I've not had a problem with animals jumping the string from my big and slow longbows and recurves, and heavy arrows. However, I've not hunted deer or antelope, just an assortment of Aussie feral game.

Here are some tips to make sure your arrow and bow are as quiet as possible:

- Use solid broadheads if you're worried, as vented ones tend to make more noise (probably my least important tip, as tens of thousands of animals are taken each year with these broadheads without the animal jumping until it's through them).
- Make sure your vanes or feathers are in good condition.
- Use a heavier arrow (this will absorb some of the bow's noise).
- Shoot animals under 30 metres, preferably under 25 metres - even with a compound with all the bells and whistles.
- Don't shoot unless the animal is relaxed and not suspicious.
- If using a compound, fit noise suppressors / dampeners to it; if using a traditional bow, put fur or wool string silencers on the string - any archery shop will have heaps of silencing options, especially for compound bows.
- Most importantly, don't worry too much about noise after you've addressed the above points - just hunt hard!

I haven't noticed a difference in carbon and aluminium, because they both end-up weighing the same for me. Maybe I'm deaf (too many tractors and rifles growing up on the farm), but the bows and arrows (whether aluminium, carbon, wood) seem quiet to me, and to the game I hunt.

I hope some of that was of assistance!

All the best to you in the coming deer season!

Regards,

Ben