Well its obvious that's a terrible angle shot. Not sure why people continue to do this. I can understand if you're a young hunter or someone who just started. Anyhow I looked at you're video from last year and I swear that arrow is fish tailing on the way to the deer. I think you have a few issues you have to fix. One being knowing what a good high percentage shot is and the other is bow and arrow marriage. To me the deer you hit this year is no where close to a lung shot. I'd say you hit the spine and or shoulder blade. No doubt to me it's above or in the spine. The spine goes down allot farther then people think. Even allot of veteran hunters don't realize this. Also the tip of the shoulder blade goes much higher then people think as well. None the less that broadhead stuck in some serious bone. You can tell that by the action of the arrow when it impacted. Take EVERY experience you get whether good or bad and remember it.
I would agree he should of waited on a better shot. But the past is the past and we can only learn from our mistakes. I think this is one of those things that starts to happen more when you take a camera to the tree. The need to succeed and show the world becomes a little overwhelming. The deer comes in theres 10,000 ideas running through your head and you loose focus punch the release and then beat yourself up over what just happened. Everyone makes bad shots that's part of hunting **** happens. The important thing is that we learn from them. Focus is the key. I am by no means a professional on the focus part I struggle with it everyday. But I believe if you put yourself through enough practice you can get yourself under control and think through the process.
Lol! I figured if people don't remember it their sure not going to learn from it. Thanks bud for the kind words.
I looked at your guys facebook page and some of your guys videos. You guys have a passion for bowhunting and really enjoy it. Which is great. I would consider taking a step back and not worry so much about filming and the facebook page and youtube page and everything else including media with hunting and just hunt. Perhaps with someone else not looking over your shoulder with a camera. Just be alone. Relax. There will be a lot less pressure on yourself when you are alone in the woods rather than your bud watching and recording your every move. Once you get a routine down when a deer steps out you can go back to all the other aspects that you guys are doing now. Just food for thought.
Well said Brad, and is the reason why I've kept holding back from self filming. I think some day I may add a POV cam on bow or on hat or something but I enjoy a stress free experience in the tree and I know I'd stress with worries of getting camera just right and such...someday I will but I think it is important to realize sometimes we need to step back from trying to be "hollywood" or "fame chasers" and just hunt. I hope the OP doesn't take any of this as bashing because honestly you're getting awesome advice from some of the most respected people on this site. Blessings brother, now get the bow tuning issues fixed if you haven't and hit the woods without the cameras and just hunt pressure free. Blessings.
I would say take a hard look at your setup. Are you shooting a very low draw weight/ short arrows? Are your arrows super light with a large mechanical BH? If you are shooting close to the IBO setup or heavier you should get more penetration unless you have multiple of the above situations. If you are shooting a decent weight and a decently weighted arrow then you should be getting more penetration unless your bow is poorly tuned and your flight is wildly off. I would personally look into a heavier arrow with a fixed blade head. You should be able to get through even the shoulder blade with a more penetration oriented set up.
First big buck I ever had an encounter with when we started filming was a 180 in giant that we called " DOUBLE KNOTTY". He got the name because I freaked out from the pressure that the camera over my shoulder had added and I shot him through the neck at 25 yards. HE was perfectly broadside. The next year he had bumps on both sides of hence the Double knotty. I speak from experience.
