whats the closest you ever missed an animal at?

[A.S.]

Originally posted by Cool Springer:
Missed the buck of my lifetime (so far) at about 8 yards last week.  He was walking steadily and was so close I was afraid to try and stop him.  I decided to shoot him as he passed from behind a tree.  I shot the tree!  I sat in my stand for two more hours looking at that arrow stuck in the tree.

At least you can admit it Bill!  I still feel your pain. You and that buck are destined to meet again.

[**DONOTDELETE**]

8 feet ....using training wheels no less.        

I got rid of the wheels, and have never looked back.  

[yukon chuck]

Perfect timing for this thread. I'm still losing sleep over a big bodied six point that I missed about a week and a half ago. I was hunting on the ground at the base of a clump of trees. First time in this new spot. Buck walked straight toward me and then broadside at five yards. He looked at me twice and dismissed me. I decided to let him put a bit more distance between us so as to not spook him when drawing my bow. So, at twelve yards he gives me broadside exactly where I anticipated he would. Never knew I was there. I came to full draw and promptly killed an Ash tree that he was standing next to. I never picked a spot, never really settled at anchor, and came completely unnerved by this guy. Still dont know why. Anybody got a good recipe for Ash Stew?

[Steve Clandinin]

I refuse to answer this question,even thinking about it over the years, visions of huge racks at distances so ridiculously close it still brings tears to my eyes,the hair on my arms stand out and I start to shake involuntary.Scary stuff this thing we call bowhunting! LOL
Reminds me of the fella that went to the Dr.over his Anxiety problem.the Doc asked if he bowhunted? The fella asked Why?.Doc said if you do I want you to stop.and if you don't I want you to start!

[Knotter]

A doe at 10 yards on my very first trad hunt.  The string caught my jacket and I shot wide.  

I was very close to mulie buck last year and never got a shot off.  He was facing away from me.  That one still hurts but I have to stay positive.

[DGF]

About 6 yards this year. My second traditional shot at a deer, my second miss.

[rdoggsilva]

Completely over shot a buck at 6-7 yards. Watched it fly over his back and kept going. Never did find that arrow.

[PEL]

Last year in MI sitting on the ground in a good brush blind a smallish six point suddenly appeared at my shoulder (5 or 6ft away) and walked past me!  YIKES! Total panic. NO I was AWAKE! At 2 or 3 yards I loosed one into the next cornfield! Luckily I recouped this year with a perfect 18 yd shot on a medium doe in NY. I love this stuff.

[Raineman]

Shot right over a 6 point last Wednesday at 6 yards. Had to laugh.

[BEN]

2 years ago, I misseda small buck that walked directly under my trees-stand---I shot when he was maybe 10 feet away-------watched arrow shave a  pretty little tuft of hair off his back -that was it!

he trotted maybe 15 yds away and looked around like" What the HECK was that?!?!"

[rolltidehunter]

if your a hunter you will miss! i miss every year.

[Brad_Gentry]

It's great to see this thread! I have been kicking myself for the last several days and this makes me feel a little better.

Last Thursday I missed a large 8 point at maybe 12 yards. Was hunting on the ground, he was stopped and relaxed... didn't even know I was there. Shot right over his back (grazed him actually). I still don't know what the heck I did.

[buckeye_hunter]

12 yards

[Traditional Rascal]

Had a nice 8 follow a doe past my stand last weekend.  Was able to fool the doe and get her past me. I figured the hard part was done now, the buck was focused elsewhere and oblivious to what was lurking above.  I put the "can't miss shot" harmlessly over his back at 13yds. He wasn't sure what was up, but turned back to where he came from and hung up just out of range.  After a couple of tense minutes, everyone relaxed and the doe began to make her way back on the same route she had came in on. I'm not above taking the consolation prize, so I figured if she offered a good shot I would take it. I also promised myself that I would focus properly on this shot. You guessed it.  Another "can't miss" miss! Both arrows were stuck in the ground a foot apart and directly in line with one another.  Alas, if deer weren't only 30inches taller, I would have shot a perfect double.

Last year a doe came in at about 5 yards and looking back. I was drawing my bow and one of her fawns, a button buck, rammed into me on the run and I dropped my arrow.  With the doe standing there yet I went for another arrow, then I saw two dogs that were chasing her other fawn. Left the doe alone and shot one of the dogs with an HTM tipped arrow and ended their fun.  thinking back, I should have used the broadheads on both of the dogs. I missed a fox at 6 feet that I called in once with a Browning Cobra, three under and lifted the arrow off the shelf

[Uncle Buck]

first buck I ever shot at, about 10 feet away I was backed into a hole in a large bushy cedar where a bunch of branches had died. very good concealment but no periferal view. I was expecting to see deer enter a small clearing 15 yards in front. When a 4 point materialized literally in front of my face I got so freaked out I shot a foot over his back

[Fortun81]

10 yards... Shot over a HUGE buck at 10 yards (biggest buck I ever had a shot at...). A swing and a miss!