Trad Gang

What is the most memorable shot you have ever made?  Any shot.

For me, and I don't know why it sticks out in my mind so, it was on a small 6pt buck back in '99.  I was in my stand overlooking a creek bottom.  He approached from my right and was angling as if to pass behind my tree.  I stood up and got ready for the shot.  When he got to 7 yards, he locked up on me.  Don't know if he caught a whiff of me or what.  I still didn't have a good angle on him.  All of a sudden he spooked and hopped back the way he came.  I drew as he whirled and he just stopped at 12 yards quartering away and looking back.  I can remember "burning a hole" in his side and I could see the arrow spinning in slow motion all the way to the deer.  He made it about 75 yards.  There was nothing spectacular about the shot.  But I believe it was the most natural shot I have ever made, and with the most intense focus.

I'll never forget it.

Either the shot that clinched my first NFAA Sectional championship, or the one I stuck in the folded $50 bill at the Compton shoot back in 2002. They had it pinned to the big polar bear at about 100 yards. I was shooting a homemade bamboo-backed osage longbow and wish I could say I hit it on the first shot. In reality though, it probably took me 20 or so. I did retire that wood arrow from the Compton shoot though. I figure it had already earned it's keep.

This one comes to mind when you said memorable,

It was in the evening 96 oct. I was watching 3 bucks fighting above me on the mountain. I was in a huge old red oak were i had a permanent stand. These bucks were going at it hard and i was pumped, just waiting on any one of them to come a little closer, all of the sudden they just stopped and looked behind them across the mountain and took off!!
I just knew it was big boy!!
It was a stinking wild dog!!!! He ran those deer all over the place. I thought to myself( Please come by me you stinkin no good thing).
15 mins later i heard something running my way and here he came chasing a deer. Tonge hanging out that poor deer was about done for. I let him pass by, and all of the sudden here came that dog with its nose on the trail! I grabed my bow off the nail and dubble lunged that wild dog!!
Best shot i ever made... Running shot...  :archer:

Hunting shot would have to be the running buck that I took several years ago ala Barry Wensel style.   :thumbsup:  
As far as practice shooting: Several years ago I was at our state bowhunting rendezvous(Michigan Bowhunters) shooting the 3-D course. I was shooting by myself with my little cousin just walking along with me. There was a group of tournament archers, all with their names on matching shirts, that were in front of me. They were shooting the latest greatest compounds and were giving me funny looks for shooting my Hill style longbow. I had to wait a long time at each target and they were not about to let me go ahead of them. After about the 10th target the cockiest one put an arrow in the 10 ring and turned to his buddies and said," If Mr. Longbow can hit my arrow then we should let him go ahead of us."
Well, I was pretty fired up but I stepped up and proceeded to bust the nock off his arrow! His buddies were rolling on the ground laughing at him and they all shook my hand and let me pass.   :thumbsup:

:thumbsup:

Chipmunk about 12 yards in the crotch of a tree with just the head showing. My oldest sister saying (as I drew back) he'll never hit it  :bigsmyl:   <><

One of my shots on a squirrel with trad equipment comes to mind. I picked a spot behind the ear of a squirrel hiding in a tree at about 15 yds and let fly. This was early in my traditional journey so I was really surprised when the judo pointed arrow hit exactly that spot. I was sold on trad hunting from then on.

Several times I entered long range dot shoots and had the best shot for a while. At a dollar a shot I would limit myself to 2 or 3 shots. The wheelie boys often spent 15 or 20 dollars each to beat me but beat me they would, eventually.

