Fortunately, my mistake didn't end up with a wounded or lost animal. The only thing wounded was my ego, which in reality wasn't a particularly bad thing. Seems I was getting a little cocky and arrogant with my shooting at game. A little slice of humble pie went down hard but was certainly good for me. The best I can remember, my last 11 arrows shot at game resulted in something being dead (4 turkeys, 4 deer, 1 coyote, 1 rabbit, 1 alligator). Well that streak ended this morning. It was a perfectly beautiful morning with temps in the low 30's and a light wind in my favor. I was trying to catch a quick hunt before work and had set my departure time at 8 AM. Well at 7:56 AM I started getting ready to leave. Took my arrow off and put it in the quiver, hung my bow up, put on my backpack and got ready to climb down. As I was reaching for my bow I looked over at the apple tree and there standing under it was a nice fat 6 pt with short times but good width. I initially decided I wasn't going to shoot but got ready anyway. Well, he posied around the tree for a minute and then started to walk off and into the field to the right. This would take him into an opening at about 12 yards. I saw that he had a good sized body and thought those backstraps would be awfully good wrapped in bacon and grilled over an open flame. So I made a quick decision to go ahead and shoot him. Well the quick decision didn't allow me to focus like I know I should and I made the rookie mistake of just yanking back the string and letting the arrow fly. It was after all a slam dunk shot. There was no way I could miss. RRRIIIIGGGGHHHHHTTTT! I didn't so much as pick a general area to shoot at let alone a single hair. So when you "aim big, you miss big". I didn't aim low, I didn't pick a spot, I rushed my shot, I probably didn't anchor well, and the result was pretty predicatable. I trimmed a few hairs right off his back. As Homer Simpson, my compadre in mental apptitude would say, "doh"! My TimberHawk Falcon T/D was whisper quiet and the silly buck just hopped about 3 yards and stopped. I had a wonderful shot, but that little buck earned the right to live and taught me a good lesson in humility and focus. Never take any shot for granted and always respect what you are shooting at and give it your full focused effort.
I wish I could say I won't make the mistake again, but I sure as heck will remember my slice of humble pie this morning. The old axiom of "aim small, miss small" holds some pretty heavy weight this morning. Well, I better go. I have some pie stuck in my throat and need to get some water to wash it down.
Tonight should be good....
Move over Marty! I never miss at 12 yards...8, yes, but never 12!!!
Indy,it is great that you turned a miss in a lesson of living,this is a great success.Congrats.
Wow. I could do that. That is a good reminder for many of us. Thanks for sharing.
Sorry dude, no more humble left for you I think I ate it all...lol
Hey Terry, you know what you did wrong. No wounded deer, no harm no foul. I did that with the first two trad shots I took at deer(same buck). Lol. If I was here I would have jumped on him for ya!
There is always next time. And aim small miss small.
Sorry to hear that Terry, but you surely have it in the right perspective. I know you well enough to be pretty confident that the next animal won't be quite so lucky, and it will be backstraps wrapped in bacon instead of humble pie!
Good luck......
David
Terry I been there, done that. I feel your pain. I think sometimes we need to do things like that to keep us focused.
Jack
Nice reminder. I hope I can keep it in mind if I get an opportunity this season.
Did the same thing Wed morning on a hen turkey. She got spooked at my decoy and I rushed the shot and shot high and just missed her neck at 13 yds from the ground. Never picked a spot.
That is why lower stands heights are a good thing, ego less bruised when it hits the deck ;)
We are humans, not machines.
I wish when I said, "I'll never do that again" I wasn't lying to myself!
I did that with the 'boar of a lifetime' last year.
Indeed a good lesson and not only for you! Thank you for shairing!!
Did you follow me out last night? That story sounds awfully familiar to me?????? I did the same to a fat doe last night. I didnt even come close to giving her a hair cut either, I was a foot over her back. I did all I needed to do minus picking a specific spot. Good anchor, good bow arm, good back tension and follow thru though!
Terry,
This weekend, in red magic marker, on the belly of my bow, in plain sight above the arrow rest, I wrote "Pick A Spot"
I've made that mistake one too many times.
Been there done that
Hey Terry, I feel for you!! I had that doe skinned and quartered even before I let my arrow fly. Funny how these things happen! Betcha wont miss the next one.
Been there, done that as well... 7 times this last archery only season. Any one of those arrows should have connected, if I would have just focused on a small spot.
Can I sit on the bench to?
Terry, don't feel bad. That's just the sort of thing that happens when your pre-occupied with thoughts of work and making a living. :archer2:
That was humble pie with whip cream..It just wasn't meant to be..Something better is coming your way..
I've eaten that pie so much I've gotten fat from it!
11 and 1!!!! Not a bad score Old Boy. Too bad it didnt have spots like your bobcat, you coulda picked one and been eating backstraps as we speak. I totally get the meaning of your post and you hit the nail on the head. Im Pretty sure that'll be your last miss for a while.
well brother, the Lord has a way of keeping us in check...
Thanks Terry for the lesson. I hope I dont make the same mistake but you know how nerves can get the better of you?
I would put money on the notion you make meat before long. :readit: Go gettem Terry, I saw you hit a running rabbit at 30 yards, I know you can do it at 12.
Wow, you are human!! LOL
There you have it! "Almost" does count for something. Being in your PJ bottoms is just a small part of it. ;) (inside joke)
... mike ...
Thanks everyone! I'd forgotten how bad it feels to make such a bad mistake. The bottom side of a worm's belly was looking pretty tall.
It just scared me to think that I could've just as easily made a bad hit and caused undue suffering for such a magnificent animal. I know he was just a small 6pt, but he, and they all, deserve my best effort.
Must've shot a hundred arrows today. Couldn't even bring myself to go out this evening. I was shooting well and I'll get back on the horse in the morning. If I'm blessed with another opportunity I will give it my best shot and pray for the outcome the animal deserves.
I wish I was half the hunter most of you are! I just put in a lot of time and play the old blind sow card. Been real lucky for a while. Looks like I need to return to the basics.
Terry... You are a great person and have my respect. It takes a real, honest and God loving man to look so deep inside himself on a forum such as this. Hunting to some can be a "face value pass time" when the end justifies the means. But not us my friend. We here at Trad Gang know the true meaning of what "the hunt" is.
... mike ...
You're still one of the deadliest bow shots I know buddy!
I'm sure the next one is in BIG TROUBLE!!!!