Things do happen in the deer woods....you can practice all year round shooting at bags, blocks, or 3d targets, but it isn't the same as shooting at a living thing. IMO 99% of the "equipment failures" are caused by poor decisions and/or bad shots when buck fever sets in. With this being said, I admit to having had this happen to me more times than I would like to admit.
I would have felt terrible too. Some people grade their actions on a very sharp curve. I am no harder on anyone else than I am on myself. Reading your story, I felt that you were remorseful, that an animal you had shot could possible be wasted was disturbing to you. I think the thing that gets me the most isn't the fact that stuff happens and people miss (we are only human after all), it's that some people aren't bothered by those misses. No matter how much I'd like every hunter to care about those things, I am under no illusion that some just never will. All you can do is live by your beliefs.
What Really Ticks Me Off Were a hunting community and yes we make mistakes and that's what boards like this are for. Were here to pick one another up and help where ever we can to be positive to one another. Sure there are a ton of hunters out there who shouldn't be allowed to hunt. As a society we allow them to pass there tests to become hunters. What we as a board should be doing is in predicaments like this is to ask all the questions needed to help and prepare the said hunter, to better be prepared for the next time out. Being sincere about the help that was just presented to make the said hunter be better prepared for the next time out so he or she is not offended and turned of off the sport of Bow Hunting. To many times I notice this on this board. Just needed to Vent. Rocky
I agree with this assessment mostly. I also feel that many hear buy into the marketing of some of these bigger named companies and feel that once they buy this product or that product, it will be the end all, a crutch so the speak. The Rage issue, for instance is a classic example. However, I never recall the makers of Rage heads say that they are a substitute for bad shot placement. I think I have a pretty level head and admit my screw ups. I've never had a head or other equipment cost me a deer. I've missed my fair share of deer and its never been the bow or other equipment. It's all on me.
As they say, it's not the arrow but the indian. I've taken my fair share of poor shots. I been fortunate to only a lose a small few of animals I've hit, two; however both those had nothing to do with equipment, but my poor choices in shot placement or rushing the shot. Most all equipment these days are capable to getting the job done, its confidence in what you chose and practicing that will make the difference, imo.
It's impossible to say there has never been an equipment failure that resulted in a poor shot or lost animal. However, in most of the cases in question the equipment is not available to examine or the animal was never recovered to determine exactly where that shot was. So, there is no way that the equipment can be blamed without all of the information about the shot. I stay away from those threads anymore as they only end up in finger pointing and hurt feelings.
HuntingBry Someone to whom has a thought that is equal to mine! Finger pointing & hurt feelings is what I'm talking about here. We as a board of hunters with an influence to new comers is so,so building that just a little negativity will send a new hunter packing. Negativity is where we as a board, should start to realize where we need to be as a group of hunting bro's ' n sister's. We should be able to hold our heads high and help in a respective way so as not to offend any individual,new or old hunter. Other wise we'll discourage new hunter's from the great sport we call bow hunting. Rocky
I don't disagree with your position at all, but at the same time if someone comes on this site with a claim that X broadhead cost them their deer, bear, goat, whatever because it failed, but they don't have the equipment and don't have an animal to prove they made a good shot, any questioning that follows is justified. Come fall we'll see those same old threads with the same old claims. Sure the finger pointing and hurt feelings are avoidable, but good luck getting the hunter making the claim to take accountability for their shot. One thing is for sure, you won't see my username in those threads. ;-)
