At around 7:30 this morning I spotted a rather large buck about 60 yards in front of my stand. I counted 8 points although small he had some pretty good mass and would have made for an awesome first deer for me... Blarg!
My stand faces north at the edge of a dry crick bed and he was heading due west of me so I got my call out and made a few grunts. Not thinking he would budge he turned and started my way and stopped for a perfect broad side shot at 15 yards in the dry crick bed facing east. I couldn't have hoped for a better shot... Really, it was perfect. When I drew he looked up at me. Making a huge mistake I stopped concentrating on my spot and waited for him to look away since he wasn't spooked. As soon as he looked away I released my arrow and watched it zip over his back. Boy am I still bummed.
This is the first year I have ever actually hunted with a bow even though I have been shooting bows since I was 10 years old and shot compounds up until last year when I took the plunge into Trad. I never expected the first deer I would get a shot at would be a pretty darn big buck. I practiced a LOT to make sure I wouldn't do what I did today although, I am glad that I wasn't nervous because of his rack so I guess that's a plus. I suppose I just tried to do to many things at once and it made me lose my focus. I figured he might duck my arrow if he saw it coming so I hesitated. Looking back I think I should have ignored his head completely and just focused on my spot since he wasn't spooked. I would like to hear some of your thoughts on the subject if you don't mind of course.
that is a bummer, I have been there too. Just look at this as a learing point and move on... there will be more opportunities and it will be sweet when it all comes together!
Aye, I will never make the same mistake again. Thats for sure.
Matt, keep your chin up. You will make up for it on the next bruiser that crosses your path. ;)
I'll take a hundred clean misses to one bad hit.
Sorry about that. Dan
It happens. Just ask a few on here. just try try and try again.<><
No harm done - sounds like a great morning hunting to me.
Catch and release bowhunting at it's finest ;)