Good stuff. I don't think anyone was trying to be harsh. But more corrective criticism. You know better than we do about your situation since we are just on an on-line forum and have never met. Take the parts of the advice you agree with and the disregard the ones you don't. Good luck to you guys the rest of the season.
I feel for you on this one... I lost more deer than I wish I had early on in my bowhunting career... For me it came down to just focusing on following through. And realizing that yea it sucks to wound one but you've just gotta get back at it and learn from it. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Respect as well! Great post. Best of luck in the future. This is probably the most important thing you said. I can't even count how many deer got a pass over the years because the shot just wasn't 100% for me. Painful sometimes being so close to closing the deal, but NEVER force the shot. There will be another day with a better opportunity. All part of the chess game. Sometimes they just simply win the battle.
I did the same opening day I know how you feel Im sorry you didn't get that buck but you will have another chance. I lost a lot of sleep over the doe I shot. It was a high shot and no blood just meat on the arrow. Good luck on your next hunt.
So you know after that awesome post, you're next video better have a recovery in it LOL. You are learning and respectful of the game you pursue, and I applaud you for your honesty. Good luck!
Always take an extra second or two when shooting at game, to settle, aim, and release properly. You'll get him next time.
Bow-hunting is a real thinking "Mans" game. (I didn't think I would hit that limb. I didn't think the bush was that high. I didn't think about shoulder bone in the way etc etc....). There are so many variables in bow hunting, and anybody that has stand time in has had a mishap. All we can do is learn from it, make a mental note from it and move one to the next hunt and this forum is great tool for making that happen. I lost a nice 12 point 3years ago to a silly little mistake. My arrow had fallen off the rest at some time during the encounter and I never noticed. I drew back while I had this buck at 12 yards, my arrow flopped kicking hard left and hit him high in the neck shoulder area. I was sick, this was the biggest dear I had ever drawn on. I looked for three days on my hands and knees for blood. Never found him, until last year and he is still on the hoof. "I didn't think to look at my arrow rest." Thank you for sharing your experience and helping us all to learn. Good luck in your next encounter.
Wibow, like everyone here stated, great post. That there shows true sportsmanship. You are not out just to shoot - you realized your mistakes and you're taking everything and learning from it. Best of luck to you. You sound like an outstanding person. Being the same age, I will add that I do not know many men your age who would be willing to admit everything like you did.
A couple observations... (This is my opinion... feel free to disagree) 1. Many hunters aim too far back. I hear people say and see people here write... (Hit him "right behind the shoulder") Where exactly is that? A deer's anatomy is such that the best shot is directly above the "elbow". The bone angles forward from there, creating a beautiful hole to the vitals. I believe more deer are lost from poor knowledge of anatomy than anything else. 2. If you are going to get help tracking... get it before jumping the deer. If you will quietly back out... a deer will lay down almost every time at the first thicket. The last thing you want to risk is jumping a deer that is not leaving a blood trail. If you are going to call for a dog... stop looking immediately and wait. If you can't find your arrow... and you see no blood... go no further... get help. If it looks like it may rain, IMO, this makes backing off all the more important. Trying to beat the rain, jumps deer out of the bed and only increases the distance that must be covered by a frantic search. 3. And I believe this is a big problem... Don't try to watch your arrow... you will punch the trigger every time... and swear up and down you didn't. Aim at the exact spot you want to hit... settle the pin there... with the pin stopped... release and keep aiming until you hear the arrow hit. Lighted nocks are cool... but watching them in flight will cost you deer. 4. As far as hitting a shoulder bone... while not advocating frontal shots... the blade bone is no match for a modern, well tuned bow with a solid head and sufficient bow energy. I have hit plenty of shoulder blades and have yet to have one stop a broad-head. I still don't like the shot taken... but if it had been above the knee in the sweet spot... that would have been a very dead deer.