Loving all the advice guys. Some being much more harsh than others, but all stuff that makes sense. And yes, you did find another skeleton in my closet from last year. One I also am not proud of, and agree was rushed. Let me start this post by explaining a little more about me... I'm 25 and have been whitetail hunting since I was 10. Most of my hunting career was shotgun season. You know, grab all the blaze orange, gather up your cousins and uncles and shoot anything brown. My buddy got me into bow hunting 4 years ago and I was immediately hooked. I had a bunch of awesome encounters my first year, and although I had no success I had a blast and couldn't wait to bow hunt again. 2 years ago I found this site and LEARNED ALOT really fast. But reading posts and watching videos online doesn't prepare you for real life situations. Although I have successfully harvested three whitetails with my bow, I have made my share of mistakes also. I don't think it was the pressure of the camera that made me rush this shot (but yes that could have played some factor) as much as the excitement and inexperience of bow hunting. Like I said, I have been hunting now for 15 years and NEVER had a deer that large within shooting range. I had a million things going through my head, the main one being "don't let this big guy get away"! I rushed the shot, big time, and am still kicking myself. I am greatly disappointed to wound such a beautiful animal and really hope he's running around out there for me, or someone else to see again. But you know, I'm glad it happened. Having the poor shot last year, and the poor shot AGAIN this year just makes you take a step back and think. It's VERY HUMBLING. Maybe hunting with a gun for so many years gets you in a mind set of "shoot the deer when he is in range". Not thinking about the shot angle, if the deer is alert, exact distance, etc... It sucks that it has to be that way, but I really think I am learning SOOO much from experience (unfortunately bad experience). I need to realize that in bow hunting its a good shot or NO SHOT. Nothing is worth wounding a deer. I could have had a better shot had I waited, or maybe another shot in the future had he walked away not offering me a better one. I do realize that now, and really think all of these experiences will make me a better bow hunter going forward. Now addressing my equipment, last year I had no idea about "tuning" a bow. I went to my local archery shop (which is no longer in business) and bought a nice heli-m. Bought me a sight, drop-away rest, some arrows, a release, some broadheads (whatever the guy recommended). I sighted in the bow in my backyard and out to the tree stand I went. Never being told or knowing about getting everything tuned correctly. After missing that shot and having you guys point out the bad trajectory of the arrow I did some reading about proper arrow/broadhead set up, and paper tuning and did that right away that season. In the offseason I traded my bow and got a Mathews Creed,and set it at 63lbs. I went to a different archery shop and got some Easton Axis 340's, with killzone 100grain broadheads. I paper tuned the bow in spring and have been shooting a lot all summer. I practice shoot out to 40 yards and am always happy with my shooting. Now I know I don't know NEARLY as much about bow and arrow setup as most of you do, but I was still very confident with my set up going into this season. But that doesn't prepare you for real life situations. I don't know what could have prepared me for that night. I was in a "get him before he's gone" state of mind and now know its a "good shot or no shot" situation when bow hunting. I am not here to hide anything from you guys, or to butter up bad decisions to make them sound better. I'm on here to LEARN everything about this new sport that I love. I am super thankful for all of the advice, lessons, and personal stories you have shared with me, and hope I can continue to learn more and more from guys who have been hunting longer than I have been alive. I'm hoping all of my future posts can start with a BBD and include pictures and memorable stories of better decisions and good shots.
Brother...that post in my opinion shows signs of an awesome individual. Keep grasping to everything with a hunger and brother in no time we will get sick of your successful stories! Again, you are responding with a great deal of maturity for sure, not only as a person but as a hunter some can't ever grasp. Thanks for clarifying the tuning issues, awesome job at taking it upon yourself when you heard people bring it up last year! Blessings brother.
Very good post. Dont take our harsh criticism as a bad thing. We have all made mistakes, I guarantee it. Sometimes we need to get our asssss chewed to realize the sevarity of the case. We want you to make better decisions and put those big bucks on the ground. Now, get as many cams as you have access to and try to get eyes on that deer again. GOOD LUCK
Great post! I did not bring up last year to ridicule you or make you feel bad, so I hope you didn't take it that way. I only brought it up because it seems like your penetration was very poor in both instances and thought that it was probably an equipment issue. It sounds like you took care of any equipment issues that you had though. I don't want to start a mechanical vs. fixed blade pissing match here, but at 63 pounds you could easily step up to a 125 grain fixed head without any spine issues, and you'd likely see better penetration from the increased weight and FOC. Just something to consider.
If you continue to have your buddys film you, I would suggest one tip. Have them ZOOM in on the deer much more than he did. This will not only make for much better footage, it will help clear up your impact on a marginal shot. good luck for the rest of the season.
Just learn from it brother, it happens. Even the biggest buck in the world is just a deer and nothing to get so excited about that you cost yourself the deer. Stay calm, take your time and be picky and meticulous about what you do and everything will work out. If a deer walks off because of it then be happy you didn't rush yourself and be confident in getting another chance...afterall they are just deer and there are a lot of them. Who knows if one gets away because you didn't get in a big rush then you may see a bigger one tomorrow. Putting yourself in a position where you make a poor shot is the best way to burn yourself out on hunting. Save the excitement for after the shot and control the moments before and during and you'll be fine.
