Trad Gang

As STICK2117 said "Missed Again!!"  Missed a doe last week, shot just over her back.  I guess I got buck eagers and didn't pick a spot.  This morning, shot at a six point, flinched, and grazed the brisket.  Found some blood and waited 4 hrs. and began tracking him.  Found him bedded down and stalked to within 35 yrds (another 2 hrs). Finally he got up, thru up the old tail and disappeared.  I checked his bed and there was very little blood, so, I'd say he'll be all right.  Then, dropped over the hill to another tree stand to hunt the rest of the evening and just before dark, grunted in a very nice 9-10 point and wouldn't you know it, nicked a small branch and missed him!  Not having much luck this year.  Only have a couple of days left and it's starting to look like another dry season....  

Cool!  You got to shoot three more times than me so far!

I would say you are having a good season.  It could be better, but it could be a lot worse.  So far, it is sorta like catch and release.  Bill

Got You beat I missed 4 times

Heartbreaking and frustrating at times but you've felt the rush three times...I would say you're having a great season. Good luck to you, I hope you put one on the ground.  :thumbsup:

Well it does not sound like a great season to me.2 misses and a wounded deer would not make my season seem like it was going well. :(

You might want to practice a little more so you can close the deal after all your work getting the shots.jmo

QuoteOriginally posted by James on laptop:
Well it does not sound like a great season to me.2 misses and a wounded deer would not make my season seem like it was going well.     :(    

You might want to practice a little more so you can close the deal after all your work getting the shots.jmo

:readit:

I have missed 3 times. It happens I have also scored 3 times so I, batting.500 and happy to have had 6 opportunities. I missed on one stalk, hard shot and I dindn't close the deal but a sappling sure felt my wrath!! I misses a doe from a treestand, all my fault she took a step and I lost all concentration, shot a foot under her. I missed a 140" 8 pt at 26 yards who was a bit to atlert for 45# Kodiak as he "ducked" a well placed shot only getting a shave as he loaded up to turn and run at my shot. The were all fun and rewarding though! I have been blessed to score quick harvests on a black bear an old doe and a spike and it isnt over yet! Hang in there!

Well not sure what point I am missing.When you miss or wound more that you hit the target I can't see what is so great about it myself.  :confused:  

I am sure most like me work there butt off getting the shot they want.All that scounting or hanging stads ect means nothing at all if you can't make the shot when it comes.Sure anyone that hunts will miss or wound a deer if they hunt much at all.That is just a given because stuff happens.When stuff happens more often than stuff don't happen then there is just no way I could call it a great season.

Sorry but if you miss more than you hit you need to practice more or rethink the type shots you are taking instead of hoping to get lucky and hit something one of those times.The internet is the only place I have ever seem people happy about there season is going because they keep missing.  :(

QuoteOriginally posted by James Wrenn:
Well not sure what point I am missing.When you miss or wound more that you hit the target I can't see what is so great about it myself.    :confused:    

I am sure most like me work there butt off getting the shot they want.All that scounting or hanging stads ect means nothing at all if you can't make the shot when it comes.Sure anyone that hunts will miss or wound a deer if they hunt much at all.That is just a given because stuff happens.When stuff happens more often than stuff don't happen then there is just no way I could call it a great season.

Sorry but if you miss more than you hit you need to practice more or rethink the type shots you are taking instead of hoping to get lucky and hit something one of those times.The internet is the only place I have ever seem people happy about there season is going because they keep missing.    :(  

I shoot hundreds of arrows a week, and still missed  6 times, does that make me a bad shot? I hardly EVER miss  my 3ds, and have a high percentage of "kill shots" on my 3ds .  Foam is completely different then shooting at a real animal. How do you get better at harvesting animals? Shoot more animals. Experience is everything when it comes time to closing the deal.

My hunting season is all about the journey, and not the kill. The kill is just icing on the cake, in my opinion.

QuoteI shoot hundreds of arrows a week, and still missed 6 times, does that make me a bad shot?  

Well it means you are taking the wrong shots or shooting a noisy bow that is causeing a lot of reaction from the deer.Hard to miss a whole deer unless you are taking shots that might not be the best shots for you.

Alright I will back out of this thread now.Not going to get in debate over how good missing while hunting is.You guys have fun and maybe one day you will see that hitting them is a lot more fun.  ;)

QuoteOriginally posted by James Wrenn:
 

QuoteI shoot hundreds of arrows a week, and still missed 6 times, does that make me a bad shot?  

Well it means you are taking the wrong shots or shooting a noisy bow that is causeing a lot of reaction from the deer.Hard to miss a whole deer unless you are taking shots that might not be the best shots for you.

