first of all -no- no desire to hunt with a compound or rifle.
I read what you have said; and I am going to comment on that.
First of all what is a 'chip shot'? Any and every shot can be missed - because the shooting of a traditional bow is a mind set. Shooting a compound is a gear set.
Don't shoot at anything you don't want to hit.
If you shoot at a 150 buck; and you are into the majesty of the buck and not the shot- your going to miss...because at the moment of release you were into the moment more than the shot.
You did miss- why? I think it was because you value the hunt so much you did not concentrate on the shot enough- and that is a beautiful thing!!
Until you realise you missed
One of the great things about traditional bowhunting is that it forces you to be out there longer and hunt harder; and to see the woods in a more intimate way. You have to do that to close the distance and make the shot you want.
Speaking of that - were the missed shots the ones you wanted? Was the deer on the perfect angle; was it really a 'chip shot' - was the fact it WAS a 'chip shot' what made you miss: because something did!!
This year I stopped by a camp of two bowhunters out to slay an elk. They did not have a deer tag; and they had deer walking right into camp to lick at the 'mineral content' of some hay they had raked up to put their tent up. The hay was some that had been under the horses last fall...
So; I was sitting there with these guys drinking a beer they shared with me; and heard a bull elk not more than a 150 yards away bugle.
They thought it was another hunter bugling from their camp- as they had heard the bugle every morning and evening since they had started hunting there. But there was no camp down there!!
When I explained that; and the one guy got a glimse of the bull; and I pointed out a herd of elk to them- right near camp- and they had not seen a single elk all week... well it set the following scene.
I wanted to kill a deer. It did not matter if it was a doe or buck; just wanted to kill a deer.
so; when we sat back down again; a doe walked right up to us at about ten yards. I took out an arrow and shot and put it right over the deers back. I then did it again. And again.
All 'chip shots'.
Why did I miss? Well; I had time to think about that; and went back the next night and missed again; and again. All ten yard shots.
I missed because in my heart I really did not want to hit the deer. We were in the wild; it was wild deer I was shooting at: but somehow- shooting at a deer standing between the long underwear and regular underwear; and towels and such hanging on a rope from tree to tree- with deer walking right under and through it all-
Was not really in my heart the shot I wanted to remember!
Never shoot at anything you don't want to hit.
I wanted an elk this year. I had shots and just did not take them because I was in their zone; and just was enjoying it so much. Of course I kicked myself when they ran off- but that is all part of being there.
How many of us have kicked ourselves for not shooting something the first day- that we had a shot at- that we would have taken the last day?
If the thought of ' if I wait- I might get a bigger one' is in your head when you shoot- your probably going to miss!!
Another thing. I watch a lot of tv hunting shows; and guys shooting compounds. You talked about how well these bows work- well- next time you watch a tv show with a guy hunting with a compound- look at his arrows. Look at the design on the arrows; the color of the vanes or feathers.
Watch when the deer comes in; and see how many arrows are in the quiver- and then when the guy or gal makes the hit- look again at how many arrows are in the quiver.
Often several arrows are missing; or the arrows for the picture of the hunter next to the animal will reveal different arrows in the quiver than when he climbed into the tree.
Don't fall for editing magic!! They miss too!
I watched a Nugent show from africa; where his son was shooting a crossbow the size of a grand piano- and he shot two animals that were not recovered before he came up with his prize. Uncle Ted did not edit out the reality of the bad hits; he did't dwell on it either; and you might have missed his sons comments about it.
You can miss with any bow; and good heavens- do you not remember deer season with a gun?
It was rare to hear one single shot ring out - was it not?
You just are into it man- so -stick with the stick
Topic: Any of you consider quitting trad?? Tough year. . (Read 11894 times)
