Did some practice shooting last night and doing well at 20 and under.  Got busted this morning while sitting in the tree.  Stuck with it and a mature doe came in about 20 yards.  Drew back on her twice but didn't shoot.  When she left I shot a judo at a leaf where she stood and just clipped the top of it.  Hear about target panic but I need something to keep from second guessing myself.  Any ideas?

Last year I hit stand rail with bottom cam of compound and year before that I clipped  two low misjudging distance.

Maybe try more small game hunting?  I am thinking it would be more re-enforcement of the shot process-
Pick a spot
Draw
Release
Follow through

Sort of a learned behavior thing.

Just "pick a spot" and believe!!

Focus and believe the arrow will be there as it has no other choice!  

Sometimes shots don't feel right no matter the yardage. Do as you know you can.

Stumping at various distances, angles, body positions, cover types, light conditions.

Just shooting anyway and get that monkey off your back, kind of like breaking the ice

I keep hoping for the first shot to be real close...
Squirrel season does not come in until this weekend so maybe I need to carry more Judos.

Well, the right to miss is in the constitution, I think!  Seriously, if you miss, it's not the end of the world.  Wayne Gretzky said that, "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take."  Sounds like you doubt yourself a little.  I think everyone does.  If you get a good shot, take it.  If you miss, learn from it.  You don't learn much from success, but you can learn a lot from mistakes.  Good luck.

Missing is not a problem.  I just don't want to wound a deer.  Still sick over the two I grazed two years ago.

If you get good shot opportunities take them!! I have had only 3 shots in over 40 years. Take every chance you get........it may a long time till the next one.

I don't know any bowhunters who haven't wounded a deer at some point, I don't think.  None of them wanted to do so, but people aren't perfect.  All you can do is wait for good shots and do your best; if you are filled with anxiety about wounding, you are more likely to do the very thing you want to avoid.  Good luck.

it helps to have a "Red Zone" that is comfortable to you. do all your practice within that zone, from every conceivable angle and position. when a deer steps into it, you'll be full-on "GO!"

also, quit measuring distances at any time before you shoot in practice. if you want to know an exact distance, only measure it after you've shot.

I have gone through some of the same stuff as you over the years especially the first year I took up the longbow. You have to trust your shooting ability and the shot opportunity that you have in front of you at that very moment. The two will click at some point. Experience over time will better help with your decisions...

Ron

I got nothing but respect for you for letting down if the shot didnt feel right. The time or 2 in the past that I pressed the attack and shot when shot didnt feel just right.........resuts werent so pretty, and ill never do it again. No shame in letting down,I agree with  SELFBOW19953 stumping under actual hunting conditions does wonder for my confidence. When im out stumping I like to take shots at stumps and rotten logs without defined spots you know? just like a deers chest, not just the defind targets like a red leaf in a pile of yellow ones or a woodpecker hole. Theyre fun too but bare stumps and logs are great hunting practice cause they make you pick a spot. Goodluck!

QuoteOriginally posted by Wheels2:
Missing is not a problem.  I just don't want to wound a deer.  Still sick over the two I grazed two years ago.

Its normal and part of it worrying about that stuff but if you don't shoot then you don't fill the freezer  

its like baseball, sooner or later you got swing that bat.  
just pretend there is a leaf hanging on the chest next time and forget its a deer.  shoot for the leaf. relaxed and easy, just like practice

I bet if the deer were at 15 yards, you wouldn't have second guessed yourself.  If you don't think you can make the shot, don't take it.  You did good to let down.  Only take shots you "know" you can make.  Hitting a leaf isn't the same as shooting at a live critter.

I find myself super cautious with my stick bow for the same reason.  If I do not have a shot I am comfortable with I pass.  Not hard to do here in Maryland since most outings I have shot opportunities in the areas I hunt.

Heres the thing. Do you want your next "unsure" shot to be on a great buck you really want to kill. Go ahead and shoot at the does so you can build your confidence.

How high was your treestand? When I am higher than about 12' the shot angles look undoable to me as well. I hunt very low.