moment of truth

[Buckeye Trad Hunter]

I went out tonight after not having much time to hunt this season and thought I'd do some ground poundin'.  Well, as I aproached an opening in a field I stopped to glass and spotted a doe. There was nothing between she and I except 80 yards of two foot tall grass, so on the belly we go.  I crawled across the field in the direction of the doe racing against daylight.  Finally at my destination I raised to my knees to situate for a shot and noticed that she was walking right towards me,  I didn't think this could get any better. I sat and waited for her to clear some brush so I could shoot but what came out the other side wasn't her.  It was a very nice P&Y 8 point! he was walking right past me, upwind with a slight quarter away, no clue I even existed.  I estimated the shot to be in the neighborhood of 23 yards, a comfortable shot.  I raised my bow, drew the string to my cheek, and sent the arrow on it's way, right past his antlers!    I can remember at the "moment of truth" thinking "I finally done it".  Then I began to come apart all in that half second while releasing my arrow.      Guess that's why it's called hunin' and not killin'. Anyone else had these type of bonehead moments at the "moment of truth"?

[Toklat1]

Bummer! Thats probably what will happen to me!  At least you got a shot. Nice stalk too!

[ishiwannabe]

Yep....twice this year. First one I was so intent on anchoring I forgot to pick a spot. Second time I never made it to full draw. Same deer, same stand. He wont go anywhere near it now...go figure. It is a ruch though, and thats the first time I ever missed(first two trad shots at deer) and smiled the whole way out of the woods.

[stumpsniper]

Twice this year I didn't pick a spot, I guess it's my way of not thinning the herd!

[bbassi]

It's happened to everyone except that guy from Alaska.

[Chris O]

I feel for ya!  I had a great stalk on a nice hog down at Ray hammonds place. Well it was my first shot at a hog and first stalk. I made a great shot for a 18 yard pig but unfortunately this one was more like 20 yards and I shot under him. lol

[bmfer]

Yeah, I did it last week on a doe. I still can't find my arrow!  :mad:

[loco_cacahuate]

From experience DONOT draw on a nice buck while thinking "this ones pic will look great on tradgang"

[BradLantz]

see my Kansas 2008 thread .... I had 3 very nice moments like this ......  :(

[DRR324]

I personally haven't shot at any antlers- YET!
My uncle was stalking corn rows a few years ago, and the biggest buck he has ever seen was coming down a row towards him, it turned and went through his row at 6 yards- broadside- he literally broke his cedar shaft after it smacked home.......right off the main beam of this bruiser..... he just smiles and says "guess what I was looking at"...it happens.

[trapperDave]

once I decide to shoot,,,I refuse to take another look at the antlers.


and yeah, we've all been there or are headed there  

[Mick]

I've had a nice big-bodied 8 toying with me the last couple weeks.  I've sent two arrows over his back while looking at his antlers thinking "gosh those will look nice in the photo on Tradgang..."  On Sunday, after putting one over his back on his way to his bed, I had a second chance in the evening.  I shot a blunt into a 2" leaf at the same yardage I missed the deer at.  When he came to the arrow on the trail he FREAKED and wouldn't pass it.  He turned twards my stand and stopped 6' from the base of my tree    .  I was gonna go in between his shoulders.....I was at full draw.....he looked straight up at me, turned tail and ran.    
I'm sure he's never gonna take that trail again!
(sorry for the hijack,  I had to get that off my chest!)
Mick

[trapperDave]

he done ya a favor runnin off before the shot.  Please dont try the straight down between the shoulders shot, too many lost deer stories out there already.