In a big time SLUMP.....

[buckracks7]

You just need a new bow.

[TSP]

Bowhunting isn't for the convenience crowd.  Wounding deer is agonizing...my sympathies for that...but consider your hunting blessings.  You RECOGNIZE that it's significant, a sign of respect for the animal.  I wish we all had that quality.  You are able to get out and enjoy the woods.  Some folks would LOVE to be able to do that, but can't.  You are SEEING deer.  Up this way seeing a deer, any deer, is considered notable since we only have about 5 of them, lol.  You are getting SHOTS at deer.  Hereabouts a MAJOR accomplishment for ANY deer let alone for that 'big one' picked from the 17 to pass by the stand that morning.  And finally, you are learning that careful prep and planning doesn't always pay off.  The perfect magazine bowhunt is a 5% tip of the iceberg.  The other 95% is called normal and it's occupied by the rest of us, lol.

For most regular folk in regular hunting areas an up-close deer ENCOUNTER, let alone harvest, is a privilege earned and enjoyed.  Missing or infrequent wounding of a deer is part of the long-term hunting experience and hopefully brings with it a lessons learned and remembered.  Nothing wrong with feeling bad or venting when things don't work just right, simply enjoy the good parts of the ride and adjust for the potholes.  A kill is satisfying, but developing an appreciation for the entire 'theater' of the hunt and learning from mistakes and misfortunes makes us better hunters in the end.  Perfect magazine endings, though infrequent, will be all that much sweeter.

[Dave Bowers]

Ben, I am right there with you. Funny our stories are almost identical. All I can say is stick at it; I took a few days off to get my mind back in it.
And now I am ready to get back at it.

Good luck  

[ripforce56]

That is what makes hunting with a traditional bow  so much of a challenge, if it was easy everyone would do it! Last year I saw very few deer and nothing even close to getting a shot at! This year I have seen plenty of deer, I saw one buck 3 times, he winded me once and was out of shooting range the other times! I commented that if I had a rifle he would have been dead 3 times, but I got no shot with my longbow! My nephew sat there in a gun blind and kills that deer a half hour after day  light on opening day of firearm season, the 15th! I could have gun hunted there too if I wanted to kill that deer it would not have been difficult, but I had no urge to do it! I have had 2 shots at does so far this season, did everything right to get myself into a position to take  the shots, however both shots were right before dark, on one I sheared a branch on dead fall and the arrow landed underneath the deer just startled her, off she went and the other I stuck a small sapling that I couldn't see that was between me and the deer dejected yes, but I didn't wound either of them! Even though I missed it was way more satisfying to me get myself in an actual situation with my longbow, on the ground, with cedar arrows I built to make those shots even though I missed, than to shoot that 8pt from an enclosed blind in an open field with a scoped rifle a half hour into the  firearm season 100 yards away! Relatives think I am nuts to hunt this way, I always tell them for me its not about the killing but the whole traditional archery expierance that they will never understand!  

[Bowwild]

This is my first year back to traditional (recurves) since 1974. I've had a good season so far.  However, I've missed more this year (2 for 5) than in 20 years with a compound. I was fortunate to kill the first one I shot at this season (21 yard pass-through). Then came the 3 shots I didn't like. Then I bookcased these poor results with another quick kill on November 12.

Not making the shot really bums me because like you, I've put a lot of time in this return.  However, the one thing I insist upon is to learn something from these "failed" shots. Acutally, every mistake I've made is a repeat of mistakes I had to learn from in the early 1970's. You would have thought I could have remembered!  

1. Make sure you see those little twigs in your trajectory!
2. Make sure you pick a spot instead of looking at the entire deer.
3. 25 yards isn't the same as 20.

Hang in there, learn from your less than perfect results, and let success come to you. Commit to the shot. Oh, be sure to enjoy all the other wonderful things about traditional hunting and the environment your in.

[BEN]

Wow!! Talk about a "got your back" thread!

Thanks guys.    

