Season really doesn’t start until you’ve made some mistakes

[Soonerlongbow]

I’ve always thought deer season didn’t really start till you made a couple mistakes, at least spooked 1 or 2, forgot your glove, something. Just came out to a place by the house and didn’t pay attention at all I guess because I should have realized that the group of mesquite and bois d’ arc trees I was approaching was perfect bedding cover. Just one doe but man did she high tail it through hip tall grass for about 600 open country yards before she ever stopped. All in about 30sec. Oh we.

[abbatoys]

Haaa, yep same with me behind the house. Seems I can't get out to a stand without at least one doe busting me before I get out of the yard..

[Soonerlongbow]

To add insult to injury, as I walked out at dusk I saw one of the bucks ive been watching step out of the same cospe of trees and walk straight towards my truck. The trees are right on the border of the hunting land vs. public use area.

   

[Soonerlongbow]

To add insult to injury, as I walked out at dusk I saw one of the bucks ive been watching step out of the same cospe of trees and walk straight towards my truck. The trees are right on the border of the hunting land vs. public use area.

   

[Possum Head]

Things can only get better now.

[Stumpkiller]

When I was a young pup I remember an adjunct professor who had been "out in the real world" and he told us that when we were applying for a job we should collect "No's".  If you get turned down - that's great.  Go out and get some more.

Deer hunting can be the same.  If you spend enough time trying eventually the angels will smile and it lines up.  Lord knows I have made my share of mistakes.

I consider it paying my dues.  The more time you spend at it the better your chances.  You just have to be there when the deer makes a mistake and you don't.

[Soonerlongbow]

I can hope and pray.

           

[kennym]

To be a successful bowhunter , many things have to go right, and it only takes one thing to go wrong to throw the whole game.

I usually have that one wrong thing with me! LOL

[kevsuperg]

Yep all the mistakes, close calls and mishaps are why I'm a bowhunter .

[woodchucker]

It seems to me... The Bucks we kill, provide a lifelong memory!
The ones we don't... Provide a lifetime of stories, that only get funnier, each time they're told!!!

[Charlie Lamb]

I'm a gear dropper. Seems like things don't get rolling until I've dropped my number one arrow out of the tree or some other item. Use to irritate me to no end. Now I just accept it. Everything goes smoother with each passing day.

[Terry Green]

Don't let the glove be a mind game...its only finger protection and not a release aid....I've killed plenty of animals when I left my glove...thanks to A.D.D.

Have fun!!!

[Cyclic-Rivers]

I mess up every hunt. Usually the same mistakes every time but I love going out and trying anyhow.

[olddogrib]

Yes, I'm familiar with the concept.  If I'm lucky each year I'll get up the learning curve before the season ends.  I've been at this awhile.  Each year I start out full of bight-eyed and bushy-tailed optimism.  I've corrected everything that went wrong the previous year and developed contingency plans for everything that could possibly go wrong this year.  It's just that said optimism usually cause me to grossly underestimate the number of possible things in that second set!  
  Case in point:I'm always a bit stunned at the folks that hunt out of tree stands but never practice from one (preferably standing and sitting). It's easier said than done to maintain all the aspects of consistent form that you've cultivated on the ground. And you can bet the farm, no matter how much you've practiced from your stand at the exact distance you expect the shot, the deer will be standing much closer to the base of your tree than you ever expected...don't ask how I know. I won't get into the debate of the ethics of the steep downward shot. There are folks who've dissected deer to prove the vitals are as wide from above as they are tall on a broadside shot....I'm not going there. The point is if you intend to take the shot, practice it. I did, but did not have the foresight to include the actual shooting lane I'd cut down through the mountain laurel which was conveniently framing the vitals. If I'd added such realism to my practice sessions I might have had the presence of mind to remember that line of sight is flat, arrow trajectory is not...and I wouldn't have taken the shot...and my arrow wouldn't have hit that branch...oh it's still just too painful to talk about!

[BAK]

Yup, opening day on the first.  Got halfway to my stand and  realized I had everything but my bow.

Went back and got it, sat 2 hours, shot a nice big doe.  What a start.

[Hopewell Tom]

For me, it's like Charlie said, "Everything goes smoother with each passing day."

[YosemiteSam]

Have had 4 non-legal deer up close this season.
 Feeling confident, I was waiting for the first of 3 in a group to come just a bit closer so I could tell if they were legal.  Brush obscured their heads and they were about 30 yards away uphill.  I got impatient and took one more step their direction, only to snap a twig as I raised my foot, giving one of them time to look up and see my foot fall.  Busted.  

I went on a slow pursuit, following their tracks to see where they went & hoping to catch a glimpse to see if they were legal and to see where they went.  Confirmed all were does (not legal) and discovered one of the most heavily used deer trails I've seen in that area.  Guess where I'm heading this weekend?

[Cwilder]

Show d up to a public place I hunt checked in and was driving down the road. That when I realized I didn’t have my bow in the truck. I turned around checked out went home and climbed back in bed. I was gone all of 20 minutes  

[Beav]

Forgot my arrows on a recent hunt 1/2 hour from home. Stuff seems to happen!

[Fattony77]

I can't tell you how much I appreciate this thread. I really thought that I was the only one that these things happen to on a frequent basis...

The encouragement comes at a perfect time, too. Just last week I got my first (and second) shot on a public land Oklahoma bear. I've been hunting them for around 6 or 7 yrs. now, and just now managed my first real opportunity. I missed, cleanly on both shots...

I had a little guy come into my shooting lane, giving me a perfect broadside shot at around 7 yards. When I took the shot, I immediately knew that I'd missed because as he ran all over the place, my string from the string tracker stayed still. After running several different directions at full speed, he ended up back in my shooting lane at around 10 yds. away. I took my 2nd arrow & let fly. He jumped like he'd been hit, and ran straight away from me & down the hill. I managed to stay in my seat for a full 20 min. while I got my hands to stop shaking, but could wait no more. I followed the string to the 1st arrow and then looked around for the 2nd, which I found about 10 feet away & slightly closer to my chair. My heart sank as I looked over the arrow & found it to be completely free of blood or even fur. Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely grateful that I didn't wound him, but I thought that I had made a better shot the 2nd time. The only thing that I can think of is that I just didn't pick a spot and shot at the whole bear. Needless to say, I was very dejected and began to question myself and whether or not I should even be in the woods. But I'm refusing to let negativity rule my life & decision making. So I will practice some more, and be back out for deer for the rest of our season. And do my best to not make the same mistakes.

I just wanted to let you all know how encouraging it can be for others, sometimes, when you are candid about your mistakes. I appreciate it very much.