I contemplated not telling you guys the whole story, but when I think about it it's actually kind of humorous, so here goes.
I was sitting at my favorite stand in some tamaracks by a river bottom on our property. The sun was setting and I'd had one spike buck come by early in my sit. Looking up a trail north of me, I was happy to see a doe coming down the path that comes right in front of my stand.
From a full 200 yards away, she spotted me. She was obviously aware something was up, and she wouldn't let me move. It seemed like forever before she finally worked her way into my shooting lane. I had my spot picked out behind her shoulder and had been looking at it for minutes. When she finally put her head down I drew...for some silly reason when I hit my anchor, my glance shifted from the spot behind her shoulder.....to the one just over her back  Before I could correct myself the arrow was sailing RIGHT over her back. I was disappointed and she scampered a little ways off.
I decided to give it another shot and used my Can call to try to lure her back in. She circled back around into my effective range of 30 yards. She was walking slowly, and I was confident I could make the shot. I drew, picked a spot, and shot...at the sound of the bow going off she stopped and jumped back slightly....the arrow almost grazed the front of the doe.
I continued to call and she reluctantly continued to circle at 30 yards. When she offered me another shot, she was standing still...I aimed and shot again, rushing it and putting the arrow right underneath her.
I'd about covered all the bases on ways to miss at this point  Frustrated when she turned to walk away, I picked a spot, drew, got back tension, was tempted to release early, then calmed myself down and aimed to make an absolutely perfect shot behind the shoulder. She ran less than 100 yards and was down.
I am excited about the last shot and think I learned a lot about shooting under pressure  
Pics to come...

Craig

congrats.  Great time in the field

You mean there are deer in the panhandle?  Great going and way to make it end well.  Looking forward to some pics.

Craig,
Pressure and the mind do funny things at the moment of release.

Getting four shots is amazing.  Way to hang in there.

Like my dad used to say about scratch golfers... they ain't gettin' there money's worth by hitting the ball that few times. You squeezed four hunts into one!!!!!   LOL  

Appreciate your success.

Billy

Thanks everyone!


And one with my dad...
I used a 55#@30" DAS 21" Naki, 64" overall length. Arrows were Axis Nano 340s with 75gr. brass inserts and 125 grain Phantom broadheads. Total arrow weight, 520 grains. The arrow blew through a rib upon entry and broke another on the opposite side before driving into the offside shoulder blade.I've been shooting really well lately on 3D but it seems like a whole different deal to apply my calm shooting form when hunting. I feel that I performed well on 2 of the shots (obviously the hit and the one where she stopped as the arrow flew), and think that I will see improvement in my shooting at game after tonight's lesson    I think I have a lot better idea of what process I need to go through at the shot. My first shot was totally based on instinct, and my good shot I was gapping. I believe I may end up shooting best at game when I apply the gap aiming method. I feel better that the shot I made was at 30 yards, adds a little redemption I suppose.

Craig

way to keep with it.

nice work mate!

well done, and good persistence...Congrats, neighbor  

That one needed to be removed from the gene pool   :D  . Way to hang in there though and get the job done, congratulations!

Good on ya, Craig!

Nice persistence!  :-p

 

Way to keep your act together and get the job done! A big congrats Craig!

Congrats!  

Sounds like it was meant to be! Congrats and way to hang in there and make the connection.      

Awesome Craig!

Thanks everyone! Now I'm focusing on a few big bucks I've been seeing  :D  I have a feeling I won't have quite the same margin of error on one of them  

Way to go