I try to enjoy the whold experience.....I'm proud of the fact that I've only been busted 1x this year---and that was being winded; not once by sight! Even the flocks of turkeys failed to pick me out--even AFTER I shot......

BUT, I guess I am very hooked on success as bringing home meat for the freezer. I switched to trad. because I enjoy the shooting time much more than compound bows and crossbows--which is where I came from. But my family as a whole has gotten used to eating venison the past several yrs.to the point that they actually make comments about beef tasting "funny"!  I usually have no problem getting deer down w/ a muzzleloader, but I guess with all the time invested in shooting trad---I just want it to"pay off"........A lot of you guys hit the nail on the head though, when you said to be committed to the shot--not think I might miss; also in reagards to other things being on my mind---this yr. has had it's challenges....

But on a lighter note: the other day, I had a small wren land on my shoulder and sing for about 30 seconds before flitting off----really very awesome. I had a sparrow land on my bow as it lay across my lap......I can't tell you how many times I have deer and squirrells THIS CLOSE and just watched them...or how many times I've cussed out the noisy, trouble-making chipmunks while still quietly laughing at their antics!!

The time in the woods is great---I just got to get back into actually enjoying the whole trip again! And who knows, after 3 long 12 hr days at work------I'm thinking the woods are gonna sound good again!

Thanks guys----for reminding me of why we do this and that I'm not the only one with a bad day or 2 in the woods!
 

[Bowwild]

By golly it is amazing how the smaller the beast the more noise it makes!  Those chipmunks sound like a herd of something in the leaves and because they are under the leaves so much they seem invisible!  Sometimes I just can't help myself-- I know the noise is a chipmunk but I just have to look.

[Hud]

When you practice, do you hang a target on the bales? When stump shooting, do you hang the same target? When it is a deer or turkey, what then?

Most of my practice is without a target, pick a spot and shoot. Pick the smallest spot you can see clearly.

When I shot target/field for years, I shot the same way when hunting, without much success; then I discovered, the two styles of shooting required to be proficient at both were not the same, IMO.  

[S.C. Hunter]

It happens to everyone stick with it and you will get your mojo back. Sometimes a great comeback starts with a layoff. It happens with my bow and pistols, and my golf. I was burned out by so much practice in my golf game took a break and came back with a 2 over round and a 1 under round.

[swp]

Since killing a little 8 pt on 11/2 I have shot over, under and over the last three deer. Still shooting good on targets....just having a mental breakdown on fur.    Just got to stick it out and concentrate.

[LV2HUNT]

Everybody misses sometimes. Just relax, pick a spot and it will happen. Enjoy the hunt and ease the pressure off yourself.  

"When the going gets tough the tough get going". That "going" does not mean leaving!  

[dalealex]

I can only wish I had the opportunities you did.  When your "hunting" it's all part of the game.  I'm happy for you that you that you had the time in the woods and that you were able to test your skills.  I've spent more than one year sitting in tree stands for many, many hours and never had an opportunity to pull the string back.

Have fun, it's all part of the game and your stories will be fresh for years.

[greyghost]

Ben, sorry to hear that. Not much can be said. I and many of my friends have experienced the same.

First to call in 2 turkeys or even if they walked in, just to get drawed and release, great job.

Its just we know we can make it happen, and sometimes a short break may be all thats needed. Some of us a couple days others however long.

[JDinPA]

Archery is hard, traditional archery is even harder. Missing is part of archery. If you practice, you will get consistent groups. When you get consistent groups you are a good shooter. It takes experience to become a good archery hunter. It took me a long time to become a good archery hunter and I still miss from time to time.
Keep hunting and you will get the experience that breeds success.

Don't give up!

[Greyfox54]

I follow Teddy Roosevelt's axiom when asked about all the game he had taken  if he was a good shot , his reply  ' No I just shoot alot "

Never let the fear of missing affect your shooting , now if I could practice that a little more .

[PAPA BEAR]

hang in there ben,it will get better.i havent killed in a while but i just look at scoring a kill as the icing on the cake.