Alright I will back out of this thread now.Not going to get in debate over how good missing while hunting is.You guys have fun and maybe one day you will see that hitting them is a lot more fun.    ;)   [/b]

Those shot were broadside 13-17 yards...As far as my bow being noisey, it was at the same deer 3 times,

We will have to agree to disagree on this one. Have a great season James   :thumbsup:

a friend of mind missed the same deer 3 times too....

this is what you need to do,,,,, first lets a take a compound shooter with a pin, when he shoots ne needs to hold the pin onm the spot until impact no matter what..

traditional shooter, when he shoots he must pick a spot and keep picking that spot when he releases and when the arrow either hits or misses,,, if you see your arrow fly right through that spot then you did everything right if you see the deer jump the string and move out of the way But the arrow STILL flys through that spot your looking at (eventhough now the deers not part of it)  thats still a good shot..... now if you shoot and the deer does not move before the arrow wounds or misses and the arrow does not hit where you are looking then that is your fault and has nothing to do with picking a spot because at that point essentially your Brain sights are off and you just are not hitting the spot you are picking--> that just takes more practice or dicipline meaning you might be beyond your comfort zone.

this is my quick way to determine if its ME that missed or the deer just out smarted me upon the shot.

Missing is not to be envied, but it is part of the sport. I missed a bull elk three times and kept calling him back, finally making the kill with my last arrow. If I didn't get excited, I'd quit.

Well, back out of the woods from the morning hunt.  Saw nine but none close enough to shoot at. When everything is said and done, deer or no deer, I will  of had a good season.  I've been traditional for about 10 years now and this is the second time one has got away.  I practice hard to be a good shot and I know my limitations, sometimes things aren't always perfect as much as some people want them to be.

Maybe the reason people don't like to come on hear and talk about their misses is for fear of the beating they're sure to receive from the old pro's that claim they just don't miss. Or so you would think to hear them tell it.  We all have our share of misses; keep at it, I know I will.

I agree RLA..Getting ready to go back out even though it's 70 degrees....

you know mountain boy I do I owe you an apology,, I just re-read your original post and I have no idea why I wrote all that stuff, for some reason I think I thought you where asking for help but now I see you where just telling us what did go wrong, so I'm sorry about that and thats my fault..

RLA not me,,, ask me about my misses and wounds and I promise you even though some of it may sound graphic It will all be the 100% truth--> and those who know me know I could care less what anyone thinks,, misses and wounds are all part of it out there last I heard.

good luck mountainboy, your into some nice deer and it will all come together very soon I'm sure.

We would all like to be perfect and for everything to turn out just the way we want it to... but wouldnt life be boring!! I had one shot so far this year and guess what, I missed!! hit a small limb between me and the doe. I was consentrating more on a spot than what was in the way. Somtimes thats just the way things go!! sounds like your having a good season, contrary to what you may read!! Good Hunting, Jason

I have missed deer.
I have never got anything good from a miss - other then realizing how plain dumb lucky I was not to wound one. I have agonized over every one and always will - will never be able to brush it off as just part of the game. Missing deer does not make a good season for me.

JMO - directed at no one in particular.

I have missed deer. I have wounded deer and not found them. I look at probably 100 deer every bow season, and have a lot of time to learn from my mistakes.

I have "analyzed" myself, and every deer I ever wounded was my own damned fault (the number is 3, by the way). Some of you guys may not want to hear it....or admit it....but most wounded deer come from wanting to kill one too bad. Shots taken that should have been passed up.

Along with that, remember that a miss is just a few inches away from a wounded deer. I see no honor in missing (not being critical, missed plenty myself).

I have done a couple things to prevent against misses and wounding situaions.

#1, I don't care if I kill a deer THAT DAY. I know I will always have another chance. If it isn't a slam dunk shot, I'm not taking it.  The only deer I have killed so far this year was at 7 yards. Slam dunk. I passed on a Pope & Young buck this year at 35 yards, broadside, in an open field. I don't care.

#2, I have thought long and hard about what a succesful sight picture looks like, vs a miss. I know what my brain is doing in a miss vs hit situation. It's not just about distance. If everything isn't right, I'm not shooting.

So...lets not slap each other on the back and congratulate each other over misses. Lets think hard about why they happen, and work toward eliminating them.

Thanks everyone!  Yesterday was (probably) my last day and I ended it with a average 8-point coming to about 20yds. but just not presenting a good shot.  I might get to hunt a day or two near the end of December, but, if not it was a very exciting bow season..I will analyze my mistakes so that they hopefully won't happen again next time and the persuit continues..Take them grunt calls with you right now, they do work!!

QuoteOriginally posted by Mountainboy:
Well, back out of the woods from the morning hunt.  Saw nine but none close enough to shoot at. When everything is said and done, deer or no deer, I will  of had a good season.  I've been traditional for about 10 years now and this is the second time one has got away.  I practice hard to be a good shot and I know my limitations, sometimes things aren't always perfect as much as some people want them to be.

Good attitude Stay with it practice your own advise. I practice all the time and like someone else said shooting doam amd stumps is way different than shooting at an animal. Atleast your seeing deer close enough to shoot at.

At least your getting shots! I've had one and missed also. Didn't pick a spot!

I can say I have never lost an animal, not once. I have missed cleanly or come away with a harvest, although some required a stalk and second arrow. I am sure the day will come when my aim is poor and one gets away. I feel we miss when hunting plainly because there is just no way to mimic real situations. odd angles you never thought of on the side of a slippery ridge, or branches that move when its windy, or trying to concentrate when you are trying to pick a spot on one deer while 4 more sets of eyes are on you. Just saying. Fred Bear was even quoted as saying it better to be a good hunter than a good archer!

Been there, done that, got the T-Shirt!  Don't give up and keep your chin up.