I guess this can go with the other "sob stories" that I've been reading, which actually make me feel a bit better. After all, misery loves company. lol I started doing dark to dark (12 hour sits) hunts last Sat. I did this each day until Thursday evening at 5:00PM (59 hours) when a "shooter", for my area, shows up. When I first saw the buck I didn't know if he was a legal deer or not, because of the brush he was walking through. I had to let him clear the brush and he would be in an open area for identification. I drew before he came out in case he was a shooter. I saw that he was better than my best from these woods and I knew I would have to stop him for the shot. The problem was, in the little time I had to check him out he covered about 15-20 feet and I was running out of time before he'd be past me and in thick stuff again. I let out an errrr and he stopped. I released my arrow and I didn't like the shot from the start. I think I hit him way back. Long story shorter, I basically hurried my shot, which led to a far less than perfect hit. I wasted too much time before stopping this buck for a more broadside shot. He started to angle away at the time I stopped him. Me and a buddy looked for him after the blood trail ended and never found him. I waited all week (all year for that matter) for that ONE chance, and blew it!!! You never forget hunts like that, but you have to learn from them.
Just makes us practice more and prepare better. I try to learn from others, successful or not, and I appreciate your info. I hope some good comes from this and we can all be better bowhunters. The only deer I ever shot with my bow was a bad shot: high and back, but I got away with a main artery shot and she died in 10 yards. More practice and donating a broadhead to make sure they fly well is what I learned.
