Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Bow Hunting => Topic started by: RightPlace-RightTime on October 28, 2017, 04:10:47 PM

Title: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on October 28, 2017, 04:10:47 PM: Wanted to hear all your thoughts about whitetail bow hunts. Regarding them jumping the string. All inputs on 20 yards and 30yards and 40 yards.
Shooting from a ground blind.
What would your aim point be at these yardages?
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on October 28, 2017, 04:12:25 PM: I'm shooting a bowtech destroyer 350. Set at 66 lbs.
I have an opportunity to do this hunt on buddies property north Spokane for late archery.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Seahawk12 on October 28, 2017, 04:33:13 PM: Sound travels at about 1088 fps.
Your arrow is traveling at around one quarter that.
At 60 feet there is no time for reaction. Just aim for the heart.
At 90 feet I aim a hair low.
At 120 feet I am 2 or three inches low.
At those distances and speeds they won't be jumping the arrow. They will be crouching down.
For a deer to jump an arrow I think the animal will need to have caught movement or scented the shooter just before the shot and actually starts the crouch just before the arrows release.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Jellymon on October 28, 2017, 05:29:14 PM: I took a video of my brother shooting at a blacktail at 20yds. The arrow glanced off its back. We replayed the video in super slomotion and the arrow was heading towards the deers heart. The arrow was almost halfway there before the deer reacted, and then the deer dropped at least 8-10" by the time the arrow made it the rest of the way causing the high hit. Yes deer can react before the arrow arrives at 20yds, especially if they're alert. There is tons of video proving this.

This was with an arrow speed of about 290fps.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 28, 2017, 05:32:27 PM: Would be cool to see that footage if you would be kind enough to share!
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Jellymon on October 28, 2017, 05:50:01 PM: Quote from: Blacktail Sniper on October 28, 2017, 05:32:27 PM
Would be cool to see that footage if you would be kind enough to share!

We don't have it anymore. It was about 6-7 years ago. Yeah I know, convenient. :rolleyes:
Funny thing is while I was taking the video a pretty big bear came about 40yds from me and my rifle was just out of reach. He ran as I reached for it. :'(
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Blacktail Sniper on October 28, 2017, 05:52:22 PM: Bummer x2
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Lucky1 on October 28, 2017, 06:56:03 PM: I have had deer duck the arrow a few times. I am sure you can find some good videos on utube. The ones that did duck the arrow were on high alert and jumpy. A calm deer is less likely to do it. I don’t think they really try to avoid the arrow, they are just crouching down to spring away. Amazing reaction time and speed of movement.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on October 28, 2017, 07:22:16 PM: So safe bet. Aim a third up from bottom or would u say a quarter?
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Seahawk12 on October 28, 2017, 07:33:38 PM: Watch lots of videos of deer being havested with a bow and you will have a good idea of placement at different distances.
While people may have stories of extreme examples, I seriously doubt they aim 10" low on 20 yard shots. :chuckle:
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Lucky1 on October 28, 2017, 07:59:31 PM: Your best bet is probably to aim for the heart. That’s down low in the chest, maybe 1/4 to 1/3 up from the bottom. Chuck Adams had a story about a deer swapping ends after he shot and the arrow hit the deer on the other side than he had shot at. They can be amazing quick.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Band on October 30, 2017, 07:08:42 PM: Quote from: Jellymon on October 28, 2017, 05:29:14 PM
I took a video of my brother shooting at a blacktail at 20yds. The arrow glanced off its back. We replayed the video in super slomotion and the arrow was heading towards the deers heart. The arrow was almost halfway there before the deer reacted, and then the deer dropped at least 8-10" by the time the arrow made it the rest of the way causing the high hit. Yes deer can react before the arrow arrives at 20yds, especially if they're alert. There is tons of video proving this.
I record a lot of hunting shows and always play the kill shot a few times in slow motion. Time and time again I have seen white tails duck several inches (sometimes a foot or more) after the arrow is released, especially when they are alert. If I were going to bow hunt white tails I would definitely aim for the heart and expect to hit them in the lungs.

From what I've seen mule deer don't seem to duck as consistently or as far as white tails and elk rarely react fast enough with their ducking to make much of a difference, often none at all.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: Jpmiller on November 02, 2017, 06:29:37 AM: My advice would be just don't shoot at a deer that knows you're there and is looking at you. I had a white tail buck duck my shot last year at twenty yards but only because he was staring at me on high alert before the release. I always though "jumped the string" was code for "missed" before that. Never had an issue with an unaware deer.
Title: Re: Jumping the string aiming question
Post by: RightPlace-RightTime on November 03, 2017, 07:20:01 PM: Thanks for all the info guys