting lane, then I'll "meh" to get it to stop. I've never had it cost me a deer, but it has given me shot opportunities I would not have had otherwise since (despite my thousands of arrows flung at a target over the last few years) I'm not comfortable shooting at a moving target.
 
TNbowhunter said:
I try to give the deer a chance to stop on its own, but if it appears the deer won't stop naturally in my shooting lane, then I'll "meh" to get it to stop. I've never had it cost me a deer, but it has given me shot opportunities I would not have had otherwise since (despite my thousands of arrows flung at a target over the last few years) I'm not comfortable shooting at a moving target.
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Same here. If I have a deer slowly feeding through my area I'll wait until it stops moving. But last year the buck I shot was trotting through my setup and I had to meh to get him to stop. If I didn't I was not going to get a shot.
 
Shooting a moving target with archery tackle is unwise. Rushing a shot with archery tackle is also unwise. Best case by far is a deer meandering along naturally, stopping on its own, and letting you execute the shot calmly and correctly. Less chance to put the deer on alert and less opportunity to feel rushed on the shot.

If a deer looks like it's not gonna stop and you wanna shoot it...ya gotta stop it. But don't let yourself become/feel rushed when you do so and make a bad shot. You still need to pick your spot and take your time - and this can be more challenging when you've literally announced yourself to the deer. It's easy to feel like you've put yourself "on the clock". If you rush the shot you're just giving back everything you gained by stopping the deer. This very nearly bit me on Friday.
 
I try not to by all means. If a deer is moving slow and not alerted (feeding or wandering) I will just lead my shot and it has yet to fail me. Most of the time I whistle or say hey and it seems to work way better then the "meh". Big bucks tend to spook on the meh up here but freeze on a whistle.
 
I've never lost an opportunity stopping them and I prefer a stationary target. I'll let them stop on their own,(preferred), or if I have to stop them I meh at an appropriate volume, start soft and ramp it up as needed. Killing them walking is easy enough, but it gets dicey at a slow trot. I used to have my ex wife roll a tire down a mild slope with a piece of card board cut and fitted into the center of the tire and learned to shoot them moving, not to fast and NEVER to far out. These days it's less important to assume the risk of wounding a deer that's moving.
 
I “meh” quite often. Most of the deer I’ve shot was with a “meh”. I prefer the deer to come to a halt on its own accord but if I’m at full draw and they don’t then I give em the ol “meh”. Haven’t had one spook from it yet but now that I say that I’m sure it will happen.


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When I setup I try to put something out to stop the deer, scent wick, scrape, apple, etc... This way I don't have too meh or whistle but I will if I have too!!
 
I've "meh'd" in the past and have been very successful doing so. There have been times when I just let them stop naturally too. I guess it just depends on the behavior of the deer. What I don't get are the "professionals " on TV that "meh" at a deer that's standing still and broadside. The alert a relaxed deer to danger and then take the shot. I think TV is teaching new hunters that "mehing" is something that you do regardless.

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I've done every noise ever screamed to stop a rutting buck but never in a normal deer feeding pattern as there either stopping on there own or at such a slow pace that it doesn't matter much.

I laugh every time I see someone on tv meh at a deer standing still.
 
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