There is rarely a perfect shot...

[Coach]

Been reading all of the threads on archery shots and I thought I'd chip in...In my opinion, there rarely is a perfect shot like on TV. The first couple of years I hunted with a bow I didn't kill a thing...the reason was I was waiting. Waiting on him to take one more step, to turn just a little bit, to do this or do that.

If you've practiced and you know your limitations don't sit there waiting on one more step.... If he's in your range and you have a shot, shoot.

 

[muddyboots]

Ill second that!

 

[GreatWhiteHunter]

Agreed! I have had a few get away waiting on the last step.

 

[Redfred16]

I concur, that after this seasons buck. That last step is never the one you want and it normally takes them what seems like an hour to take, maybe longer if you draw too early.

 

[Pursuit Hunter]

Yep. If you get a shot, you better take it.

 

[Coach]

I would think you first time archery guys may want to consider a doe for your first kill if possible. Seems to be less shaking going on for your first kill.

Also, first time archery hunters, if you are going to "mack" or "whistle" for that deer to stop you better be ready to bust him when he does....cause that deer is going to be looking right down your pie hole...

 

[MUP]

I concur, that after this seasons buck. That last step is never the one you want and it normally takes them what seems like an hour to take, maybe longer if you draw too early.

Man, if that ain't the truth! Been there before, and all the shaking and sweatin' trying to hold out for that "one last step", then when you let down, they take it, then a few more to get behind the next obstacle!

 

[REM7]

I agree, my first few years of bow was unsucessful due to waitin on the "perfect" condition that never happened.

 

[Buck Assassin]

Great post Coach! I have let a few get by me waiting on that perfect shot.

 

[Football Hunter]

Yep,one of my best and quickest kills ever was about 15 yards,between the shoulder blades.She was unaware,but other deer were getting nervous.That doe went about 10 yards.

 

[scn]

I certainly understand the concept of taking the first killing shot the deer offers you that is within your ability to make. However, the flip side of the coin is that there are times you just have to let the deer walk away if you don't have an ethical shot. Yes, hunters occasionally get lucky with a quick kill from what looks like a non-lethal hit. But, that never justifies shooting an animal because that is the only shot you have and you MIGHT get lucky.

 

[Coach]

I certainly understand the concept of taking the first killing shot the deer offers you that is within your ability to make. However, the flip side of the coin is that there are times you just have to let the deer walk away if you don't have an ethical shot. Yes, hunters occasionally get lucky with a quick kill from what looks like a non-lethal hit. But, that never justifies shooting an animal because that is the only shot you have and you MIGHT get lucky.

Ethical is a given

 

[Football Hunter]

Brings up an old memory.I once hit a doe in the hams with an arrow,bottom of my bow hit something on release I think,any way,she went almost straight down,never really understood how that happened????? Dont think it was high enough for the spine to come into play.

NOTE: Not reccomending this.

 

[scn]

I certainly understand the concept of taking the first killing shot the deer offers you that is within your ability to make. However, the flip side of the coin is that there are times you just have to let the deer walk away if you don't have an ethical shot. Yes, hunters occasionally get lucky with a quick kill from what looks like a non-lethal hit. But, that never justifies shooting an animal because that is the only shot you have and you MIGHT get lucky.

Ethical is a given

I was sure it was coming from you, but didn't want it lost in the translation of the question!

 

[Coach]

FH, my son did the same thing while leaning out the side of his tree stand and his foot slipped as he shot. Cut the femoral artery and killed it almost instantly

 

[RiverBuck10]

The way I see it, "if you dont let the boys fly, the bucks wont die!!"

 

[scn]

The way I see it, "if you dont let the boys fly, the bucks wont die!!"

That's a great attitude if you don't care how many you lose in the process.

The challenge of bowhunting is to make clean, ethical shots and not to see how many animals you can "stick".

 

[plinker22]

Cut the femoral artery and killed it almost instantly

I hit a femoral artery once. I am very glad it got in the way. Bad shot with Good outcome, thank the Lord.

