I'm pretty sure I missed!! Expert opinions appreciated

Took a shot on a doe tonight. I had her at 7 yards and I was about 18 feet up. I put my 20 yard pin low behind the shoulder. The arrow flew and I thought I hit, but when I check the arrow, there was no blood, no hair, nothing! I retrieved the arrow and it was clean. Half way up the arrow was shattered. I don't believe I hit her. As she went out of sight I heard the blow 3 times, so I'm assuming she's fine.

 

Just my opinion, but I would say you should have aimed your 20yd pin "higher", and not "lower", to compensate for yardage.

 

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying. Are you saying I hit her and theres no sign or do you think I missed. I've been doing a lot of missing this year. I have to improve my shooting I guess.

 

Sounds like a miss to me DL... Is it possible your arrow hit something on the way, odd for it to be broken.

 

The arrow was completely clean? Any idea why it was shattered?

 

There weren't any branches in the way of my set up and there were no rocks around, unless the arrow hit one that was buried, but I would think that the broadhead and front of arrow would show some damage if that were the case.

 

Yeah it was completely clean.

 

Sounds like a clean miss to me. Even if it was a bad hit your arrow would have blood or guts on it.

 

Sounds like you shot under her.

What was the action of the deer when you released ? Did she do anything signifying a hit ?

 

I didn't notice as I was trying to follow through with my shot but she bound away with her fawn and her tail up and then snorted 3 times . After that she was gone. this was at last light so it was hard to see.

 

Never known a hit deer to blow. With everything you said I can say you missed.

 

Any hair on the ground?

 

I looked around where the arrow was and didn't see any.

 

Sleep well tonight then. No need to worry. You'll get 'em next time.

 

If she was that close, when she dropped to run, she could have snapped your arrow.

 

Sounds like a clean miss to me.

 

Have you ever practiced shooting at a target from your tree stand? If not...my advice would be to do so. This will help your confidence and also let you know if you are doing something wrong.

 

I have shot from an elevated position of 5 feet, but I rarely practice from the stand. I live in NYC and you're only allowed to shoot a bow within designated archery fields and they don't have trees. I think I might be rushing my shots. I have to slow things down and concentrate more. I know my bow is on. It's just me.

 

DL...sorry to hear of the miss...team 16 is pulling for you!

Confidence is everything after a miss...if I were you, I would pack a target in on your next hunt and shoot a couple arrows from stand - if everything's OK, hide the target at base of your tree until you walk out...the confidence if gives you will = dead deer on your next shot.

Good Luck!

 

Keep your head up, i missed once this year as well and it is frustrating, especially if you know you should have definatly had a clean hit,

but its all part of the game, there is alot of hunting left keep at it!