I just read a thread about a hunter forgetting to pick a spot. That got me thinking about the time last year I didn't pick a spot.

Last year was my first year all out trad. It was the second week in November(opening weekend for pheasant in KS) and I was hunting some public ground. My plan was to set up along an edge of a picked corn field that deer have been hanging out in. I was just to the edge of the field and looked down a drainage and saw a buck running at me. So I hopped the ditch and hid behind some "tall" grass, about two foot high. The trail he was coming down was going to give me about a 3 yard shot! I got ready and when he was 50 yards he did  a 90 degree turn away from me then turn another 90 to be broad side to me. So he's walking at 20-25 yards. I get a good look at his rack, he's a 150-160 class 9 point whitetail. I look behind his shoulder and draw... The next thought that entered my mind was, Wow I can't believe he didn't see me draw. Then the arrow was gone. I DIDN'T pick a spot and the arrow went right below him. If it was 5 inches higher would have been right to his heart. Still keeps me up at night      

So that's my story of a time I didn't pick a spot. Tell me yours so we let "newbies" (like myself) know how important it is to pick a spot!    

I don't have the time or space for all the times I haven't picked a spot     :rolleyes:  . 10 yards from a 5 point bull elk, hit the tree in front of him. 20 yards from a 26 in 170 class muley, shot under him. Those are just a couple examples of the many.

Not picking a spot is my nemisis on game. Gotta keep working at it. I think it helps to be able to shoot or shoot at several animals a year.

Opening day this year had a doe at 24 steps and shot right over her. I looked at the whole deer instead of picking a spot lol

What do you mean "The time"?

4 years ago, had 14 tradgangers hunting with me. i took the stand on top of the mountain. had a doe at 5 yards and shot over her back, yup dodn't pick a spot! was amazed she walked so close!

QuoteOriginally posted by Ted Fry:
What do you mean "The time"?

Yes sir this is the category that I belong in...lol

For Killie... This is the category in which I belong...lol

God bless,Mudd

The great admins here don't want us to talk about wounded animals which I agree with. So sorry I can't tell you.

I never pick a spot. A lot of times it is just too dusky to even pick a spot. If you rely on the ability to pick a spot the best 20 min. of the hunt are lost. But I train those shots and automatically hit the zone by just seeing the silhouette. Because a lot of time, this is the only thing you can really see within the last 15-20 minutes of legal shooting time.
I train that in the same light conditions as I later hunt, just the last 30min before dark.

Mrs pick for me when I don't pick a spot.

I have been lucky that the last few years i have always picked a spot. Once I do see an animal I say to myself "pick a spot" and start to look just at that spot as they come in. So far it has worked for me but I'm sure I'll make a mistake sooner or later.

Last week Thursday,I scared a Coyote when the spot didn't get picked and the arrow ruffled the hair on his back. I needed that lesson for hopefully later this season.Maxx

Good one Ted  

...there was the one time I had 6 bucks(small to large) following a hot doe in singlr file. As they streamed past my stand I shot over the first bucks back...then over the second bucks back...then over the third bucks back. At that point I was out of arrows. I climbed down out of my stand, recovered all 3 arrows, climbed back up and proceeded to replay my first 3 attempts. Six misses in less than 5 minutes, none of which I picked a spot.
 On my first ever trad bow hunt I had a nice buck come out broadside at about 10 yards. I shot right over his back and sunk the arrow in a large pine. I nocked another arrow and missed him again after he walked about 10 yards and again after after he walked another 10 yards.
 Both of these hunts happened many years ago in coastal SC where I lived. I wish the deer would have stayed that dumb over the years and would give me another chance. d;^)

I was hiding in a thicket with a compounder friend when a bunch of Hogs came by.............they slowed right in front of us about 10 feet away. We both shot and we both missed!

Hmmm Blonde black bear three times one night. I guess i was a little excited.

I will just say it's happened more times than I would like to admit, 18 years with a stick maybe once +, a season ? Todd

Had a group of 12 piglets come in and vacuum up corn at a feeder while hunting in Texas. They were swirling around over the top of each other like a school of carp. Well, in stead of picking one out I shot amongst the flock and of course missed them all. As my buddy said when I explained to him what happened, "Yep, you shot just what you were looking at The State of Texas". LOL

QuoteOriginally posted by KentuckyTJ:
The great admins here don't want us to talk about wounded animals which I agree with. So sorry I can't tell you.

This explains my deleted post yesterday.  While I understand (I think) why they discourage posting about wounded animals, the truth is, it does happen.  I'd venture to guess it happens to "the best of us."

As for not picking a spot, last year I shot just over a doe at 12 yards.  She and the yearling jumped and turned around to look at my arrow when it thumped into the dirt.  The yearling actually crept up and sniffed the nock.  By the time I could ease another arrow out of the quiver, mama decided not to stick around and the young one followed.

Had a coon eating dog food in the back yard this summer. I sat up late and had my brother turn on the porch light for me. First time I waited I shot right over him, didn't pick a spot. The next time he came around I picked a spot and skewered him.

Nice 10 pointer still roamig the woods because I didn't.