Schobs

This might get a little long winded, and I appologize in advance, but that's just how I get when I'm talking about deer hunting. I came home from college today and got to my stand a little after 4:30 pm, strong south wind, standing on a platform my dad and I built a few years ago overlooking a small food plot we planted at the same time and havent had anything to do with since. I had that feeling driving out there that it was going to be a good sit, even though I only had a little over an hour and a half until dark. About 5:15 I catch movement to my left and get my bow up and ready. Out of the woods steps a pile of antlers on top of a bruin of a deer. Of course the first thing I saw was the antlers, and I was instantly overcome w/ buck fever. I tried taking some deep breaths and it helped a little. The buck came into the food plot, about 15-17 yards away, just munching on whatever small plants were still growing in there. He was facing me and had no idea I was up in that tree, thanks to him being upwind and my MO Treestand camo. He looked to be a 6X4, a crab claw on the left and a split brow on the right, about 17" wide, so I figure about 130-135". He finally got broadside and looked away so I drew back and in the time it took me to draw he took a couple more steps and got to about 24 yards and was quartering away. I took the shot and saw him duck a little bit and then he took off, tail down. I waited a few minutes and got down to check my shot. Clean arrow, no hair at the point of impact, and no blood down the first 20 yards of the trail. Seems like a clean miss to me. So now what? I'm hunting a 33 acre parcel, 1/3 of which is my aunt's yard, so really about 25 acres of woods, with 2 stands, none mobile. I can hunt tomorrow and sunday morning, as well as saturday afternoon/evening. The buck didn't seem too spooked, so what would you do in my shoes, besides kick yourself for missing the biggest buck you had ever seen in the wild, gun or bow. Thanks for letting me vent a little. It was still one of my most memorable hunts to date, and I'm sure that buck will haunt me for years and years to come.

rh160kid

you dont have many options since your stands are not mobile. keep hunting and hope he wasnt spooked too bad and comes back. I would sit the other stand on the property next and see if hes over there. He may shy away from the other spot you shot at him from for a while if he was spooked. And btw-next time dont stare at his rack and score him before you shoot!! Stare at something else-it will help keep you not so nervous. You will have plenty of time to score and admire him if hes on the ground.

*twodogs*

Why did you get down so soon, was it dark or were you just eager to check your arrow? I would have sat until dark or until I know he was long gone. I have a few that go 40-50 yrds away and then reassess the situation by looking back when I missed. You may have spooked him getting down so soon and getting out in that field. Was he trotting or did he have the after burners on?

bigbulls

I agree with twodogs, you probably spooked him more by getting out of the tree and walking in his direction instead of just sitting there. Next time look at your arrow with binoculars and if if there isn't any blood on the arrow stay in the dang tree. Deer hear crap falling in the woods all the time and if a human being doesn't start walking around in the woods after a miss then they usually don't know any more than they did before you shot. All they know is there was a noise and they hear noises all the time.

Schobs

I was eager partly because I wanted to know, and I knew I still had almost an hour of shooting light left, so if it was a clean miss I could let another arrow fly at a buck if the opportunity presented itself. He wasn't quite full blast, but a bit more than a trot. I did wait about 10 min to check the arrow, but in hindsight probably should have waited longer, maybe even til after dark, but if it was a good hit I would have rather been tracking him w/ some day light if possible.

MATHEWS PA BOWHUNTER

P A S S


PICK

A

SPOT

STUPID

i have this on my Bow "PASS"


DONT LOOK AT THE ANTLERS

*twodogs*

What's done is done, don't beat yourself up. Glass the arrow for blood but stay in that tree after a shot. Try the other stand tomorrow, it will be fresher than the one you were in. Good luck and don't worry about it, everyone misses, if we didn't then it wouldn't be as much fun.

JakeInMa

I've shot and missed at deer before only to have them run off a short distance and stop in some cover. I've been able to use a grunt call and call them back in for a 2nd shot on more than one occasion.