Do you miss game often?

[sweeney3]

Very seldom.  Once in the past four years.  Now if you count small game, a little more.

[Bill Carlsen]

Tree rats are challenging.

[Roger Norris]

Squirrels and rabbits? All the time.

Big game? No. I don't take long shots, I always set up so my opportunities will be a slam dunk. Certainly I HAVE missed, but not recently....when I was younger and dumber....lots.

[jonsimoneau]

The year I first started hunting with traditional gear I missed 6 yes 6 deer in a row!  This was largely due to inexperience and buck fever. I don't miss big game to often anymore but it does happen. I missed a very big Illinois buck a few years ago and that one still hurts. Most of my misses were due to being overly excited/putting too much pressure on myself.  Going to africa really helped me. When you are hunting there you will get more shots at big game animals in one ten or fourteen day hunt than you will get in many seasons of deer hunting.

If a guy shoots at three deer and hits one in the guts, one in the leg and the other too high in front shoulder, not able to find them after a reasonable search, does that mean they did not miss?      

I can't help but wonder if the question was: "do you make a clean kill shot every time" and /or are you able to retrieve all of your game....the responses would be much different.     :p  

I don't take shots (deer) these days that don't have a great potential for a clean kill.  Consequently I don't drop the string too often  but have shot at a few tree rats, only to kill one in my lifetime.

[Slickhead]

Yes
I miss more than I hit.
Normally over or under.
Ive nicked a leg a time or two.
I am a good shot on paper, but for some reason I miss deer.
I can hit a tennis ball more times than not at 12 yards.
Ive hit soda bottles on the roll.

But a deer is often safe from harm.
Just keeping it real.

[Roger Norris]

Originally posted by Macatawa:
If a guy shoots at three deer and hits one in the guts, one in the leg and the other too high in front shoulder, not able to find them after a reasonable search, does that mean they did not miss?        

I can't help but wonder if the question was: "do you make a clean kill shot every time" and /or are you able to retrieve all of your game....the responses would be much different.      :p    

I don't take shots (deer) these days that don't have a great potential for a clean kill.  Consequently I don't drop the string too often  but have shot at a few tree rats, only to kill one in my lifetime.

I assumed thats what the OP ment....you are correct, a marginal hit is much worse than a miss.

[BUFF]

quote:Originally posted by Macatawa:
If a guy shoots at three deer and hits one in the guts, one in the leg and the other too high in front shoulder, not able to find them after a reasonable search, does that mean they did not miss?      

 

[LimBender]

Last year was my first year with a recurve and I went 0 for 2 on deer before connecting on the third (am really happy the first 2 were clean misses).  I was really fortunate to get 3 chances.  Also missed a squirrel, a couple rabbits, and wounded a turkey and coyote (took a shot I normally wouln't with the yote as I was instructed to kill them with maximum prejudice).  But I did seem to have an ability to hit snakes and fish.

I learned from my misses and am certainly practicing to be a better shot this year, but it was an exciting first year.

[YORNOC]