I was on Kodiak, Is. last year on a blacktail hunt with my buddies from this site(Darren, Greg, John, Allen, and Bill).  It was the last day of a 7 day hunt.  We had all worked ourselves to the bone climbing the nearly vertical sides of the Olga Bay terrain.  I had spotted two deer high up on a little bench and had begun stalking them about an hour ago.  I had been stripping clothes off and stopping to pant every 20-30 yards.  At one spot I sat down beside a little seep, runoff and splashed my face and arms.  As I approached the underneath of the bench I took off my boots and went into full stalker mode.  Inch by inch, step by step I tried to hug the underneath of the bench to keep from being seen as I moved up.  About10 yards from the top I saw a head and set of ears looking at me.  Crap, I done blew it.  I stopped and tried not to make eye contact.  After what seemed like an eternity the deer turned around and moved on up the hill rather quickly.  Now I was pretty beat and disappointed at spooking the deer.  I proceeded to take a few more steps and another deer materialized above me and to my right.  This deer was apparently confused and proceeded to stop approximately 15 yards from me up and to my right, fairly steep angle.  The release was perfect and I saw the arrow all the way to the crease low and behind the front shoulder.  The deer bolted forward about 30 yards and stopped.  After a few sways the little deer tipped over in a patch of brush.  Talk about a rush.  It all seemed like it happened in slow-mo.  Last day, last chance.  The only slight issue I had was that the deer that I harvested ended up being pretty small.  Here in Missouri we call them glove-box deer.  Had no problem dragging it downhill to the beach---with one hand and very little effort.    :rolleyes:    Couldn't be prouder though.  I am having the hide tanned right now by Brian Peterson out of Missouri.  He is a grade A #1 taxidermist. If you want it done right Brian is the guy to do it.  
 :rolleyes:

I was hunting just off a power-line at the edge of a wooded lot and had seen a big 8 point cruising the area several times. Unfortunately, most of the time he was on the other side of the power easement. One morning, while in the tree with my back to the easement, I heard a deer making his way up the hill ON MY SIDE OF THE OF THE CLEARING. It was the same seer I had watched so many times across the easement. As he trotted by my stand at about 12 yards, I placed an arrow through a basketball size opening in the brush and made a beautiful quartering away shot on this monster. He ran about thirty yard and fell dead in a small creek across the easement from my stand. By far one of th best shots I have ever made!

I hate to see my name  as the last post, but i've got another.
It was oct 04 halloween eve, and i was hunting on a log landing on the steep part of the mountain. There is a huge white oak there that the deer like to feed under. I was 15-18 yards from that tree in a small maple. There is a path in the middle of the landing about 30yds to the right of me. Now my stand is up against the steep part of the bank and there is some other small maples and poplars around the little flat.
At about 1600hrs a big doe came running down the steep path to my right, and as i stood up she bounded over the side.I knew thier was a buck on her tail so i stayed standing..
Sure enough 2 mins later he showed up! Right off the steep onto the flat and skidded to a halt!
I knew he would be at 30yds, I pulled back hit anchor and picked a spot! I watched the barred feathered shaft all the way home!! He wasn't all that big but i'm still proud of that little 13" spread!
 :archer:

I made a shot on a large doe last year that was 27 or 28 yards.  I would have proabably said it was 20 yards had it not been for the guy who helped me drag her out commenting on how long the shot was.  We stepped it off from the tree my stand was in.  I never thought about the distance when I was taking the shot.  It was one of those times that just "felt right" and sure enough it was.

:clapper:  To all!

A 4x4 elk my son called in for me.  He was 12, using a bow I made myself, 24 yards walking down hill broadside to me.  They move right along just walking!    :scared:  
 I can still see the arc in my mind and the feathers turning.  Thinking - " a little high but looks good, no it's just right, wow that elk is moving, oh no its a little far back, thwump, liver hit and found him still warm next morning.  Whew!

In 91 in alaska going back to camp covey spruce grouse ran out in front of me, I shoot under one at 5 yds. It flew up into a tree, I said to myself(D%#* you you can shoot better than that take that birds head off) I another arrow and shoot the head of the bird sat on the arrow as the rest of the bird fell to earth. Oh yea the bird was about eight yards high so I lost a Kustom King arrow and zwicky delta oh but it was worth it.

ment to say the birds head sat on the arrow

45 yrd shot on a Cottontail.Put it right through the heart.I knew it was in there,as soon as i released.Everything just felt perfect.

I was very inconsistent as a new archer and I was thinking of taking lessons at a local pro shop. As luck would have it I ran into the instructor at a nearby range. When I inquired re: lessons, he replied that he wanted to see me shoot first; ..."but before you take this next shot I want you to FOCUS and imagine that this shot wins you the GRAND PRIZE, THE 25 THOUSAND DOLLARS!.."(gist). I not only hit the bullseye but the VERY EPICENTER of the "X"!!! ..."you don't need any lessons, your form was perfect, it's all in your head, it's just a mind game for you...!"      :D

Great shots guys.   :thumbsup:
I know everyone on here has a memorable shot to tell about.  Maybe we can get them all to chime in.

