We learn something new every year!  This past October 2019, a young bowhunter was video’d at Dr. Grant Woods proving grounds. UPDATE: Also a second video that provides drop data at 20, 30 and 40 yards.

https://www.growingdeer.tv/videos/category/all-videos/#/the-best-hunt-weve-ever-videoed-about-deer-reacting-to-a-shot

The analysis of the video shared some insights to help me understand some key facts.

Fact #1 No matter what you do as the bow or crossbow is shot, a deer will hear the thwap sound of bow/crossbow and string before the arrow arrives.

Fact #2 Deer don’t always jump the string but a louder foreign sound increases that risk dramatically. UPDATE: Dr. Woods says assume all whitetail deer will drop at the shot!

Fact#3 If the deer is “on alert”, your chances of a solid double lung kill shot go down go down the further away the deer is.

Fact #4 Deer with a head down, can drop its body faster than gravity because it uses its head and neck to lever its chest downward. UPDATE: And drop its body even lower.

Fact #5 Deer with head up, when the shot is taken, can’t use its head and neck to lever the body thus can only drop at the speed of gravity, 32 fps² .

Fact#6 Aiming at the lower 1/3 of the chest (heart shot) , instead of center chest is the best advice for deer within 30 yards.

Fact#7 Shots beyond 30 yards even with a fast 300 fps bow are lower percentage success shots if the deer drops. UPDATE: Deer can drop 5 inches or more at 40 yards

Fact#8 Deer drop when startled and it need not be a bow or arrow noise that causes them to drop and turn away from the noise.

Fact#9 Only take high percentage shots for consistent harvests.

Another article to chew on below.

https://www.americanhunter.org/articles/2019/9/19/deer-trust-their-ears/

Good Hunting!