I have shot at 5 deer, got one missed the rest.
I have shot at one deer and got it. I have also shot at a fox and a coyote, missed both.
Keb, I take only close shots I KNOW I can make. I still miss some, but the odds are much better of a clean kill.
My first few years of archery I was about 60/40 but I watched "Shooting better than ever..." and they said to only take high % shots, when I started waiting patiently for the very close calm deer my % went way up.... lately I'm at 8 big game animals with 9 shots. Quail on the other hand, I'm 0 for 6 so far this season.
Only take the high % shots and you will be much more successful... no hail Mary's.
Joe
All my shots hit something. This year I wounded a sapling but got good penetration on frozen soil and a root. Startled a doe who was standing nearby. :banghead:
That was after a stalk and I was happy to have had the opportunity. Been years since I had actually closed to shooting distance with a bow. Say what you will about treestands but they do allow for closer shots. I'm 3:3 from that treestand. Afraid I may need to find a different tree next year - they have patterned me.
killed 3, wounded 1, missed 2. i think that is all that missed.
One shot at a coyote, one hit.
I had a situation where I was afraid that if I got a pass through, it would hit the deer behind the bigger one. I kept looking up, trying to gauge the doe. As a result, I made a bone head beginner error, I failed to pick a spot and shot an inch over his back. At least the doe in the back ground was clear at the time.
I'm not allowed to miss. Only get on average 1 chance a season. You HAVE to make it count. Why I use hand grenades now. They think it's a big akern hitting the leafs and stare at till she pops :thumbsup:
6 killed, 1 shaved & 2 misses. The shaved one didn't drop as low as I had anticipated. :knothead:
Darkness is not your friend. This year 1 shot taken and missed clean. Never saw the arrow fly due to lack of light.
with deer, I have only missed two my entire time hunting, but that was when I was young and did not know my limitations. I now only take 'perfect' shots, and have done pretty well. that is of course with compounds, so I am pretty sure that will not be the case if I stick with this traditional and hunt with my recurve...high percentage shots will always up the odds though. I have missed a couple ground hogs out at almost sixty yards, but I usually get them too...the benefits of sights I guess...I am sure I will be very humbled with the traditional gear.
I would like to see a comparison between compound and traditional shooters.
I know my compound friends bust a lot more broadheads than me.
shot 2, gut hit 1, missed 1 and absolutely destroyed the branch that jumped in my way
I went 3 for 3 this season, very blessed.
Sept 10 through Nov 5 - - shot 13 times - 1 miss - 2 high above shoulder hits recovered arrows popped out quickly confirmed non fatal - - 10 solid hits w good blood trails recovered deer. 9 does 1 rack buck. Shot distances 8 yards closest - 25 yards furthest - most 12 to 15 yards. Recovery distance closest 50 yards furthest 90 yards w most around 80.
<><
<----------------<<<<<<
First shot 1971, missed. Next shot Oct 2013 in Missouri, missed. Next shot Nov. 2013 here in N.Y. missed. At least they are getting closer together...... :biglaugh:
In my first 3 seasons I have killed 4, wounded 1, and missed 3 (and these were 3 nights in a row)
9 shots taken. 3 kills. 5 clean misses and one shoulder blade. Shoulder blade only got 2 inch penetration and kicked out. Shot under 2 at 20 yds. Last 3 misses all high at 15 yds and less. Hits were 5 yds, 10 yds and 4 yds.
Prior hunting with compound was 8 shots. 4 kills 2 misses and 2 shoulder blades.
Luckily I have recovered every deer that I have shot except for the shoulder blades which only ever had 2 to 3 inches of penetration and most likely survived.
All misses have been buck fever. With the compound I once missed a buck at 7 yds. I didn't use my sites at all. That was some bad buck fever for a 15 yr old. My knees shaked for a week after I shot. I haven't hit a shoulder blade for years now that I understand shot angles better.
Nice thread but stirs up memories of misses that I have tried my best to bury in the back of my brain.
Two ducked my arrows, two killed.
Back in the late 60's my dad told me he killed a deer on average 33% of the time, he killed around 10 deer over the years and quit hunting in 1974 after killing a big 10pt. I learned early to practice lots and shoot close and my average is over 50%. Pronghorns kill my average! Whitetails I shoot upwards of 80%.
Been hunting with Trad 3 years now and I'm 5 shots, 4 kills. The one shot a doe jumped the string on me and I gave her a hair cut !
Been bow hunting with Trad about 4 years now.
Last year I wounded one and killed one.
This year I have missed 3.
Returned to curves in 2010. I've taken 8 shots at white-tails during those full 3 and this partial season. The shots were 8-21 yards. I recovered 6 within 35-70 yards (most dropped in sight).
I didn't miss the other two but wish I had. I have no idea what caused me to make poor hits on the two. They were only 14 yards and broadside.
So far this season I am 0 for 0. Last season I shot at 5. 4 were short tracking jobs one was a miss. I don't know what it is about big wide racks that shake me up. Adding up the last seven seasons I am just above 80% success.
Chris
first year I went 1 for 3 on the same bear
second year 2 for 3 on the same bear
firs year on white tails and hogs 1 for 5 eww
second 0 for 0
third year white tails 1.5 for 2 haha
third year bear 1 for 1
this year deer pigs 3 for 3
0 for 5 on my end. Just a case of "operator error" ... The disappointment turns quickly to determination AND that's why I shoot all the time and why IT WILL BE all the more sweeter when it DOES happen. I love it !
Only had two shots at deer and both was right between the antlers. Think The arrows were crooked. Not sure how many coyotes that I missed. I now only take shots that I know I can do. If I can't get them into 15-20 yards I will not shoot . I can hit father out but they can see the arrow and will duck ,jump over turn inside out ect.
Missed three pigs also way over them . more crooked arrows.
I can hit ground squirrels all day long go figure.
Thanks for starting this post. I was getting pretty frustrated... I feel better now! :D I'm deadly on coke bottles, hedge balls, foam targets, and anything else that doesn't fur.
Last year was my first year of serious trad hunting, and I was 1 for 1! This is going to be easy! :banghead: This year I'm ashamed to say I've missed three times. Practice, practice, practice.
This year 2 shots 2 down in 80yds. Over the years i think the recovery rate per shot deer for me is 75% thats on 80 plus big game animals ive taken over the years. Im not happy with that but thats about were its at. I keep track of every bow shot animal even just a graze hit. Most losts have been should blade high or 1 lung on close steep shots in swamps which makes tracking tuff. Shoulder blades gets me the most. I have dog now so i hope to improve my average
My reason for posting was, last year was my 1st year as a trad guy, I was was 1 for 3. I used a gap method. I switched to instinctive shooting and was 0-3 this year.
I honestly rushed my shirts this year, all shots were broadside under 15 yards. Getting to excited cost me!!
I guess that's stick bow hunting!
Since 2000, 4 misses, 4 kills, no wounds on deer. And a couple missed squirrels in there.
4 years into trad, 4 misses. Another 5-6 missed opportunities due to being busted by deer that got to within 18 yards. All from the ground. But hey, I'm getting closer.