One shot...two shots...at the first bird. One shot...two shots...at the second bird.....
I normally shoot my recurve upright but shooting from a blind is a whole different matter...I have to cant at a 45d angle. All my shots were low - the good news is the birds are still running around uninjured.
My pride is in worse shape. :laughing:
Heck, I missed a hog at 4 yds once, thank goodness he didn't stay around for a second shot.
Missing is what makes us keep coming back.
It makes the hits that much better.
Mike
Time to take the seat to the practice range!! :dunno:
I know the feeling :banghead:
Been there done that. It happens.
We have ALL been there.
Pick a spot. Many of us think we are, but a live critter just makes it tough.
Practice with the blind. Gauging distance thru a small hole is tough and errors are made.
You will get it. Then post pix.
ChuckC
Builds character, don't it?!
Heck, I shot through the bottom edge of my blind
window after telling myself all morning to "be careful of that bottom edge of the window".
Why they make windows so high in most ground blinds is a mystery to me. I am tall, use a tall seat, and still find many windows too high up the wall of the blind.
Sorry about the misses... but I bet you are more determined then ever now!
Goes with the territory. I figure that when I miss, I don't have to gut and pack that particular critter out. Anybody that hasn't missed, hasn't shot at much.
I've missed more turkey with my recurve than I care to admit... and some from chip-shot ranges! I missed one at 25 yds yesterday. I have a terrible time picking a spot on that black blob of a body they have? Chin up...you're not alone. :thumbsup:
I have a hard time shooting out of a blinb. It throws my depth of field off for some reason.
It happens!!!
Did that a couple days ago at 12 yards walking straight at me in half strut. Shot right through lower tail feathers. As I tell my son, it was fun and I didn't have to clean one. Ha! Ha!
Better luck next time. It happens to almost everyone I'm sure.
Bob
Yup, it happens to the best of us.
I normally shoot high at game from a blind. My mind seems to think the critter is farther away looking through that shooting hole. I always practice from a blind for a couple weeks before season to help me with that problem, but it still happens on occasion. :banghead:
Best of luck to ya!
Turkey fever aint it great! I missed at 10 yds and when the turkey stayed around I missed at 13 yds. Did'nt pick a spot!!!!
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020345.jpg)
I spent a couple hours stalking a bedded bull elk this past winter to 20 yards, then I shot low, into a rock.
I felt like the worst bowhunter! I'm still crying. :knothead:
Been there, done that, will probably do it again.
I missed a fall bird three times in WI last year.
Happens to me all the time when practicing sitting and extreme canting of my bow. If I don't really concentrate, I will drop my bow arm at the shot.
It's also why they call it hunting
Heck...i'd be happy just to have had a shot at two birds! I came close on Monday, but that was the first time in a looooong time! :o
When you do get one, it will be that much sweeter!!
If I don't work at it, I tend to shoot a little low/right with a hard cant, while sitting. The only way to never miss is to never take the shot.
Have a hard enough time with turkey targets, at a 3-D shoot, and most of the time they are standing still.
Shedrock
That is a very neat picture.
Heck if missing made you a terrible hunter I'd have quit a long time ago. Normally I'm still satisfied I was given the chance in the first place.
Glenn
Suck it up Sparky, that's why they sell arrows in dozens! :readit: :bigsmyl: :p
quote:
Originally posted by Shedrock:
(http://i1136.photobucket.com/albums/n486/Shedrock1/P1020345.jpg)
I spent a couple hours stalking a bedded bull elk this past winter to 20 yards, then I shot low, into a rock.
I felt like the worst bowhunter! I'm still crying. :scared:
Wish I knew how many turkeys I have missed over the years, No on second thought maybe I don't. :biglaugh:
Tracy
Sounds like you're in the right spot to try again.Good luck.....
Yep, turkeys are tuff to hit. They never seem to stop long enough to shoot them. I have missed more birds than I care to admit.