A few years ago I was out stump shooting/hunting with my son, who was 11 at the time.   I spotted an old bottle lying on the logging road about 20 yards away.  The bottle was lying with it's side exposed to us, I took first shot. I came close and the bottle spun like a top, stopping with the opening now facing us.   I told my son to beat that.  He shot and sent a blunt-tipped arrow down the bottle opening and busting out the  bottom.

Took a shot at a squirrel on the ground at about 40 yds. The shot was perfect and just before impact, the squirrel jumped to the tree, dodging the arrow.  I walked over to get my arrow and what do I find, my arrow and a dead squirrel.  Apparently, this squirrel was sitting behind the first and took the arrow right in the head when the first one jumped out of the way.  I didn't even know he was there.  I don't know if I'd rather be lucky than good, but it sure helps sometimes!

I don't have a hunting shot yet as this will be my first year hunting with trad equipment.But as far as practice shots;one day my son was watching me try to shoot golf balls.I hit all around it close enough the fletchings would roll it to one side or the other.After about four or five shots I finally hit dead center and it went flying.I went and retrieved it and had my told my son to roll it across the ground.I whacked it again while it was still rolling.I quit for the day after that.

Wish I had time I'd tell all of them... there's more "most memorable" shots than I can remember right now. (but they all come home to visit now and then   ;)  )

There was the time I shot 4 ground squirrels with one shot (only did that once... doubles and triples with one shot are uncountable).

Or the time I killed a rock chuck at 110 yards and the skeptic that was converted that day.

Or the weasel shot at 40 yards in a howling gale.

Today this one is my "most remembered"...  Think mid November, last day before firearms season opens.
A ratty little buck is chasing a hot doe all over the woods and she ends up in front of my tree.

I don't want the buck, but the doe looks like she's a perfect match for the empty spot in my freezer.

At 12 yards I draw up and hit anchor. The arrow is on the way, but hasn't left my finger tips yet. (that instant when there's nothing you can do about it) I'm confident in the shot and KNOW the exact hair the broadhead will split.

As the arrow clears the bow the doe takes two quick steps forward from her motionless broadside position. There is a sickening "BLUP" as the arrow passes through nothing but gut and she runs off.

I sneak out of there and return six hours later. The blood trail is spotty at best with occasional bits of intestinal matter and I move along it like a snail.

100 yards from the treestand, I spot her standing beside a big old oak watching her back trail and looking kinda sick.

It was forty yards if it was an inch. The big two blade Magnus I entered the point of her left hip and angle through her body to exit forward of the right shoulder.

She dashed and crashed within 15 yards....and guys say they practice at 20 yards and less cause that's as far as they shoot. Hmmmmmm!

My most memorable so far is when my buddy who used to shoot compound until basically the day I made this shot, and I were out in my yard shooting; spotted a black bird by my garden, I started walking towards him planning on getting about 15 yards away but then suddenly he got spooked and was about 2 feet off the ground when I put a field tipped Easton camo hunter right through him with my 55# Maple selfbow. He couldnt believe what I had just done. He now shoots traditional bows.

Beginning of summer my son and I went to the 3d range.Took us about an hour and a half to finish.On the way out my son wanted to shoot the target range.Asked if he could shoot the 50 yard target.Then he asked if I could hit it I dont shoot over 20 yards.I drew back and shot.Couldnt see the arrow.Walked over to the target it was in the X.My son couldnt belive it.He said dad i told you,you were good.Iam lucky to hit the bag now.leon

Hunting shot would have to be a Black Bear in 01'. I was stalking him and got myself in a tangled mess of brush and was about to give up hope. Then I heard him walking towards me through the brush, I mean it was thick. I nocked an arrow but without much hope. I spotted movement and could see he was going to pass about 17 yards. Looking ahead of his path I saw a dinner plate size hole through the brush right at his shoulder level. It may not sound smart on the computer but I knew with every fiber of my body that shot would be quick and easy. Man I mean I drilled him through both lungs and the offside shoulder. He bellowed and flipped over backwards stone dead in about 5 seconds.

