We chose this, RIGHT? Got out with 2 hours of light left and had the biggest deer of my hunting life(35 years) in bow range 16 yards. Arrow hit short of its feet, I'm guessing it hit and unseen twig. :banghead: Point is, I could have drilled this bruiser 10 times with my 870. I can't honestly say (yet) that missing with trad gear is better than hitting with a gun, but I'm not all that disappointed. He was grunting after a doe, there were 3-4 other skinheads in the area so the evening was great. With a firearm, I would have had him before I got to witness the interaction with the does/yearlings. There is lots of season left, mebbe we'll meet up again. :pray: :archer2:
Hahaha. Good for you! It's all about the journey.
Don't sweat it! It was just not your turn tonight.
Good luck next time.
Bisch
"We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard." -- JFK
You are so right, We Chose This! And what a great choice.
QuoteOriginally posted by Stumpkiller:
"We do these things not because they are easy, but because they are hard." -- JFK
Great Quote,one of my favorites!
Another Favorite,
"The only man who makes no mistakes is the man who never does anything." — Theodore Roosevelt
"There is no great fun, satisfaction, or joy derived from doing something that's easy." Coach John Wooden
I had the same thing happen to me several years ago. I had a nice doe lined up at about 18 yards. The arrow appeared to be headed right for the pump station. About five yards from the doe, it suddenly nosedived and skidded under her feet! As I walked over to retrieve my arrow I found a pencil sized limb with a cut in the bottom of it...sure didn't see that when I took the shot!
Then a couple years later I had the buck of a lifetime at 15 yards broadside. I came to anchor and the arrow was away. At about the halfway point the arrow suddenly veered UP! WTF! It went about four feet over his back! I was so focussed on the spot on the buck, I didn't see a little twig, maybe 1/8" in diameter between him and me. Just enough to deflect the arrow. He heard the arrow hit the brush behind him and ran UNDER me.
It happens if you hunt enough. I think we get so focussed on our spot that we just kind of miss those little obstructions between us and our targets
I could,nt even begin to guess how many shots I blew when I was a kid out hunting with a rifle, cause I was always tryna get just a little bit closer..
Some times the one that got away brings a LOT more satisfaction and great memories than easy pickins..
An "Unseen twig" eh? Ok... if you say so. Sounds like an adrenaline dump to me...
It happens bro..... it's good sport....
Don't feel alone. I had a 900 # bull elk at 7 yards this year and couldn't get a shot. called him back in twice to less than 20 yards and still couldn't get a shot...... Was it a good hunt? Noooooo.... it was a great hunt. :jumper:
I had the same thing happen to me last year....great encounter to add to the memories.
I don't know that I've ever been too upset when bowhunting cost me a deer during gun season.
I heard once that achievements are measured in proportion to the effort involved. You could have killed him with a gun....but could you honestly say that later you wouldn't think to yourself, "wish I had killed him with my bow"....
We don't always win. But what a feeling when we do, ya know?
Like Saxton Pope said...it is a noble sport.
No way can you equate shooting a big buck at 200 yds. and missing that same one at only 16.
The fact that you did get to shoot attests to your skill at getting an animal that close and unaware of your presence. I too would rather miss at 16 than connect at 200 with a rifle. :clapper: :clapper: :clapper:
QuoteOriginally posted by Arctic Hunter:
I don't know that I've ever been too upset when bowhunting cost me a deer during gun season.
I heard once that achievements are measured in proportion to the effort involved. You could have killed him with a gun....but could you honestly say that later you wouldn't think to yourself, "wish I had killed him with my bow"....
We don't always win. But what a feeling when we do, ya know?
Like Saxton Pope said...it is a noble sport.
X2
Very well said.
God bless,
Rodd