HELP PLEASE!!!!

[ThePushArchery]

I am having some trouble this season with closing the deal. I feel I have nailed down every aspect of hunting from the ground. Over the last couple years I have spent 95% of my time on the ground, and I've learned something new everytime I am in the field. This season has been unbelievable as far as sightings and getting close and doing everything right. I have been in bow range of 10 or so deer this year, and have loosed a total of 4 arrows and came to full draw without releasing twice.

This morning has pushed me over the edge. I was tucked up under a Maple tree with low hanging limbs. I did everything right as far as going well past my ambush spot with my scent drag, and double backing back to my spot. I stepped off 18 yards from my scent wick to where I was sitting. Sure enough at first light, the biggest buck of my life comes walking up right to my scent wick from the direction I made sure to walk past my spot and double back. To get to the point, this morning was the 4th deer I've shot over their backs. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND IT! It is to the point now, that my nerves are calm as a cucumber due to loosing so many arrows this season. I don't get the shakes anymore, and I have a full sound mind talking my way through the shot sequences.

I can go out to my back yard any time and shoot lights out up to 20 yards. (hit the vitals 9 to 10 times out of 10 shots)

I just don't understand why I am missing so much this season. I am staying positive, and had a heart to heart with myself before the sun came up this morning telling myself not to get down and to stay positive and to make sure you keep that primal instinct flowing throughout every hunt, and wouldn't you know it, I blew it again 20 minutes later... Has anyone gone through this?!!!

HELP ME PLEASE!!!

[Bob Walker]

Matthew,
Just a couple of questions to get the ball rolling. Were you standing, sitting or kneeling under the maple tree? When you are shooting in your back yard are you practicing from the exact same position including body position and cant of the bow? Are you practicing with field points or the broadheads that you hunt with? What is your bow and arrow set up?

[Mr.Vic]

Yeap, plenty of times. And my father keeps telling me AIM LOW. Everything happens for a reason, they didn't want killed. Push through it, The big boy is yet to come and you will connect!

[tradtusker]

sounds like your doing everything right, and had some good hunting  
 maybe need to focus more on a spot, burn a hole where you want the arrow to go.

[JRY309]

Shooting at game is different then shooting at targets.Are you picking a spot or looking at the whole deer?Like Bob suggested are you praticing shooting in the same position you hunt from.I find when shooting at targets and my groups start to open up,I'm just not focusing on a spot.

[George D. Stout]

You are not as calm as you say you are.  Adrenaline is a wonderful thing at times, but it also makes you lose track of your focus at the most inopportune times.  Once you see it's "the biggest buck of your life" it's hard to take your eyes off those antlers.   You may even pull the bow an inch or more farther than normal, providing your arrows allow it, or you may not even get to anchor....and chances are you will think you made a great shot.

Shooting over deer means you are not in control of the aiming and shot process.....the deer is, and so are your emotions.  If a deer is within ten or fifteen yards, you should see nothing but the hairs behind the leg....and your eyes shouldn't leave that spot until the arrow appears there.  It's not the easiest thing to do when you have one in spittin' distance.

You may think you are in control, but obviously you are not.  I think we have all been there, but won't admit it until we get down the road a few years 8^).  And as for aiming low.....don't do it.  Aim where you want the arrow to go; if the deer doesn't know you are there, it won't react to the shot in most cases.  Learn to shoot at relaxed deer.

[wingnut]

It could be as simple as overdrawing your bow when pumped up.  I draw further on a game shot then I ever do on targets.  How long are your arrows compared to your draw?  I used to set my arrows up to draw and touch my hand with the back of the Broadhead as a draw stop.  Don't have to anymore.

Mike

[Mr.Vic]

And as for aiming low.....don't do it. Aim where you want the arrow to go; if the deer doesn't know you are there, it won't react to the shot in most cases. George D Stout                                       Great advice George. The shots i missed, the deer were in darn good control, they knew i was around somewhere.And waiting on any noise. Even from a bowstring.  Deer are like that where i hunt. Lots of pressure. They dip, jump or backup very fast to leave at any sound or movement.  I'm sorry I Didn't mean to sound like i was giving out advice to shoot low. I just left out the whys and etc. I don't try to give advice, next thing you know people might think i know something, my head would swell. And people would put me on a pedastal. And I'm afraid of heights.   And i can agreed with the not being in control, when a huge Iowa buck walks out in front of you. Those 190 plus's antlers can blow anyones nerves. Bob Walker has a very good point, and i found out the hard way. Wear the same hunting clothes in practice as you wear in the woods...        Wish i had you older fellows teach me back in 1969 wouldn't have had to learn a lot of things the hard way. And I'm still learning. Thanks.

[blueslfb]

A wise man once told me, "There is a lot of room around em, pick a spot!"  It will happen just keep at it. It is better to shoot and miss than to not have shot at all.

[Earl Jeff]

your not picking a spot and concentrateing on it till the shot is gone. if you look at the entire deer you will shoot over every time.

[Steelhead]

Cant add much.I do think picking a spot and staying focused on it is one of the biggest reasons we miss on game when we are amped up in the moment.Once you decide that you are going to shoot at a given animal dont bother to ever check the rack again.Just concentrate on the moment that the shot is presented,head turned,just entered the shooting lane etc.and burn a hole where you want the arrow to go.

Also reaching our exact anchor spot the same place we do as in practice would be the second most important thing.Its easy to under draw and or snap shoot.

Do all your shooting in practice from the positions you will find yourself in when you are ground hunting.

Good luck,keep after it!

[Pointer]

Do you remember picking a spot?.....touching your anchor?...etc..etc..if not then I think Wingnut has it right...you're so pumped up that you may be pulling through your anchor....snap shooting...whatever.Point being, there has to be something going on that doesn't happen when you practice.

Don't beat yourself up and keep trying...it will happen for you.

[Roy Steele]

I've been shooting selfbows for 20 years and 10 years recurve's and long bows.And see this happens to lots and lots people I know.And it's really simple thing that happens.I know those 4 shots you missed went high.
  This is why 99% of trad.shooters shoot high and miss.In the last second excitement.Your eye go's from your spot to the line of the deer's back.And you shoot over his back.Or you spine the deer.If a poll was taken probley the needle would go off the scale on spine shot deer.
  I know you've heard it a 1000 times but make sure you eye stays on your spot untill your arrow hits.You can do this by follow through or all your shots.Don't move to your arrow hit's your spot.
  This maybe your problem.

[Cherokee Scout]

Many people miss high when shooting at animals because they lift their heads as they release to watch the arrow.
I guess you could say it is a lack of follow thru on the shot.

[JSimon]

I can relate, except I've been shooting low. Twice this season, probably for many of the same reasons mentioned. Now I'm afraid my confidence is going to be my biggest hurdle for the remainder of the season.

[ThePushArchery]

Thanks for all the great advice everyone!

I do practice from all positions. Primarily focusing on the sitting shot, b/c 90% of my hunting is from the same stool I pack in and out.

I just need to bear down on a given spot and stick at it. Good to hear I am not alone here.

[mustoffa]

try burning a hole in the vital and remember to keep bow arm in the same position everyone forget the bow arm

[razorsharptokill]

I shot 4" over a doe at 12 yards. I remember seeing perfect arrow flight. If I had been staring at the spot I "should" have picked, I'd have some fine table fare in the freezer right now. I knew I hadn't picked a spot as soon as I released. Luckily it was a clean miss.