There was a bit of adrenalin involved after the shot   :)

The luckiest shot I ever made.Note:I said lucky was My first trad kill with a long bow.She acted spooked as she ran straight to me and then turned broadside at full alert at about 17 yards I realeased and the deer turned inside out,My arrow looked like a heat seeking misle when the deer moved the arrow moved in slow motion that arrow went right through here neck dead center.I told everyone at camp she was running and it was the neck was the only shot I had  :rolleyes:    :bigsmyl:

The last shot I took hunting with my longbow last November.  It was 15 yards at a slicktop whitey.  70 yards one hop over the ditch and it was all done.  Got to the deer and was looking for my arrow, but couldn't find it.  It took me a few seconds to realize that it was a complete pass through.  Walked back to where I took the shot and there was the arrow sticking out of the dirt.  Ended up cleaning that one by flash light.  The shot was pushing the last seconds out of what light was left after the sun dipped behind the mountians.  

>>>>Tim------->

November 14th 1995. The next day is the firearms opener.

In late August, 1995, I was blackberry picking on public land, and jumped two bucks that would be respectable anywhere.

I had scouted, and figured I had them reasonably figured out. October came and went, without a sighting. A rub line had formed in mid October.
And scrapes were more numerous than normal. Still,
not even a glimpse of either one of those bucks.

It was cold and still, with some snow on the ground. People were out and about, because here in N.E. Michigan everyone likes to walk all around for a few days before firearms season to spook everything they can,...I guess.
I went out to watch the woods get dark one more time. I had hunted hard. (I wasn`t passing small bucks this evening.) I heard a deer coming from the "wrong" direction. I had my head turned as far as possible, expecting to see any deer but one of the "big two", as I had been calling them.
He knew that trouble was brewing cause he was heading for the thicket, instead of cruising for girls.

Intense focus is an understatement. I can see my arrow spinning just as described at the start of this thread. It was a twelve yard broadside shot.
Nothing spectacular, or difficult. It was however,
my most memorable.

I was up in Jim Thorpe area last fall hunting deer and stayed well past dark because I was staying out of town and I was just going back to the hotel room anyhow.  There were deer all around as soon as dark feel.  Of course I couldn't even see the shapes sitting in the dark patch of woods just recognized them from the sound.  I finally got up and was leaving and when I hit the edge of the woods I caught a glimpse of a little white puff of a tail that stopped at about 15 yds.  I knocked a judo anchored and let fly.  Hit him right at the spine skull intersection and he never felt a thing.  It just felt like pure instinct because there wasn't enough light for a sight picture.  All just feel of the bow and string.

I was shooting in the back yard when this guy my daughter was dating came up and walked back to see what I was doing. I had just stuck an aluminum soft drink can on my target butt with the bottom pointing out to shoot at. We were standing about 30 yards away talking when he says let me see you shoot that thing (recurve), so I take 1 shot and hit the bottom of that can about as dead center as possible. Of course I didnt even attempt to try another shot with him watching. I think I got his attention and respect though.
Mike

I have two that stand out.
1. I was hunting with a friend years ago . I had just started hunting with a recurve and he was a wheelie guy. He was telling me I would never kill anything with a recurve , jokingly of course. Well , I was climbed on persimmons and 4 does come in. I pick a spot on the close one ,she ducks the string and I make a perfect heart shot on the innocent bystander doe behind her.I never did tell the old boy what happened.
 2. I was pig hunting at HorseCreek wma and got on three sows while slip hunting. I get to around fifteen yards and shoot one in the spine. She dropps squeeling and the other two come over and start biting her. I nock another arrow and make a good double lung shot on another. she runs to the right and the last sow runs to the left.I shoot the first one again I spined and trail the secound a short forty yards. Then I look for my second arrow and can`t find it . While I`m looking I find more blood headed left and follow it. The arrow went through the second hogs lungs and went in the third hog about 5 inches right in the heart. Best shot I made was the one I did`nt shoot at. Three hogs two shots in less than a minute.RC

