Missed 3 Times!!

[**DONOTDELETE**]

I have missed deer. I have wounded deer and not found them. I look at probably 100 deer every bow season, and have a lot of time to learn from my mistakes.

I have "analyzed" myself, and every deer I ever wounded was my own damned fault (the number is 3, by the way). Some of you guys may not want to hear it....or admit it....but most wounded deer come from wanting to kill one too bad. Shots taken that should have been passed up.

Along with that, remember that a miss is just a few inches away from a wounded deer. I see no honor in missing (not being critical, missed plenty myself).

I have done a couple things to prevent against misses and wounding situaions.

#1, I don't care if I kill a deer THAT DAY. I know I will always have another chance. If it isn't a slam dunk shot, I'm not taking it.  The only deer I have killed so far this year was at 7 yards. Slam dunk. I passed on a Pope & Young buck this year at 35 yards, broadside, in an open field. I don't care.

#2, I have thought long and hard about what a succesful sight picture looks like, vs a miss. I know what my brain is doing in a miss vs hit situation. It's not just about distance. If everything isn't right, I'm not shooting.

So...lets not slap each other on the back and congratulate each other over misses. Lets think hard about why they happen, and work toward eliminating them.

[Mountainboy]

Thanks everyone!  Yesterday was (probably) my last day and I ended it with a average 8-point coming to about 20yds. but just not presenting a good shot.  I might get to hunt a day or two near the end of December, but, if not it was a very exciting bow season..I will analyze my mistakes so that they hopefully won't happen again next time and the persuit continues..Take them grunt calls with you right now, they do work!!

[Sticks2117]

Originally posted by Mountainboy:
Well, back out of the woods from the morning hunt.  Saw nine but none close enough to shoot at. When everything is said and done, deer or no deer, I will  of had a good season.  I've been traditional for about 10 years now and this is the second time one has got away.  I practice hard to be a good shot and I know my limitations, sometimes things aren't always perfect as much as some people want them to be.

Good attitude Stay with it practice your own advise. I practice all the time and like someone else said shooting doam amd stumps is way different than shooting at an animal. Atleast your seeing deer close enough to shoot at.

[razorsharptokill]

At least your getting shots! I've had one and missed also. Didn't pick a spot!

[pharcher]

I can say I have never lost an animal, not once. I have missed cleanly or come away with a harvest, although some required a stalk and second arrow. I am sure the day will come when my aim is poor and one gets away. I feel we miss when hunting plainly because there is just no way to mimic real situations. odd angles you never thought of on the side of a slippery ridge, or branches that move when its windy, or trying to concentrate when you are trying to pick a spot on one deer while 4 more sets of eyes are on you. Just saying. Fred Bear was even quoted as saying it better to be a good hunter than a good archer!

[buckster]

Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!  Don't give up and keep your chin up.