The deer never knew what was coming ...

[Mr.Magoo]

After seeing a nice doe walk by just out of range I sat in my stand for another hour.

My rear was going to sleep and I decided to climb down and call it a day.  I lowered my bow to the ground and stood-up.

Just then I noticed a nice little buck working his way down the hill in the direction the doe had come.  I slowly pulled my bow back up and waited.

The little buck looked like he might pass by out of range, but he took a turn toward me and looked like he was going to pass-by close.

He worked his way down and stood on the far side of the trail I was set-up on and when he stepped on to the trail to my left I was going to shoot.

He stepped into the trail chewing a leaf never suspecting a thing ... he was only about 5 or 6 steps to my left and I picked which 2 ribs the arrow was going to go through.

I drew and released.  The arrow screamed about a millimeter over his back and plowed into the trail.

The deer jumped forward a bit and started looking around.  He looked back over his shoulder (away from me) and I quickly nocked another arrow.  

Then he looked up at me in the tree.  My heart was going about a zillion beats a minute and I'm trying not to move ... if he'd only look away for a second.  

But alas, it was not to be.  He finally decided play time was over and ran off snorting all the way.

I stood there for a few minutes (drooling I think), trying to figure-out how I missed such a easy shot.  I still can't believe I missed that shot.

Anyhow, hope you had fun if this was your opening day.  I'll be back out this evening.

[ISP 5353]

Pick a spot and have fun!

[maineac]

Sounds like you had the right spot.  You may get another chance at him.  At least you go tthe ol' adrenalin pumping, which is keeps us heading back out.

[mcgroundstalker]

My cousin Joe would say, in his deep, gruffy, NY city boy voice: " You had da trill wid-out da mess!"

... mike ...    ...

[BUFF]

good luck next time

[GingivitisKahn]

Sounds like a fun hunt.  :-D

[limbow]

Thanks for sharing, great story--Pick a spot and bend at the wist!

[ishoot4thrills]

Hey, just keep goin' after them and remember it's better to have a clean miss than to lose a mortally wounded deer.

Best wishes to you for the next time out.

[ron w]

Next time.............

[Mr.Magoo]

I hate to admit this but ....

I have a ladder stand in the backyard to practice from, so I set my rinehart javelina 5 steps out to try that shot and almost shot over it again.

That's a tricky little shot (for me anyhow).

[Hot Hap]

From on high aim low. Hap

[Walt Francis]

Or do what Charlie recommends, cant your bow a little more then normal.

[mscampbell75]

I missed that same shot last year.  Juuust over his back @ 10 steps.  Clean miss is always better than a bad hit.

[Nor'easter]

Two lessons to be learned:
    1) practice that close shot more
    2) that close shot (from a treestand) is
       a tougher shot than you would think.
If the doe passed that close also, I would move
the stand back off the trial more.  I prefer a
20-25 yds. shot anytime.

[George D. Stout]

Don't cant your bow more. What you need to do is align your body with the shot. Bend at the waist to get your upper body in alignment with the bow and the angle of the shot.  If you stand straight, it will affect your draw length and you will overshoot most of the time.

Bend at the waist to the angle of the shot.  Same when shooting uphill...bend to the angle of the shot.

[varmint101]

What George said.  Bend at the waist to keep your alignment.  More than likely why you missed.  Cool story!  I can't wait till I can get out there too.

I learned several years back that there is no such thing as a slam dumk in bowhunting. Sometimes it's just not your turn.

Bisch