About 6-7 years ago I was hunting with my son. He was in a tree stand and I was on the ground about 125 yards away. A doe popped out of the brush about 25-30 yards away and turned sideways. I took the shot and center punched the lungs. She took off and I waited 15 minutes and took up the trail. Nothing-not one drop of blood, found a few cut hairs. Went to get the son to help and the deer had made it to within 50 yds. of his tree. He had watched it go into a blackberry patch and said it turned around in a circle a couple of times amd laid down. He thought it had just picked that spot to bed down. Hap

Pullonmylimb-If you are serious, you are also delirious and don't belong in the woods with any kind of a weapon. Hap

The fact that i have only been shooting trad for a year kind of narrows mine down. It was on my second trad deer kill, I was in my stand late afternoon 40 degrees pouring rain, the kind of day you ask yourself what the heck am I doing here, but i just stayed put. I had been there for a few hours when i saw a deer about 100 yards away then it disappeared into the brush. Awhile later I saw it closing the distance it came right in to about 20 yards then turned broadside, I came to full draw picked my spot and the arrow was on it's way. I can still see it in my mind as i watched it pass through that doe, the shot felt perfect looked perfect and hit perfect it all came together right then. I watched her run about 60 yards in a semi circle then crash, I will never forget that one.

QuoteOriginally posted by Hot Hap:
Pullonmylimb-If you are serious, you are also delirious and don't belong in the woods with any kind of a weapon. Hap

I think he's talking about a cottontail, not a whitetail. Although I had to read the post four or five times to work out just what he'd shot.

Fall of '96 I was setting up  in a tree and was a little late getting in. Then I just didn't feel right about where I was. It's now 7:30 am with the sun coming up. Thinking I am crazy, I move to another location slow and quiet like. I jumped a few does. lucky the wind was in my favor so they calm down. (never saw me). I follow them a short distance and find a tree to set up in. The most unlikely crooked tree, but I get in it. With in minutes, one of the does comes rippin' by me. Sure enough, a nice buck came grunting along. I watch as he chased the does for about an hour. Finally he comes following a doe right toward my tree.The display of behavior and grunting was awsome. Right in front of me at about 20 yard now and can't get him to stop. (even yelled at him). I take the moving shot and I think I miss. He runs off about 75 yard straight out from me and stops. Suddenly he falls over! I get down, find my arrow covered in blood. Turnd out I hit him in the front of the chest and just cut the tip of his heart off enough to open up the chamber. The blood trail was about a foot wide all the way to the Buck.

Ok I have two. I've only taken one shot at a deer  with trad equip and it didn't turn out to well. (hit him in the shoulder, but saw  him later chasing does)

Anyway the first was at GORH a few years back. I had never been to one of these and didn't know about the novelty shoots. I hadn't brought money for them but had a little cash. Anyway the long distance shot whatever they call it. I only had a dollar. Well its a dollar a shot. I forget who it was but he looks at me and says "one dollar. Well OK"  Long story short. After everyone got done shooting I was the closest one. Round after round I was in the top with my one arrow. I ended up being in the top 3 (I think) after the one arrow shootoff over the trees. Pretty good ego boost for a beginner and with a bow I built myself.

The second shot was at a 4H shooting sports meeting. I am the lead archery instructor now this year. I had a bunch of kids and I am always joking with them about trad gear as aposed to wheely stuff. Well there was a group of kids there and I decided I'd see if I could show them how acurate the recurves we have to practice with are. We use rofing nails to hold the targest on. At least I think thats what they are. They are a nail with a green plastic disk around the head. I have kids aim at the nail all the time. Well anyway Without a target I pick up a 20 lbs recurve and one of thier arrows step up (about 15yrds) and proceed to put the arrow through the disk knocking out the nail. When I pulled the arrow it had the disk stuck on it. I didn't shoot another shot that day. The kids were impressed and most still actually prefer trad equipment. I was as supprized as any of them. Though I didn't let on to much.

Shot a doe in Pa in 1968 at 42 yards she never moved after the arrow hit she just started to shake like someone throwed ice water on her. She than walked about 25 yards and went down.

My most memorable shot was actually a miss of sorts, but it really improved my shooting and taught me a great lesson about the power of focus.

