My luck ran out this morning

[JSimon]

This morning I decided to hunt one of the trees I prepared on state land the past spring. I hadn't hunting this stand site this year and had a hard time finding my reflective tacks off the main trail so I decided to stay on the main trail and hunt further back next to a private corn field. As I was getting closer to the field edge I spotted a couple of flashlight beams through the timber and couldn't decide what to do. I backtracked and then changed my mind and headed back toward the field. This time the flashlights looked closer so I decided to go back and try to find my other stand site. I really wanted to stick to my original plan anyway and something was pulling me back to that tree.

On the way back I found my path and headed to the tree that's next to a couple of trails on the edge of a thick bedding area. I got my climbing sticks and saddle set up a little later than I wanted but still before first light. In the spring I stuck a stick in the ground on the deer trail about 15 yards from the tree so I could make sure I had a clear shooting lane to the trail. About 8:00 this morning in the misty rain and light wind I see a buck working his way down the path. I already shot a small buck this year so my next one has to have 4 points or more on one side. It didn't take long to realize this was a nice buck. As I grabbed my bow, the buck must have spotted some movement and looked right at me. I was wearing my ASAT 3D suit that just came in the mail yesterday and the buck settled down and continued walking. Sure enough just as that buck walked in front of the stick that I had previously stuck in the ground I came to full draw and shot.....right under him.

I have mixed feelings about the encounter. It has improved my confidence on picking stand sites on public land and I'm glad it was a clean miss, but man am I sick about missing a perfect broadside shot in my range. I couldn't have planned the setup any better. I really want to shoot a buck on this heavily hunted public ground and this one may have been close to my biggest buck to date.

I'm now 2 for 3 since switching to the recurve and I have to figure out this shooting low thing. I shot low and missed the buck I got this year on the first shot and killed him with a second shot. I've noticed I have been shooting a little low while practicing also. The only thing I can think of is that I've developed a habit of shooting a little low out of fear of skipping an arrow off the top of the target in my backyard in the city limits. I think I need to get a 3d deer target to practice picking a spot, and I need to find a better place to shoot.

[reddogge]

Couple of suggestions.  One, put up a backstop in back of your target to catch those high shots, a doubled over old carpet will do it.

Two, hold the bow out straight at the correct elevation before you draw.  This way you don't have to come up on the target as you draw.

Three, practice, practice, practice.

[Pointer]

It happens...don't beat yourself up...I think everyone has missed at one time or another. Are you dropping your bow arm in practice at all?...sometimes see that when a shooter is eager to see where the arrow went after the shot.

[LV2HUNT]

Yep, a clean miss is the next best thing   . Enjoy the opportunity and get em next time.

[Bonebuster]

Consider this, you are hunting PUBLIC land in Michigan. You have already killed one buck, and managed to get within bow range of a buck that is legal for your restricted tag.

No doubt, you are a successful hunter.

Missed shots may sting a bit, but if you look at it from the right perspective, you have already accomplished something that many consider nearly impossible.  

[JSimon]

Yeah, I think I do peek when I shoot and probably drop my bow arm. I practiced getting shots off a faster today also. I shoot pretty good when I have lots of time. I typically hold at full draw for a quite while when practicing but in hunting situations when I have to get the shot off faster I think my form falls apart. Throw in a little buck fever and it's even worse.

Bonebuster, thanks for the encouragement. I still haven't shot a deer on public land. The deer I got this year was on private. Your right, even a little buck on state land around here is much bigger accomplishment to me than a big buck on private land. Heck even a doe on state land is a big accomplishment. That's why I'm kicking myself so bad on this one since I've only seen a few bucks on state land and this one was such a nice one. It wasn't a monster, but it would have been a HUGE trophy to me.

[George D. Stout]

Bow arm drop is the culprit.  The cure is to keep the arm in place until you see the arrow hit the target.  Peeking is bad....head comes up, arm goes down.