Well it was bound to happen sooner or later... Seein as how this is my first season with a stick bow and I practiced and practiced and practiced almost everyday since last Thanksgiving when I got hooked on traditional gear.
I missed a doe saturday. It was of course my fault. I was in a tree stand about 12' up and 3 does came by. The two things I did wrong was not knowing the yardage of all available shots. I did know the yardage of all shots opportunities in front of me and the does were behind me. The second thing I did wrong was hurry the shot. Zinged it right over her back. It looked like about 20 yards from the stand but stepped off at 11 on the ground.
All I could do was thank God for the opportunity and laugh at how poorly I managed that opportunity. But on the plus side I did learn a thing or two.
No better teacher than experience.
Hang in there man! It will come. Just keep practicing.
I have done a bit of "catch and release" bowhunting myself. It still makes my knees wooble. The way I look at it is that I did a lot of things right to be in the right spot for a shot. There's always next time.
Brian
I consider myself to be a pretty good shot. Last season I got my first chance at a 300 lb. 10 point in the BOWZONE in Alberta (I'm used to the smaller deer here in Texas)...the shot was about 20 yards (maybe less). I'm happy to report that the big boy is still happily living with his buddies in the woods of Canada! Arrow wizzed right over his back. If this stuff was easy all the rifle and compound guys would be doing it!
Madness522
If it's possiable ya need to practic from an elevated stand....
Ya got to aim a little lower from a stand.
Yeah Mike I have practiced from a stand I just didn't finish the job by knowing the distances from my stand. There was one little shooting lane behind me maybe 2 foot wide between the thickest scrub brush in that area of the woods. I had never seen deer sign back in there and just got lazy and didn't step off the yardage when I hung the stand. In front of me there is an abundance of trails criss crossing with several old rubs so in front of me is where I stepped off and knew the yardage. And it was there I ass-u-med they would be...LOL
I won't likely make that mistake again.
Great point Mike,
I was hunting from about 25 ft. up and we don't have that shot here in Texas. Mesquite trees just don't get that big. This year I"m practicing from my roof...no kidding.
All part of it, makes it fun. I had 3 does come by me while I was moving my stand from site to site. problem was I left my bow at the original stand site, while putting finishing touches on the new tree they walked in!!!! had em at 10 yards broadside, all I could do was smile and thank the Lord for the opportunity to see them bow or not.
Lader
J
been there before :0)