It was my first trad hunt and I was sitting in the brush about 15 yards away from a steel trough feeder.  This feeder was complete with steel roof and this roof was held on by 4 1" angle iron legs.
A buck came in and burried his head in the feeder.  As I drew back I kept saying to myself "DON'T HIT THE LEG....DON'T HIT THE LEG..."
Well (of course) I hit the 1" angle iron that I was focusing so hard on.  It sounded like a gong being struck....The buck probaly had a heart attack trying to get away.

It really made it clear to me how focus helps to  create perfect shots.  I'll never forget that shot...I am a much better archer today because of it.

BG,

 You reminded me of a time I hit a small tree (3 inch diameter max) Trying to miss it and get this huge doe. I could probably find that tree again. it was one of my favorite hunts even though I got nothing. This was back in my earlier compound days.

First ever hunting season, 13 years old, center punched a grouse at 50 yards. I have never been so proud.

Bumblebee at 10 yards.  I still think that was my best shot.  

Most memorable would be either the one that sailed gracefully over the back of a perfectly positioned buck last year, or the one that never happened when a monster buck walked by 3 yards from where I was sitting on a stool and surprised me so much that I froze and couldn't manage to raise the bow!  That's the one I relive over and over.

BillJ

It was already dead, with a perfect small target. Not great to eat, but a real moral builder.
(http://i94.photobucket.com/albums/l101/GUNSMITHAMMO/DSC00184.jpg)


                  Brent

Most memorable...well, that would have to have been my first shot at a whitetail with traditional equipment a few years ago.  I was set up in a natural ground blind with corn out for bait.  It was getting towards evening when a nub buck comes ever so slowly in checking every direction before finally committing to eating at the pile.  Let me tell you my heart was pumping out my ears.  I felt the string tighten on my fingers as I drew one of my first homemade bows and released the magnus tipped aluminum arrow.  The beautiful arc of the arrow flying gracefully through the air was a sight to behold......5 feet to the left of the deer  :)  The emotions were unmistakeable, I was the happiest guy in the world at that moment.  Perhaps it's hard to understand unless you were there, but I was as content with that complete and total miss as if I had slain a 12 point buck. I was just as happy with that miss as I had been with all the other deer I'd killed.  What a rush! Yes, my most memorable shot was a miss! I probably would have had a heart attack if I would have gotten him!      :bigsmyl:    Cheers, Matt

My first deer with a bow I made is definately my most memorable hunting shot.  Nothing spactacular per say, just special tome.  my best shot just shooting was when two of my trad buddies and I were shooting at a local range.  When we came out there were about 6 wheelie guys shooting at a bear target about 75 yards away.  The farthest from the kill had to buy the beer.  After some good  natured ribbing, we said we'd shoot but not for buying the beer.  One of my buddy shoots and his arrow flies about 6" over its back.  They all sort of snicker and have another smart-a$$ comment.  I step up (just hoping to hit the thing) and proceed to drill the think in the center of the 10 ring.  Don't know who's jaw was haning lower, but my buddies and I just played it off like it was old hat.  Needless to say, I have never taken that shot in front of those guys again!

Last day of deer season in N. Wisconsin in 1989 or thereabouts.  I was sitting on the edge of a small corn field, getting dark, but 3" of snow kept things doable.  Two fawns crept into the far end and began to feed on downed corn left from the harvesting machine.  I noticed that one of them would kick at the other and take whatever he'd found.  This happened again and again.  Then I noticed that the poor guy had crippled hind legs.  I'm sure he'd not have survived the winter.  When it came time to shoot, of course, the healthy one was about 20 yards and the crippled one was about thirty.  I decided to shoot, thinking that there was good tracking snow.  My arrow entered his ear and he dropped like a bag of stones and never moved. (at the sound of the bow, he crouched down and back as a lot of deer will do)  He was very tasty and I'm sure I saved him from starvation.  Gotta love the Gods of hunting.

Just a footnote:  When I dressed out the fawn, it appeared that he'd been caught in a fence which had severely damaged his hind legs.  Don't know how he got free, but was apparently caught long enough to do permanent damage.

