Kicking myself

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TNCharlie

TNCharlie

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 6, 2003
Messages
2,247
City & State/Province
Columbia TN
I have a spot about 100 yards behind my house that has turned into a bit of a honey hole this year. If I wasn't so inept I would have three deer from that little spot, but...

A couple of weeks ago two does came in. Perfect broadside view of the larger one, range about 12 yards. A clean miss. At first I could not figure out how I missed her. A closer examination of my pop-up revealed that the arrow had passed through the window zipper, obviously making it veer off course. Lesson learned.

A week ago today a small 6-pointer wandered in. Again about a 12-yard shot, but this time I avoid the zipper and hit the mark. In spite of no blood trail at all I find him a couple hundred yards away. He now rests comfortably in my freezer.

Then this morning a doe prances in and stands almost exactly in the same spot as the buck had last week. Oh, man, I've got this! Yeh, right. My arrow sailed under her. I have absolutely no idea why or how I screwed that up.

So if this was baseball I would batting .300 and would make the hall of fame. But this is deer hunting and I feel like I belong in the hall of shame.
 
I had the same problem hunting from a Blind, the trick is to get the bow as close to the opening as you can. this keeps the arrow from hitting the blind. I found it helpful to practice from the blind.
 
If by any chance you are shooting expandable broadheads through the window mesh, I have read that is a dicey proposition.
 
scn said:
If by any chance you are shooting expandable broadheads through the window mesh, I have read that is a dicey proposition.
Click to expand...


Never thought of that...good advice. On a side note, I'd prefer a clean miss to a bad shot. Keep at it.
 
Shooting fixed blades. I have read that expandables and mesh are not a good mix, so I have avoided them. I have also practiced shooting from the blind and through the mesh.

I really do believe that those two misses were the side effects of buck fever (or deer fever). I've killed close to 40 deer, and I still get a quick heartbeat when a deer shows, whether it's a fawn or the biggest buck I've ever seen. To calm down I try to focus on the deer and pay attention to its body language, estimate range, and deciding if the angle is right for a lethal shot. While I'm doing that I don't notice that I'm going nick the zipper or that I'm rushing the shot a bit. At least that's my excuse. :smile:

But I will also say that I actually hope that I never stop getting that rush. I just have to control it.
 
Not sure if I understand or not but I wouldn't want my arrow hitting ANYTHING but air between me and the deer.

Other than that, maybe you are aiming at the deer instead of a hair.

Good luck and keep at it.
 
Oh, and yes, a clean miss is far, far better than a bad hit. Those deer are unharmed. We'll meet up again, if not during archery season, then during muzzy or gun season.

You guys have actually made me feel better about this.
 
TNCharlie said:
Shooting fixed blades. I have read that expandables and mesh are not a good mix, so I have avoided them. I have also practiced shooting from the blind and through the mesh.

I really do believe that those two misses were the side effects of buck fever (or deer fever). I've killed close to 40 deer, and I still get a quick heartbeat when a deer shows, whether it's a fawn or the biggest buck I've ever seen. To calm down I try to focus on the deer and pay attention to its body language, estimate range, and deciding if the angle is right for a lethal shot. While I'm doing that I don't notice that I'm going nick the zipper or that I'm rushing the shot a bit. At least that's my excuse. :smile:

But I will also say that I actually hope that I never stop getting that rush. I just have to control it.
Click to expand...

I agree with you 100% on the rush. The day it goes away is the day I step away from deer hunting entirely.
 

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