 

[Coach]

The way I see it, "if you dont let the boys fly, the bucks wont die!!"

That's a great attitude if you don't care how many you lose in the process.

The challenge of bowhunting is to make clean, ethical shots and not to see how many animals you can "stick".

What's really being said here SCN is that if your comfort range is 20 or 25 yards and your deer is within that range, don't wait until the deer gets to 10 yards...basically, making a clean ethical kill is a given and not at all the purpose of my thread.

 

[scn]

The way I see it, "if you dont let the boys fly, the bucks wont die!!"

That's a great attitude if you don't care how many you lose in the process.

The challenge of bowhunting is to make clean, ethical shots and not to see how many animals you can "stick".

What's really being said here SCN is that if your comfort range is 20 or 25 yards and your deer is within that range, don't wait until the deer gets to 10 yards...basically, making a clean ethical kill is a given and not at all the purpose of my thread.

I understand eactly what YOU are saying and agree 100%.

 

[Coach]

I was sitting in my stand and I heard one coming, right before I saw it. I made up my mind that I was going to shoot it when it came through this one opening...I could have shot that dang deer 5 steps before that opening but still I waited. I tried not to look at the rack but it was a big Michigan mainframe 8 or 10...200+ pound deer that had been living in a swamp by this stand.

He went behind the bush and I drew back..he never came out...he turned left and walked straight away from me with the bush between us. The perfect shot was a bust and even more perplexing was that I could have shot him twice before he got there...I still think about that big old buck

 

[bowriter]

Perfect shots are the usual for me. Deer comes by and I kill it. Perfect!

I laugh every time I see some dude grunt at a deer to stop them. I don't want them to stop. I want them walking and feeling all calm, not wondering where the heck that sound came from and ready to bolt. Anything up to a fast trot and I'm shooting,(with a bow). With a gun, I don't care if he is running. I have that much confidence in my ability. Or, I did.

Now that I am a bit more mature, I don't take many if any offhand shots. I use sticks and steady rests and I don't shoot on the run any more. But I'll bet I can.

With abow, I want a "good" high percentage shot angle. With a firearm, I'll find a high percentage angle.

 

[Coach]

I think, BW, the idea on stopping a deer was primarily that a thing in motion will remain in motion type thing. Ideally, you don't want the deer to jump the string and it's easier, apparently, for them to do that while walking. I'm with you though, I rarely do anything but bust em...

 

[htnseymour]

Took a shot on a deer one time and missed, had a semi auto so, being my first buck ever, I fired another just before he went over a small hill. Thought he was lost so I took a nap at the base of the tree. Turns out after I went and looked, he was laying dead just over the rise. Hit him in the manhood area, made me feel horrible and I learned a lesson that day about controlling adrenaline and waiting for a good shot.

 

[bigtex]

I always take the first "good shot" as long as it is in my self imposed range and I have a good angle I take it. I never take a low percentage shot. Just not worth it. We owe it to the animals we hunt to take the best shot we can. If in doubt let em walk theirs always tomorrow.

 

[fishboy1]

With experience you will get better at making that decision.

Missed a lot of deer waiting for the perfect shot.
Almost as often I GOT a "perfect" shot by waiting for a better angle.

As the hours in a tree rack up, its easier and easier to pass on deer and just watch them. I HATE HATE HATE loosing a deer and almost always wait for a slam dunk inside 15 yds relaxed deer type shot.
Not saying I wont take a longer shot but I like seeing them fall within sight and higher % the shot, the more likely that is to happen.

 

[WRbowhunter]

I remember when I first started trying to stop deer for a shot. I don't care if there was only a single tree around they always stopped behind it. As far as the perfect shot sometimes its there sometimes its not but I don't get those opportunities like they do on TV with the deer feeding on corn for 10 min and move around in the same spot. I will wait for a "good" shot and pass on anything else.