Here's one more:  TX sweat 06.  Last day in the evening and I'd not taken a shot, although had opportunities on Javelin, but didn't really want one.  I was messin around by myself just looking for cottontails more than anything when I glanced up a sendero and saw three hogs coming my way.  Shrunk back into the brush and got ready.  By the time they got to me, two of them had gone under a fence but the third was still coming.  Just before he got to my "spot", he winded me and turned directly facing me.  Now, if you know the anatomy of a big hog, when he's facing you, all you can see is face and feet. LOL.  But then he "growled".  Let me tell you, when you're alone, nearly dark and one of those suckers is trying to figure whether to come for you, you're attitude changes a mite.  I drew and released, mostly out of self defense.  The arrow, from my 56lb. Zipper hit right where I was looking...right between his eyes with a noise as if I shot it from 10 feet into a telephone pole.  He came at me and veered about ten feet to my right and I heard that aluminum shaft bouncing off brush for about 40 yards.  Preliminary looking showed nothing.  I'd figured the arrow would have fall out of his skull, but no.  Later, Curtis and his dad helped me look with lights...nothing.  The next morning, another trad ganger and I scoured the area with no results...not even the arrow.  Hope the hog recovered.  Curtis told me that a couple of years earlier, some gun hunters had killed a hog that had an arrow head imbedded in his skull which had probably been there a couple of years.  I'm guessing the hog I shot weighed about 250 lbs.  Curtis said that when they get that big, they have no natural enemies and can become aggressive.  This one sure did.

And finally, a shot I didn't take.  Northern Wisc, dead of winter and I had cabin fever so took my bow and went squirrel hunting.  Found a couple and was nearly at full draw on a squirrel about 15 ft. away when a Chicadee flew down and sat on the shaft of my arrow (as if to say "don't shoot, winter is a hard time for all of us"  I let down and went home.  Never regretted it. LOL

This is not my shot but I will always remember this one. In the early 90's I had went to Athens Ga to Archery Traditions to look at bows and my daughter went with me. I was looking at bows and she picked up a childs bow and started shooting. She wanted me to get it for her. I told her that if she hit the bulls eye I would get it for her.
Well I was paying for a bow I had picked out when she yelled for me to come look. She had hit the very edge of the bulls eye. I asked her if she had went up and stuck the arrow in the bulls eye and she said no she had shot it. I decided that if she had indeed placed it there she would have stuck it in the center of the bulls eye not on the edge.
I bought two bows that day.
Mike

Let's go back to the top with this.  Every member on here has a memorable shot.  I want to read 'em all!

My first big game animal.  John Dodge, my mentor, and I hunting the Haul Road back in about 1986, with my good friend Troy Graziadei.  For weeks John & I practiced gap shooting at ranges of up to 125 yards.  Finally I had my chance, a bull caribou at about 80 yards.  I drew to my anchor, measured the gap, adjusted and let fly...  Short!  The caribou, only a bit unsettled, moved a bit further away. I in turn adjusted my gap.  I drew, measured the gap, and let fly...  Too high!  My heart sank as I watched the arc of the arrow.  John, over my shoulder, watching the encounter unfold...  A hit!  The caribou droped in its tracks!  Jubilation!  John and I sharing the moment.  Me, his protege, with my first big game animal.  Taken with my first set of self-made arrows, under the watchful eye of the master.  A caribou at 91 yards!  I remember it like it was yesterday.  Praise God for the experience and the many "guided" shots since.  That's my most memorable shot, and I'll cherish it forever...

todd smith

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v328/Dsturgisjr/8094040e.jpg)
This shot was memorable because the trophy fee was $6500. It was only 20 yards, but the pressure was intense. LOL

The video of this hunt will appear for the first time in The Bowhunters Of Tradgang.com

QuoteOriginally posted by Dsturgisjr:
 
This shot was memorable because the trophy fee was $6500. It was only 20 yards, but the pressure was intense. LOL

Yowch!   :eek:    :eek:  

Worth every penny though!   :thumbsup:  