My good friend to his 12yr daughter..."honey, turkeys can be sooo stupid sometimes, its amazing they survive.."
Daughter "but Dad, why don't you come home with one everytime?.." :laughing:
Let me tell you about the 185" mulie I missed...twice. On second thought..nevermind...too painful.
It brings tears to my eyes thinking how many Huge whitetails and monster mulies I've belly crawled up to ,sometimes taking hours only to miss.Its what we live for.
No one ever promised it would be easy.its what sets us apart from all others.
I shot an missed the biggest buck of my life.It is hard to accept an I wanted to rap my bow around a tree.It was about 10 yds.but it has made me a better hunter.When you blow a hunt you play it over an over in your head an thats when the learning takes place.I redeem myself this last season.another big one wandered in an I was cool,calm an focused an it paid off.the best of the best MISS!!!
Maybe it's just me, but I would rather have a clean miss than a wounded animal. Keep after and aim small miss small.
Hunting is about finding(hunting) and geting the game within shooting distance. If you did that(and obviously you did) then the hunt was a success.Well done.If we never miss(and we all do)then it would just be a process with no thrill of anticipation.No need for shooting practice.Let the misses feed your primal instincts so to speak. When it does come all together it will be that much sweeter.Just one of the many facets of trad hunting that develops the experience that ultamitly makes us experienced. Isn't it just fantastic being able to enjoy Gods creations. :thumbsup: :clapper:
It happens, don't beat yourself up. Stay after them.
QuoteOriginally posted by Dirtybird:
Maybe it's just me, but I would rather have a clean miss than a wounded animal. Keep after and aim small miss small.
X2
Better luck next time hunter!
He who hasn't missed hasn't shot many arrows!
humbling.
We all miss at one time or another, just keep on slinging arrows!
I have a buddy that missed 5 times last year at one bird...he had to go out and get his arrows and get back in the blind. But he is after them again this year.
I like that kind of determination.
I'm with wingnut. While no one likes missing, it is a part of hunting and makes the connecting shots, which should be the majority, that much more exciting!
Sort of like soccer. I could never figure out why those guys go beserk when the score a goal. I watched a couple of games and now I get it, a score is more rare than Christmas!
I think it is important to think positive. So I prefer "aim small, hit small". Thinking about missing, even small, is something to stay away from.
Do not feel bad about this at all. I think a turkey is a really hard animal to hunt and kill with traditional equipment.......I can't explain why, but..........they just are.
I killed my first turkey this last year. A group of gobblers came in to the setup at about 10 yards. I picked one out and marvelled at how pretty he was and right away shot a perfectly tuned arrow just over his back......
They all ran away.
I was humbled and really upset at missing such an easy shot, I wanted to just walk away from the blind and leave my bow there forever. But at the same time I was blessed for the opportunity.
And they came back. Turkeys are not smart critters. I picked out another one at about 15 yards and shot right over his back too.
And the all ran away......again.
I have now missed two turkeys in a row, right over their backs, twice.
I have one arrow left. I do not deserve to hunt with traditional gear. I do not deserve to hunt turkeys.....
And they came back........for a third time. All within 10 minutes too.......
This time all the turkeys are out at 20 yards or so, and it looks like they're exchanging looks with each other, trying to figure out what the hecks going on.......
I have one arrow left...this is it. I picked the tip of the feather on the wing of the turkey and that is all that existed in my world for that minute.....I feel my back pull tight and then there are spinning yellow feathers in the air....
And i pin that turkey to the ground with a woodsman...........!!! With my last arrow! After missing twice!
Now I know why Fred Eichler yells and busts out of those blinds..........I did too.....
IT WILL happen for you.....just don't ever quit...
And when it does....it will be all worth it, and you will not ever forget it.
Have a great day!
dont feel bad last week I missed a turkey 4 times at 10 yards. ran out of arrows or I might have missed 5-10 times. laugh it off and on to the next adventure
QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
He who hasn't missed hasn't shot many arrows!
yep. Good luck with the rest of your season.
