I haven't had an overabundance of shots this year so a blown opportunity gets my goat a bit more than usual.
Long story short, I had 4 does come in to my stand this evening. Coming in from the front instead of behind as I planned of course. The lead doe was definitely looking for something (me) the closer she got (the leaves are all down and it's like I'm on a telephone pole waiting for her to bust me.)
She's coming closer, closer looking hard under me and I'm just waiting for her to look up. At a bit under 20 yards she looks behind her giving me a fairly hard quartering-away shot. My brain clicks off and I take the shot.
It would have been a good shot if it had connected, but I missed by about an inch. While I'm watching my arrow vibrate in the ground, I'm thinking, if I'd only waited about 20 more seconds I'd have had a high percentage shot (or been busted).
That's 2 that have jumped out of the freezer this year before I could shut the lid because I didn't wait just a few more seconds.
I have to learn to slow it down (maybe that wasn't such a short story after all). :)
Ah well, maybe next time eh? Sure was fun tho wasn't it? :) How long does your season last? Hopefully you get another shot this season.
I feel your pain. I have only been once and made two HUGE rookie mistakes costing me two opportunities...one was on a nice buck. My dad and I were just discussing the night before how you can't get cocky. I sure am getting hungry for some backstrap!! Good luck next time, I'd be willing to bet she's yours!
sounds very frustrating.i know how ya feel mr magoo. saturday i was in a stand, close to home, i had to watch 2 does walk by out of range.which really wasn't to bad , i dont own a doe bleat, grunt tube or rattlin horns. i just sat there in silence and watched them walk peacefully, like as if i weren't even there :banghead:
Don't beat yourself up to bad. Hopefully it won't be long before you can redeem yourself.
I have clean missed 3 deer this past weekend.
I'm talking about 18 yard and two 13 yard shots!
Pick A Spot is what they keep telling me! lol
Experience is the best teacher, patience and good luck.
Patience is one of the hardest parts of hunting to over come. I am talking shot time patience. Just get back out there and learn from mistakes. Be glad you had clean misses. I know that alot or poor hits come from that lack of patience thing. Just my 2 cents and experience, Big Ed
I've missed WAY more than I've hit :-)
hind sight is always 20/20. I always try to take the first shot I have that I feel is good, not risky, and within my abilities. I've also been on the side of the coin where I waited for the "perfect" shot and not taken opportunities that were good and never got a shot.. I think those hurt worse cause you'll have the "why didn't I shoots" when the chance was given. From what your saying, I think you did the right thing, don't beat yourself up for a clean miss!
Always wait for the high percentage shots and never mix in history into your shot selection.
Meaning, a good shot is a good shot and a bad shot is a bad shot regardless of what happened last time or the amount of opportunities you have.
Six of one half a dozen of the other! I learned over the years to take the first opportunity at a good shot, to many times I've waited just to watch them walk away because they never presented another shot.
I did the same thing on a nice 8pt for my area. Right over his back.
"Busted" is my middle name... Happens to me during the (other) seasons too. Reminds me of a scene in a movie where an actor says to his partner... "You checked your gun already, twice. Look, don't wait for it to happen, don't try to make it happen, just let it happen."
Patience needs to be learned. More so when hunting with trad gear. Sometimes I move so slow it's like I'm never gettin' anywhere. Then I let my guard down at the 90% mark and get BUSTED!
... mike ...