Thanks again for the encorugement folks, Good to know I'm not alone in this dilema.

Getting closer. Got busted by a big old doe this evening sitting on the ground. I got to half draw as she had her head behind a big oak but she knew something was odd when she stepped out. Stompin and bobbin and stompin. All at about 4 yards! What a hoot!!!!!   :p

I don't even want to talk about some of the misses I had when I first started with a traditional bow.  Let's just say I would have some more big bucks on the wall.  It just takes a little time. I don't miss nearly as often now, but when I do, it still hurts.

Swampdrummer, Check out my "first bear" post.
I did the same thing on my bear. just relax and let it happen. nerves got the best of you and now that you have missed you're likely cured. You missed and the worst thing taht happenned is you go hunting another day.

shoot some more targets and relax, the confidence will return and the next deer will be yours I'm sure.

My first traditional miss was in 1996.. A doe crossed the creek and stood just as perfect as I could ever hope at 12 yards.  I had all the time in the world to shoot.  I missed by six FEET, high and right with my arrow smacking a tree. I still get excited,, but can focus!


John III

Thought I would ressurect this post rather than make a new one to cry in my beer with. I am now up to 5 misses. Yes I said FIVE!  :mad:  Number 3 was a doe at about 15 yards right at too dark to see time and the arrow hit a limb somewhere in between me and her. I found it head high ,stuck in a cabbage palm.
Tonight I had 3 does come in about 6:30 and had one stand broadside to me,looking the other way at maybe 8 yards... CLOSE. I was in pretty good shape fever wise. Wasn't shaking to bad and had enough composer to make sure my face was down on the string and that I was picking a spot. staring hard. Arrow flew over her back by a foot. Pulled another arrow from the quiver and got busted by the third doe that was standing on the other side of me. They all ran off only to come back 10 minutes later.(I'm hunting an edge of a swamp. specificly a big oak that is raining acorns along the edge) Same doe at maybe 12 yards.Broadside but looking my way this time. I don't think she knew I was there but was looking in my direction. Again. a foot over her back!            
That was it. they ran off blowing and snorting.
I had one more arrow and I shot it at one of the arrows sticking in the ground and it was within inches. Like 1 or 2 inches....

I stood up. said some bad words. tossed my stool in the palmettos and walked out to the house. Spent the last 30 minutes of daylight shooting at my target. From a stand, sitting down, standing up. I'm shooting 6 inch groups out to 20 yards. Deadly accurate,arrows touching groups at 15. Just can't seem to put it together on a deer.

I can't even count the times I've been busted drawing on deer in the past few weeks. Definately been a learning experience. Not sure what I was doing differently, other than longer shots 15 years ago when I was shooting wheels. But I was killing deer back then.  :confused:  

But I'm still having fun, and seeing all sorts of neat stuff while I fling arrows around the woods....But sure would like to get at least one in the freezer before season ends.

I believe more misses are due to NOT PICKING  A SPOT,  or maybe choosing the whole deer as a spot, than anything else.  Man is that tough to do when you are bouncing in excitement.

Try to learn to pick just a small spot.
ChuckC

I missed once. ChuckC has it right.

Here's the most important thing. You have to forget it, (hunting is still fun) and be confident. "I can do it"  Don't go to the next shot doubting yourself. Even Fred Bear shot over animals sometimes. He just didn't miss on the next one.

So next good deer, keep everything steady, push out that left hand and be confident when you let it fly.

Good luck

Sam

It happens.

Man, this thread sure is therapeutic!  I totally missed a buck Wednesday morning, standing broadside at ten yards or less.  Nice to know I'm not the only one!

Could it be your bow is noisy?  A lot of times when deer drop to leave that arrow can look like it was a high shot when in actuality it's right on, just that the deer dropped to run away.

Thanks guys, I think I'm picking a spot, sure feels like it. Last night I was sure I had that first doe. Shot felt good. Release felt good. Except the dang arrow flew over her back. Don't think she jumped the string as she was standing full upright as it went over her back. I'm not hearing anything coming off my bow but will have the wife listen from the side this weekend. In the mean time, I'm headed back out for a couple of hours this evening to see what I can do tonight.    Thanks again

Are you bending at the waist and not dropping your bow arm?

Over the top and pick a spot, pull back slow and let her go. Slow down your draw and focus. I say that poem when I see a deer I am going to shoot at.

Thought about the bending at the waist and that may be the problem as all of the misses I was sitting down. Pretty thick where my stands are and the deer are on top of me before I see them.so I haven't tried to stand up. Last nights misses, the stand is only 8 feet off the ground. Also doesn't explain why I can make an accurate shot immdediatly after, not in the presence of deer.
Put one in the freezer tonight but it was a really bad shot ( again) Caught her in the neck, about 6 inches behind the jawbone and went out under her chin. Talk about a sinking feeling watching her run off with an arrow flopping around in her neck.  :(  Caught the main artery in the neck and also cut the windpipe in half.Good blood trail though so I got lucky and was able to recover her.Not the way I wanted to do it though....

Like the poem wollelybugger, Can you explain it? Before season, in order to insure I was bending at the waist when in the stand I would come to full draw with the bow straight out and then bend at the waist to come down to the target. I'm still hitting good sitting down as well, on anything other than deer. Think I need to go kill me a hog this weekend to get the confidence back up. I know I can hit pigs!

I always figure a clean miss is better than a bad hit.. Most likely you just need to settle down and concentrate on the shot as if you were stump shooting a rotten log. Don't just "let it fly",, shoot it.

Oh, yea...I've definately been there!!!!  Hang in there, you'll get the next one   .

Claudia