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When do you draw your bow on a deer?

DC10

DC10

Well-Known Member
Joined
Dec 9, 2017
Messages
457
Location
North Carolina
Curious to know when looking to shoot a deer at 10-12 o’clock, when do you draw your bow back? With the tree still between you and the deer and once drawn back, you swing around? Or do you swing to the side of the tree where you need to be and then draw back?
 
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This. I like to make my move then wait on it to get where I feel is best possible place to kill it. To draw before hand puts you in a position that if the deer hangs up a step or two before being in “the spot” you end up with a long hold that could put last ones ability to control the bow. Will it happen if you’ve already setup for the before drawing,possible but the odds go down of that happening if you put yourself in position first. Not sure if that makes sense but it did in my head while typing.
 
Can't speak positively as to shooting from a saddle as I haven't killed one from it yet. But less movement at the point in which you draw is always a better recipe for not getting busted. That being said after practicing out of a saddle a bit and trying some odd angle shots. I can see where you mite want to draw to the side and rotate your upper body toward the target after your at full draw. Gonna take some trial and error on my part as well.
 
Like all hunting skills, some folks have a natural knack for knowing when to draw. It is difficult to teach because every scenario is unique.

In heavy cover, which most of my hunting is done in, it doesn’t really matter, other than erring on the side of drawing early so as not to miss a small window to shoot.

If I’m hunting open terrain and/or after leaves have fallen, I’ll wait till the deer is looking away or vision obstructed by a tree.

If it’s inside of 20 yards, it doesn’t really matter if it sees me draw and freezes, it’s dead.

To your specific question, one of the big benefits of the saddle to me is tree between me and deer. If I can use that to draw out of sight(or less in sight), then rotate 10-30* around tree and make the shot, that’s ideal. Tough sometimes though, if you can’t see the deers eyes but it can see your bow. Want to avoid that.
 
I think standard draw protocols apply , draw when it's least likely you'll get caught. I think if your having to do to many tricks to get the draw it's best to wait until they pass, then go for the away shot. Just pray it's not straight away. I like to stay neutral for as long as I can unless I'm sure of the route they'll take coming into range. That's why I like the Predator platform, it allows you to use it as a regular tree stand for the weak side shots. If they sneak up behind me and then go to the weak side I'll wait for them to pass and go off the platform on my strong side and try to get them going away from the front side of the tree if they favor going away towards 12 o'clock to 1 o'clock.
 
I just do it when it feels right. I can't recall getting busted drawing, however I can recall holding a bow forever that lead to muscle failure many times. I think the speed of the animal, cover, and obstruction has a lot to do with when I do it.

With that said I feel like I'm relatively conservative on drawing on deer. Many days I've said I'll take a doe and I've passed or missed shot opportunities I should of had.
 
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