One of my most memorable shots was my first ever at live game, TX Sweat 2007. Picture the scene...I'd been practicing & practicing my shooting from 2-30 yds for around 6 months, to the point that I could almost guarentee a perfect hit from any position. Well, I arrive at the camp fully trained up & raring to go. Curtis & Mark Horne (of all people!) take me out into the hills & go off running up the rocks. I'm huffing & puffing along behind 'em cursing the guy who discovered tobacco & all the cigarette companies. We arrived at the top (eventually) of a beautiful plateau & start glassing around for a few goats. About 200yds off, Mark spots a group of Angoras & we decide to put a stalk on 'em. Everything's going great, wind's good, plenty of cover, I'm moving like a fat ghost, unseen & unheard toward my quarry. Curtis hisses me to a dead halt behind a bush. The goats are coming towards us & should pass within 6 yards. Sure enough here they come. I've got a beautiful broadside shot at a huge (in my mind's eye) Billy. Nothing stands between me & him. I pick my spot, just behind the front shoulder blade. I'm burning a hole, right through to the other side of him, surely if my gaze intensifies much more I'll kill him with my stare! I draw slowly back to my anchor, razor sharp Woodsman in my periferal vision. My eye never leaves the small curl of hair behind the shoulder. I settle at anchor, middle finger tight to the corner of my mouth, knowing that this will be the epitomy of the perfect shot. LOOSE! Away sails my arrow, like a lazer guided missile of doom.......

Missed the bugger by about 6 foot low.

My arrow clattering harmlessly away on the rocks to land broken & forlorn many, many yards away from where I intended. I turn to look at Curtis, thinking about the shame & embarrasment of muffing such a simple shot, in front of one of my heroes & two of the finest bowhunters in the great State of Texas. Luckily I get the thumbs up from him. He's captured the whole thing perfectly on video.....

One very memorable shot happened when hunting Wabbits in Montana.  I flushed up a cottontail, which ran into a patch of brush up ahead.  I nocked an arrow and proceeded with caution into the lair of the mighty beast.  With each step I stopped to scan every inch of terrain.  Little did I know, my quarry had doubled back on its own trail and the roles of hunter and hunted would soon be reversed.  

    Without warning, the grass to my left erupted with furry.  A blur of fur, claws and gnashing teeth were upon me in an instant.  There was no time to think.  My fight or flight instinct kicked in and somehow I chose the latter of the two.  I commenced a tactical retreat towards the nearest cover.  I believe it was the classic hop-skip-jump maneuver.  The beast lashed out, narrowly missing my leg.  I proceeded to continue my instinctive hop-skip-jump tactic as he attempted a second attack.  Then, as if the winds of fate had changed, he veered to the side and took off like, well... like a rabbit.

    The animal streaked away, only to stop at 30 yards out, reverse directions and have at me again!  As he accelerated to attack speed, I drew my recurved weapon and released an arrow.  At twenty yards, the beast and arrow met, each moving at full speed through the tall grass.............

   The dust cleared and I looked around to see if anyone had witnessed the event.  Part of me wanted someone to see the great shot I made on a running rabbit.  But another part of me was glad no one was around with a video camera.    ;)  

-   Dan

Most memorable ......First bow killed buck,
missed at 7 yds while he worked a rub in a thicket, missed again at 15yds...... he ran off , turned broadside at 30 yds and i drilled him through the liver.
Found him 50yds. away after a massive blood trail.

I'd have to add my "robin hood" on the Quebec Quest trip that Barry Wensel signed: "now you are shooting like me!"  :biglaugh:

Happened back in '78 shooting a Ron Maulding Tamarack Longbow. Decided to hone up for the fall season by chasing some gray squirrels around.

Shooting cedars tipped with field pts and judos, this "tree rat" took off across the limbs of a large oak. Not sure how high he was but I drew, anchored, and lead him by a good 2 feet in anticipation of his next jump.

I guessed right...arrow and squirrel met in mid leap with a solid "whump". Down came the squirrel and I was one proud bowhunter!   ;)    :thumbsup:

Every shot where I actually hit where I'm lookin!
Or the opening day doe, last fall, after I'd had a heart attack that spring..I never felt more alive!!!
Or a big, mature, long faced doe, several years ago...I heard some crashing thru the woods, when I saw 3 does headed my way, with 2 small bucks chasing them...The lead doe was a keeper...long old loins on her! She was running thru shooting lanes pretty quick, so I led her out in front, picked a lane, let the 2 blade magnus fly, and remember a little bloody slit open up, right tight behind her left shoulder...she didn't make it 10 yds! Like said above...everything felt right, fo sho!!!