rybohunter

I think its best that you realized you should stay out of the woods if you can't accurately shoot at this point in time. A person should NEVER release an arrow and hope to hit a deer, they should be practiced and confident enough that when they release they KNOW they will kill the deer.

ostdc

I'm glad I'm not the only one that thinks you have no business being in the woods with a weapon you can't shoot accurately. If your shot was 5 feet above the deer, then you were off target 6 to 7 feet! At a distance of 30 yards?
In my opinion, you have no business being in the woods.

Ken/WV

Seem's like you need to get a newer bow, and practice..practice...practice...practice....then hunt.

JRStrangfeld

It's not like I haven't practiced. I have..a lot. The day before last I was shooting 2-3 inch groups from about 20 yards. I don't know what happened this time but I'm sure it had something to do with me being, nervous, cold, and uncomfortable with my stand and the shooting lanes and the way the deer was moving. I was shaking so bad that I'm sure pins on a sight would have helped a LOT

cardeer

You know what you need to do.Get a bow that is fitted for you and Like you said learn to shoot. You think you feel bad now.Just think how bad you would feel if you would of slop shot one of those deer and never found it. Good luck on your endeavors

JRStrangfeld

That wouldn't have been good.

My aim is perfect horizontally (from left to right) but for some reason when i'm actually shooting from my stand i'm either way high or way low

Stealthycat At Home

How much have you practiced with that old bow ? You say you just aren't a good shot ........... ??????????????

If you're not a good shot DON'T GO HUNTING. Get to shooting good BEFORE you go, not during or after or results will be misses and worse, wounds.

I shoot a trad bow, and actually shot a compound this year. With a compound, theres few excuses for not being able to shoot 4" groups at 30 yards.

Blodg

Thank you rybohunter and ostdc. Those were my thoughts exactly. Even someone who is a crack shot should never shoot at a walking deer at 30 yards. We all owe it to the animals we hunt to do everything we can to make quick, humane kills when we release an arrow.

JRStrangfeld

In practice I am pretty good with the bow. While hunting, it's a totally different story. I am good enough in practice to have confidence but I guess when I went hunting today it was different.

I completely agree that I shouldn't be hunting when I was shooting that bad..that's why I got out of the stand after only 2 hours.

I'll stick with rifle hunting for now.

nubo

JR!

Maybe if you get some time you should try shooting from your stand at a target ,but you need to get your emotion's in check for when your target becomes a deer .As I said before you need to take some deep breath's before you shoot this will help calm the nerve's ,and if you don't feel totally comfortable with the shot then don't take the shot at all .
If the bow make's you uncomfortable ,then by all mean's get a new one with proper sight's and be 100% confident before you hunt with it .I feel your emotion's are getting to you real bad ,just do as I say with your breathing and you'll be fine .
I'm not really surprised with the reaction's that your getting here from the other's about your shooting,because really they're right if your not shooting well then you shouldn't take the chance at injuring an animal.
.A new bow can really help with your confidence,with proper sight's and rest,but you need to feel 100% confident with it before you hunt .I'm not busting your butt I'm just trying to explain where your confidence comes from. As other's have said it's very important to make a clean shot and a humane kill .
I'm sure you'll be fine, take your time and choose the proper equipment and be totally satisfied that it fit's you proper.
Just remember to breath when your shooting and don't react hunt ,be sure the shot is a makeable shot .

Good luck next week let me know how you make out.

nubo

P.S. don't take these comment's personally ,they're just trying to help you understand what archery is all about.