At around 7:30 this morning I spotted a rather large buck about 60 yards in front of my stand.  I counted 8 points although small he had some pretty good mass and would have made for an awesome first deer for me... Blarg!

My stand faces north at the edge of a dry crick bed and he was heading due west of me so I got my call out and made a few grunts. Not thinking he would budge he turned and started my way and stopped for a perfect broad side shot at 15 yards in the dry crick bed facing east. I couldn't have hoped for a better shot... Really, it was perfect. When I drew he looked up at me. Making a huge mistake I stopped concentrating on my spot and waited for him to look away since he wasn't spooked. As soon as he looked away I released my arrow and watched it zip over his back. Boy am I still bummed.

This is the first year I have ever actually hunted with a bow even though I have been shooting bows since I was 10 years old and shot compounds up until last year when I took the plunge into Trad. I never expected the first deer I would get a shot at would be a pretty darn big buck. I practiced a LOT to make sure I wouldn't do what I did today although, I am glad that I wasn't nervous because of his rack so I guess that's a plus. I suppose I just tried to do to many things at once and it made me lose my focus. I figured he might duck my arrow if he saw it coming so I hesitated. Looking back I think I should have ignored his head completely and just focused on my spot since he wasn't spooked. I would like to hear some of your thoughts on the subject if you don't mind of course.

that is a bummer, I have been there too. Just look at this as a learing point and move on... there will be more opportunities and it will be sweet when it all comes together!

Aye, I will never make the same mistake again. Thats for sure.

Matt, keep your chin up. You will make up for it on the next bruiser that crosses your path.  

I'll take a hundred clean misses to one bad hit.
Sorry about that.  Dan

It happens. Just ask a few on here. just try try and try again.<><

No harm done - sounds like a great morning hunting to me.

Catch and release bowhunting at it's finest