Slo-Pitch

I was hunting a new spot this afternoon and had a little buck come out. He would have been a small 6 pointer but one of his antlers was broken off. He got to 20 yards dead broadside twice, but I told myself when i left the house that i was just going to shoot a large doe or a buck bigger then one I have killed in the past. (the biggest I have killed is a small 7 pointer) well after I let that one go about 30 mins later this bruiser 8 pointer comes out at about 50 yards, he was making his way to me but also toward the road out of the opening. I stopped him just as he was about to hit the exit road at what I thought was 35 yards. and let the arrow go. it was almost 7 oclock (almost dark) and my first impression was i missed him because I heard the arrow hit the tall grass behind him. But then i thought it could have been a pass through and thats what i heard. waited about 40 mins. and climbed down. couldnt find my arrow (grass about waist high) but I could also find NO blood.

My first reasoning for missing him was becaus I misjudged the distance but the more I think about it the more I realize I rushed the shot. I can hit the dots on my block out to 45 yards but when this beast comes out I can't close the deal. I told myself at the beginning of the season, " no matter what comes out, its just a target, imagine that black dot of the block on the deers vitals no matter how big it is its just a black dot" but when I saw those horns I completley forgot what I had been telling myself for a week.
I guess I will chalk it upas a lesson learned and I guarantee I will remember from now it that "its just a black dot". At least I didn't find any blood. thats a relief.

This is the biggest deer I have ever shot at with shotgun, muzzleloader anything.

I think Iam gonna be sick.

jmbuckhunter

If I were you I would go back there in the morning and look for the arrow in the daylight. Then check the area for blood or any sign of a hit. You might have missed something in the dark if it was around 7:00PM. You just may have hit him anyway. Most peoples max range in a hunting situation is less than it would be at the range or in the back yard. Just because of nerves or less than perfect body position while in a stand. Something to keep in mind on long shots.

txjourneyman

Are you certain? You said it was getting towards dark. The doe I shot yesterday went quite a ways before I found any blood. Did you search with a lantern? Are you going back out at first light to search more? Try to find your arrow in the AM and confirm a miss or verify a hit and start trailing.

Slo-Pitch

Yeah I am meeting my buddy back there in the AM. I am determined to find that arrown if nothing else just to verify for myself that I did not hit that deer.

txjourneyman

Glad to hear it. I hope you find both your arrow and your buck!

DROCK

yeah i agree with the other guys...make for certain that you didn't hit him. And if it was a clean miss....well it happens to the best of us...you have to bear down and learn from your mistakes

GregH

No matter what, get back in the saddle and go for it. Most people have had this happen. I have. Lesson... Pick a small spot on the buck that you want to hit and focus your attention entirely on that spot until the shot is over. Just like it's a spot on one of your targets. This way you'll get those big antlers out of sight and mind until the shot is complete. Then you start to lose it as you walk up to your trophy. Good luck

Slo-Pitch

Clean arrow recovered....