Misses are part of hunting, although many would like to pretend otherwise. It happens. What matters is how you respond afterwards. At least in your case you missed cleanly. Misses are what drive me to become a better shot. I have lost wounded animals before and it sucks far worse than missing cleanly. Get back after them and pick a spot!
You guys are all GREAT and I love your kind responses. Each one gave me a chuckle a have helped draw me out of my funk - I appreciate your kind thoughts.
Really, I'm okay and more determined to work harder on next years bird (Yes, I'm going back to Nebraska!). However, I think I do need (want?) a shorter bow just for turkey. Great excuse, huh?
I have only taken a few shots at deer with my bow and every one of them where been center hits. (ON A SAPLING) LOL But that is why it is called hunting and not killing.
Well what can one say that has not been said already.
Picture this 3 turkeys on the same day on the same trail over a 15 minute time frame.
3 misses at the same spot all three arrowswith in two inches of each other behind the birds.
This is when I learned how to shoot close 7 feet from the blind.
The next year same blind same spot same trail firstarrow filled the tag..
To me misses keep me going. remember the misses and BRAGG about the few hits..
Later....Buzz
Turkeys are the worst for me. I always seem to shoot low. I think they look so big my mind misjudges the distance. At least you have a good attitude in te post. Just some catch and release.
If missing a shot is the worst thing that happens to you while bowhunting, then you are doing O.K. After all, we call it bowhunting, not bowkilling, because there is no guarantee.
Turkeys are hard to hit. Been trying for years! Been there done that. Keep trying. It will happen.
If a turkey's vitals were in his tail feathers I'd have done kilt a dozen by now. So if you ever shoot one in Ohio with a nice Snuffer triangle punched out of his tail fan... now you know!! ;)
Don't feel bad. A few years ago I missed a gimmie 12 yard shot on a broadside doe that had no clue I was there. The arrow went harmlessly about 1" over her lungs/back.
Then she trotted off in a circle, only to double back on the same trail and stop again, 12 yards infront of me, broadside in the exact same opening except facing the other way...and I shot about 1" over her lungs/back.
Except this time, my ABS Grizzlystik Sitka tipped with a brand new $30 Silver Flame broadhead hit a branch in the background and ricocheted off over a hill, never to be found after several long searches. So a miss can get worse. LOL ;) :D
I shot 9 times before I connected with a turkey.
happens to all of us
Don't fret it ,our season opens may first so as of then you'll defiantly not be the worse. I probably won't even get near one
Happens to everyone! There are some good stories on this thread! Love hearing about the misses. I missed year after year on spot and stalk antelope before finally getting it right. My nemesis, I couldn't hit em laying down at ten yards! Thank heavens that mess is over, for now.
I called in a bull for a buddy, woulda been his first bull, a limited draw unit. That bull came in with all his cows, right behind them. they went by us at 15 steps. A BIG bull, woulda been a great first bull with a stick, The bull stopped perfect broadside, looked the other way, bugled, and let the arrow fly right over his back. He busted, I got back on the calls, threw a log down the hill... and the bull came right back, stood in the exact same spot and it was like deja vu, right over his back. The two arrow were buried in the dirt 30 yards down hill with in a couple of inches of each other.
keep your head up. That worst hunters ever never get to shoot!
Ok this is hard to admit, but I missed the same love sick longbeard 4 times in a row this morning. Yes I said 4 times he was not even spooked until his hen came into the decoys and saw my bright yellow and white fletchings. 15 yard shot. I kept shooting 6 inches to the left of him. The height looked good. I praticed hard shooting out of my blind on a stool at 20 yards and was getting softball size groups. I thought I was picking my spot???
Misses make memories. You think you will ever forget it? It will make you better
I missed a hog two days ago at about 8 yards.Hit a limb. Just makes me more focused for next time.RC
Happens to all.
The easy ones hurt.