I choked!

[Jake Diebolt]

Well, the bow season is over here on Manitoulin. Yesterday I had a really good chance at a buck.

It was about 7:30 in the morning, shortly after shooting light, when a little fork buck came in. The wind was almost at his back, so I knew he wouldn't scent me: as soon as I knew he was going to be coming within range I started getting the rush - shaking, weak legs, the whole nine yards. He came straight in almost the whole way - no shot until he turned to walk through a gap broadside at 5 yards. Just before he stepped out into the gap he stopped and started doing the old head bob - he had caught movement, or some scent on the ground, and he knew something was wrong. I had my bow at quarter draw, so I could draw back and shoot with minimal movement as soon as he gave me a shot...but before I could shoot he turned , bounced away a few bounds, and stood in an opening at 20 yards...broadside.

Now I've been practicing a lot at 20 yards and lately I can keep my shots in a 6 inch circle. I came to full draw and tried to pick a spot on the deer. Maybe I stared too long, maybe I was shaking too much; likely it was a combination of the two. Heck, maybe he jumped the arrow a bit - he was pretty keyed up. Whatever the case I released - and the arrow went low , some inches beneath his chest cavity. Off he went, the first deer I'd had a shot at in almost 6 years, what with a couple lean seasons and a 4 year hiatus from hunting.

I couldn't believe I'd missed. It had been a classic scenario for a good bowhunting shot. Before I got out of the stand a few hours later, I took a shot at where my arrow stood out of the ground - and hit just 2 inches low. Really good shooting for me.

On the plus side, I don't have a problem with my shooting, even from a tree stand. In this case, I guess I just couldn't handle the pressure and adrenaline. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like to be REALLY close to one of these animals, even one on the small side.

At first I was pretty upset, but I've decided to chalk this one up to experience, and feel good that I got a clean miss instead of a wound.

And if that buck makes it through the gun season and the winter, I may have to have a shot at him again next year...

[beyondmyken]

Yeah, a clean miss is better than a bad hit.

[doug77]

It happens.


doug77

[DannyBows]

It may not have worked out this time but how about that rush and all the excitement!

I wouldn't beat yourself up over your shooting. That buck was on high alert and at 20 yards they can do some serious moving before an arrow gets to them.

Your shot could have been right on and he could have dropped to load and already have jumped high enough to seem as if you shot low.

I remember a thread from the past where one of the 'gang shot at a deer facing broadside and he hit the deer right in the vitals, but from the opposite side he was shooting at! The deer had swapped ends that fast.

Keep at 'em and good luck!

[Jake Diebolt]

Overall I think it was a positive experience. This morning I sat in a stand and had 5 deer walk by, and I was a lot calmer. I was just better able to deal with the adrenaline.

In all honesty I don't think he jumped the arrow - I remember hearing the arrow hit before seeing him move (although that might be fuzzy). After the shot I found myself unconsciously looking for excuses - and then forced myself to analyze what went wrong and try and draw some hard lessons from it. That's really the only way to improve.

I hunt with guys that are understanding about misses, but they're also adamant that you acknowledge what you did wrong and move to correct it. If you say to them "I screwed up" they agree with you - they don't condemn, but they don't sugar coat things either. Sometimes it seems harsh, but when the consequence is potentially a wounded animal, I think they're in the right.

And as for the rush...my dad always said he knew a guy years ago who claimed that after shooting a bunch of deer in his life, he no longer got excited when he saw one hunting. My dad said to him "Just go home and watch TV on your lazy boy. If getting close to deer isn't getting your blood pumping at least a little, you shouldn't even be out here." I love the rush feeling - even if it can be overwhelming!

[DannyBows]

The 'Rush' is what it's about. I agree with your Dad wholeheartedly.

[Altiman94]

Gotta love the rush.  Just getting that close to an animal is a success in itself.  A clean miss is much better than a poor hit.

If hunting trad was easy most of us would be doing it some other way. The fact that it is hard, and we have to work very hard to be sucessful is why I do it this way. When I do connect it is all that more gratifying.

Good luck on your next one,

Bisch

[RkyMtn Joe]

Wow--sounds like me earlier in my hunting career--I missed the first 4 deer I shot at (one was less than 10 yards away) and only a lucky shot allowed me to connect with my first deer.  That "fever" is part of the fun although frustrating at times.

Better luck on your next one though.

Joe

[Tajue17]

I remember missing a 7-pointer that ran right up to my tree after I just got done climbing the tree in my climbing tree stand,, yep 2 short blows on the grunt tube  and it sounded like I called the family dog that deer was runnign so fast in the leaves

this deer ran to exactly 10 feet from the base of my tree, I was scared it would smell something so I opted for the nearly straight down shot and expected it to jump the string and it didn't and I must of trimmed its arm pit fur,, then the dang thing kicked my brandnew Bob Gosdeck wooden arrow with its hoof and broke the arrow!!!  I was using a morrison dakota that I loved up until that shot,,, I sold the Morrison right when I got home, I hate all morrisons now because I had to blame it on something so Bob Morrison I'm sorry but I hate all your bows 8^)

[Pointer]

Happens to all of us at some point..no worries

[SteveB]

Dropping the string on an alert, wired deer seldom ends well.