And I missed one...

[WNY_Whitetailer]

There I was...In my favorite new stand set up...Here comes a fawn.  I am ready to go...Bow across my lap, arrow nocked, release on the string...All I had to do was stand up quietly.  No problem...Done it tons of times before...Well, I stood up and my stand made the slightest "tink" sound.  The fawn, that until this time was feeding broadside at 10 yards," looked right up at me.  I froze and it eventually went back to munching.  Well, I hear another deer.  It's the mama.  She doesn't even take time to feed...She knows something is up and looks right at me.  Busted twice but they don't run.  Nervous but not enough to bolt...Then I hear another one coming.  I figured that it was another fawn...WRONG.  Here comes the biggest buck I had ever seen in the woods and it was heading right in to my shooting lane at 18 yards...Or so I thought.  As he was starting to make it in to the clearing, the other two deer got spooky and started to trot away.  I was afraid that the buck was going to bolt too so I took careful aim and promptly released the carbon arrow from my Pearon Spoiler Lite....AND I missed him.  I rushed the shot and didn't wait until he hit the lane...I thought I could thread the needle but it was not to be.  I got down from the stand because I just knew that I missed the trophy.  After about 10 minutes of searching, I found the arrow...Not a drop of blood, hair, or evidence of a hit on it...I was happy that it was a clean miss.

I never took the time to count the tines as I didn't want to get over anxious....Well, I blew it big time...He ran off with the other two never to be seen by me again during the archery or gun season that follows...Oh well, that's why they call it hunting and not shooting.

Talk about your humbling experiences...

[GRIMJIM]

Exact same thing happened to me this year. That's bowhunting for ya.

[huntswithdogs]

Last year I had 2 bucks feeding toward me. I'd watched them for over 45 minutes before they got in an area I could shoot. The smaller of the two walked past at about 15yds. never stopping. The larger of the 2 stepped into my lane and stopped broadside. Under 25 yds by my best (and unforunately wrong) guesstimation. Shot right under his belly! Never touched a hair. I ruined a perfectly good broadhead, when it hit a buried rock,too.

Like ya said..."that's why they call it hunting".

I was tickled to have gotten a shot at one from the ground. That spot and stalk stuff will really get yer heart to pounding!!!!


HWD

[Dr. A]

I got 2nd and 3rd chances this year.  My buck was 35 yards, and I thought I could thread the needle.  He was definitely a shooter, and I would have deeply regretted not taking a shot at 35 yards, even with brush.  I heard the arrow hit the brush and head for the moon.  THis was in the middle of rut, and his better judgement did not prevail.  This noise had peaked his curiosity, but he noticed my fake buck down on the other side of the creek.  He was standing on a ridge behind me actually 10 feet higher than I was already 20 feet up in my stand.  I got another chance.  Popped off into the moonset again!  He came closer yet.  STanding broadside at 25 yards I finally connected on the third shot.  SOmetimes its easy and sometimes you screw up.  I got lucky!  I'm also lucky enough to get a buck every year.  I simply take off work and "force myself" to go out and hunt as much as I dare.  The wife is the only one that will slow me down here.

[huntswithdogs]

Doc,
Judging from the picture, 3 times was a charm for ya! Congrats on a buck that I'da loved to have a shot at!



HWD

[catfishfiend]

hey, you hunt long enough, you will miss.  i have killed loads of deer but the two i killed with a bow stand out the best.  this was my 3rd year bowhunting, and i was getting cocky.  so cocky i missed a deer from the ground at 15 yards.  never got a second chance during bow season.  this next season i will try and be humble and see if the hunting gods smile on me!  luck to you.