Not even sure why I'm posting, other than I still consider it a great night on stand. Saw 7 deer, 4 were bucks. Nothing huge, but nonetheless. Had a nice mature doe come out (she was being harassed by two of the bucks), ~25yds, chip shot, and I flat out missed high. I don't even know what I did, but obviously something wrong. I'm still steaming. I don't know how I can blow such an "easy" shot. I'm really starting to question my abilities here Only good news is she jumped, and continued feeding. None of the other deer even knew what was going on. Since I've never experienced a clean miss (unfortunately I did flesh wound a doe three years ago), what kind of time frame do you give an area until you return?
Hell, 2 weeks ago I missed a nice buck, shot a doe out of the same tree the very next day! Good luck brother!
Happens to the best of us! If it was easy then the reward wouldn't be so great. Good luck next time, hopefully you get a shot on a nice buck!
Matt, I think you are too hard on yourself. Best thing to do is get back on the horse. I know it's supposed to be raining tomorrow, but I expect to text you and find you in a tree after work. Like I told you. Last year out of a set that is no longer hung, I thought to myself the deer are going to come right there. I ranged it at 27 yards and thought, "yeah that works." Sure enough they did and I missed. Good luck buddy.
Yep, rain in the forecast tomorrow, but I'll be out. The wind is even better tomorrow for that stand than it was today. I guess I'll try it again. Thanks, guys, I know it can be part of hunting, but you practice all year long, think you've got your shots down, know your effective range, and then you just completely blow it. Live and learn, though, right?
That makes two of us that missed a doe tonight. It was my first time to take a shot at a deer before and it went a little high over her back and into the dirt.
Stuff happens Matt. Remember, I missed my 04 buck at 16 yards and then again at 25 yards back to back only to call him back and 12 ring him at 41 yards. Stuff happens. Like RJ said, tomorrow if it's a good spot and the wind is right. You said she went back to feeding, it's not like you blew her out. Great experience.
That's a bummer, Matt. But like most have said, get back out there. My dad and my cousin each killed a 10 pointer on the same day. . . from the same tree! about 3 hours apart. If the spot is hot and the wind is right, I'd get right back into that stand.
Hell........2x years ago I missed one clean at 10 yards. She was huge too, not exactly a small target. My wife was in the blind with me to witness it too......lol. I still haven't heard the end of that yet. :p
Better a clean miss than a wound buddy. You've practice enough, you'll be fine! As for the rain... yeah I'll be in it as well.
it happens, plain and simple, best of luck on the next one, I started my opening day off this year with a big whiff, same shot as yours pretty much, 26 yards shot right over him, my buck tensed up when I drew, I believe he gathered and ducked a bit when i tripped teh release
