The worst run of luck

[Lee Lobbestael]

Hope you guys have time for a long winded story. So I have been bowhunting for over 20 years and hunting with a trad bow for at least 11 and most of those years with a self bow. I have killed deer just about every year and most of the time 2 deer. I'm telling you this to let you know that the reason this season happened isn't due to lack of experience. I shoot my bow every day obsessively and have never been more confident in my shooting out to 30 yards. I'm shooting a laminated longbow I built this summer. So this October three days into season I killed a doe right at my point on distance of 28 yards. Pinwheeled her through the heart. I couldn't have been happier. Great start to the season right? Well I then proceeded to miss two bucks and shoot 3 does in the high shoulder. The last one happened yesterday. The first buck I thought was father than it was and the second I hit a branch. I want to blame the does on jumping the string but i know it's not that simple. All three does were well inside 20 yards. But two were ready to run or at least aware that something was wrong. I almost quit the whole traditional bowhunting game last night, I was just sick. but my wife made me realize that that would not make me happy. Sooo.. here is the conclusion I came to. I am going to adopt the fixed crawl method of shooting with my point on distance set at 20 yards. I will not take a shot past 20 yards. I will never shoot at an alert deer. I will never shoot at a moving deer. I shoot with a grip sear and it takes about 4 seconds at full draw to get through the shot. This is how I shoot best. I know the limitations this has in the deer woods but I decided today that if I don't have enough time to press through my grip sear when shooting at a deer, than I do not need to let the arrow go. Anyway thanks for reading my story of woe! Still just sick about it

[Lee Lobbestael]

I should note that after that first doe kill I switched strings and had to shorten my arrows to retune. That brought my point on to 31 yards. This year I have been shooting "feels good" gap out to my point on distance and I believe the gaps were just too large. Undoubtedly the does dropped some especially the two in late season. But I aim at the heart and I feel if I had set my sight picture correctly, even if they dropped I should have doubled lunges them

[Krex1010]

Sorry to hear about the rough stretch...any year you can fill the freezer with even one deer with trad hear is a success in my book.  In my experience does are like supernatural when it comes to avoiding an arrow. More so than bucks to my eyes. They really are an amazing animal. I don’t know if it’s because they are lighter and therefore more quick and agile or that they have a slightly smaller vital area or a combination, but when alert they can do freakish things to avoid an arrow or move the vitals upon release and cause a bad shot.  Either way, shots on alert deer are risky business.

[Lee Lobbestael]

Very true. I noticed that does in late season are even more jumpy than in early October. They are much easier to kill in October

[Sam McMichael]

Is the breaking in of a new string a pitfall to gap shooting? I essentially use a split vision shot procedure, and I haven't found new strings to be a particularly significant problem. At least something is going well, since you are getting shot opportunities. Keep at it, break in the new string, and get back to killing deer. Good luck!

[Lee Lobbestael]

Sam I went from a 16 strand string to a 12 strand and it made my system a little more potent, meaning the same arrow needs to be slightly shorter to bring it back in tune

[GCook]

I can shoot accurately on a target a good bit further than I will shoot at deer or pigs.  I like them close because of things I can't control as well as there is a lot more going on in my head and blood stream when taking a game shot as well.
I've noticed with age things that were simple or easy in the past require a bit more consideration now.  Sometimes those changes seem to show up suddenly and unexpectedly.  It's how we choose to respond that makes the difference.   You can either quit, or adapt and overcome.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[Orion]

I dunno.  Seems to me shot selection was the problem. Shooting at alert or moving deer (or longer shots where one can't see all the intervening brush) is always chancy. Regardless, looks like you're taking the right steps to correct it.

[pavan]

All a deer has to do to keep me from shooting it, is to look at me and keep looking me.  Ten yards or forty yards the results will be the same, the deer gets a free pass.

[Bisch]

I know what you are going thru!!!! It was so bad for me last year, I went out and bought a c, c, c, oh you know what I’m trying to say!!!! Shot one deer with it last year, and it just wasnt the same! I will say that it helped me get more determined to get back on track.

I’m still at the point that I won’t shoot at a deer past about 14yds, but that’s OK because I can get deer in that close on a pretty regular basis!

Good luck getting over your funk, and I personally think all the new limits you set for yourself are all good, and should gain satisfactory results for you!

Bisch

[Lee Lobbestael]

Busch, thanks a lot I hope so

[Zwickey-Fever]

About three years ago, I started having one of those years. I have had a new custom made bow that I have been having tuning issues with for several months.  And for the life of me, I could not figure out what was going on with this bow. It wasn't a forgiving bow by any means. Everything had to be on point to hit where I was aiming as well as have good arrow flight. If I had any slight difference in finger placement or posture my arrow flight would let me know in a big way. One afternoon, when I was on my way to my stand, a doe broke from the hedgerow with a huge buck in pursuit. The buck stopped broad side at 17 yards, (dream shot),. I drawled my arrow, release and the arrow took off sideways a foot over the bucks back! I just shook my head. I never shot that bow ever again and ended up giving it away. I went home, restrung one of my older bows, did some practicing and shot a beautiful buck the next morning. At that time I made a decision to keep it simple and stick to what works.
 That same year, I had a bad habit of trying to force my shots which never worked for me. I would take shots that I know that I shouldn't  have taken. Shooting traditional has always taught me something new but the most important thing, is to have patience. 
Best of luck and keep at it my friend!
 JMG

[T Folts]

Lee,
I went to a fixed crawl this year and it has sure made my confidence raise quite a bit. Same issues as you. I cant wait until I can get back into shooting to get more time using this method. I had shoulder surgery at the end of October so all I can do is wait until I can start shooting again.

Terry

[Lee Lobbestael]

Thanks guys! Got some new full length arrows today and can't wait to get after it again

[Nole]

Lee, hang in there I've had a rough season myself.  Early on I missed a nice 8 point then on my trip to MS i missed a doe and then hit one in the shoulder.  It has really affected my confidence however I have gone back to the basics of my shot process and I am shooting really well.  Hoping to finish out our GA season with some venison in the freezer.  Good Luck to you!