Another miss. Input welcomed.

[Ben M.]

#3306

I’m upset. (I’m rarely upset.)

I missed a deer tonight…again!

I’m pretty new to archery…but I’m pretty sharp with my bow. I’ve killed bullfrogs from under 5 yards and squirrels from over 20 yards. I hit pigeons in the neck to preserve the meat.

It’s just…it’s just those deer! They get close to me and…whew…I lose control. Shaky arms, belly quivers, quaking eyes.

Before this fall I’d never heard a deer suck water through her teeth, never seen her eyelashes bat. Last week I heard a buck breathing…as I drew a razor sharp arrow on him.

It’s not excitement. Red breasted nuthatches and brown creepers excite me, but they don’t make my hands quake.

In part it’s the knowledge. I know what’s about to happen–the arrow building, the thousands of shots, the shiny edges of that broadhead at the end of my arm–and he, the deer, has no idea what’s coming. Before the arrow is straightened, the point sharpened, the string drawn…before I walk into the woods, I know I am the deer. Deer flesh into my flesh, arrow against cheek, finger on string…this is real…

The arrow eats dirt. And I’m left to wonder what’s missing.

-Ben

[Stephen Graf]

#18667

I have no advice for you, but it sounds like you are having a fun season!

All I can say is keep at it. Anyone who can shoot a pigeon in the neck doesn’t have any real problems – except maybe the common hunters malady of exaggerating a wee bit.

[Roger Norris]

#18797

If you are close enough to see thier eyes bat….you are doing it right. Learn to control the rush. It can only happen through experience.

If you don’t get the rush….quit doing it. 😀

[CareyE]

#18918

Roger Norris wrote: If you are close enough to see thier eyes bat….you are doing it right. Learn to control the rush. It can only happen through experience.

If you don’t get the rush….quit doing it. 😀

I second Roger’s advice. I experienced the same with the one I’m pictured with this year. When the knees started to shake, I remembered to bend them and focused on the spot and then released. It will come Brother, enjoy the ride!

[Dan Sweeney]

#19172

Pretty much the same thing. The first one of the season still gets me a little shaky. The longer you have to see it developing, the more it’s likely to happen. Keep working at it and try to stay calm. This is all part of the if not the main point of hunting the hard way.

[paleoman]

#19320

Don’ t over analyze or over think it. Just keep at it. There should be a deer hunting counselor on staff for us poor suffering beesturds that have to contend with misses. At least you hit dirt.

[Ben M.]

#19485

Steve Graf wrote: Anyone who can shoot a pigeon in the neck doesn’t have any real problems – except maybe the common hunters malady of exaggerating a wee bit.

A malady? I thought it was a time-honored tradition! 😆 I had quite a lot of gin last night…guess I didn’t realize how I was coming across. Sorry ’bout that. 😳 Of course I try to shoot to save the meat, but obviously that’s not always possible. And I’ve missed more small game than I’ve hit.

I was pretty frustrated with myself after missing my fourth deer last night. You guys who can stay in control in the moment of the shot are impressive. I didn’t see this intense buck fever coming, it took me completely by surprise. Controlling it is an aspect of archery that I didn’t realize I’d have to learn. Hunting with a rifle is a far cry from traditional bowhunting!

[Stumpkiller]

#19500

Had a friend with the same condition. Targets – he was great. Up close to a deer – he fell apart.

Thay are not supernatural or undefeatable. Be calm and be confident.

You have to get used to being around deer. Some of the calming exercises (breath exercises) used in martial arts may help. As does wildlife photogtaphy and roving/small game hunting with the bow. I still get a tad shaky with the first deer opportunity of the year. It’s an exciting thing having the power of life or death over something that outweighs you! You should be energized. But you have to get steady and get control for the shot.

Pick a spot. Pick a spot. Pick a spot. Practice on 3-D (or stuffed deer bag targets) so you’re used to their outline and where to focus for a heart shot.

[wildschwein]

#20169

I know how you feel Prowler. I haven’t had much luck with Deer this year, just scared a Mulie Doe by sending an arrow over her back.

Like you I kill loads of small game. Birds, Squirrels and Rabbits are no problem. But when a Deer walks into range I fall apart. The only Deer I have killed with a bow was shot on the move and didn’t give me a chance to think, while I have missed 6 standing Deer in the last 4 years.

I don’t know the answer other than to keep trying. Its what I’m trying to do.

[Etter1]

#20238

I can’t give you any advice either. I am bad about rushing shots sometimes but I started hunting with a recurve two years ago and it just feels so much more natural to me. It’s easier, to me, than when I compound hunted. I guess it just feels right. I no longer think about anything, just focus on that spot. I also, when possible, do not stand up to shoot. I don’t know why but I shoot better sitting, and so, set my stands up for seated shots.

To be honest, the exhiliration you are feeling is worth the hunt itself. I still get broken up pretty bad sometimes and those are the hunts I remember the most. Congratulations on enjoying the woods and “getting it”.

[William Warren]

#20363

Theres some good advice here by some experience hunters. I too have had buck fever but you can overcome it and it takes practice so that should be good, you’ll get to hunt alot right?

I’m a beleiver that what you are saying to your self in your “self talk” has an impact on your body whether you know it or not. Its a proven fact that negative self talk can cause your body to react negatively. Your body does not know the difference so it reacts if you are having anxious thoughts or are saying anxious things to your self leading up to the shot. Sort of like a flight or fight reaction, quick breathing, rapid heartbeat, extreme tension,etc.

I’m not saying you need to be Norman Vincent Peale or anything you just need a positive routine in your self talk and thoughts that you can rely on during that period.

Pick a spot, over and over is part of many hunters positive self talk. I talk myself through it in a positive way, telling myself what to do as it unfolds. Then the shakes happen after. 😀

[bamboo]

#21141

Prairie Prowler wrote:

In part it’s the knowledge. I know what’s about to happen–the arrow building, the thousands of shots, the shiny edges of that broadhead at the end of my arm–and he, the deer, has no idea what’s coming. Before the arrow is straightened, the point sharpened, the string drawn…before I walk into the woods, I know I am the deer. Deer flesh into my flesh, arrow against cheek, finger on string…this is real…

The arrow eats dirt. And I’m left to wonder what’s missing.

-Ben

yep-over thinking has missed lots of game!!

and i don’t know anyone who has not done it–and if they say they have never been rattled don’t beleive it!!

my advice is to think only about the task at hand[putting an arrow through the deer]–not what has happened in the past or will in the future–you can make the shot-you have proven that–don’t rush-don’t second guess—oh and have fun and good luck!!!

————————-mike

[David Coulter]

#21461

Sounds like you’re having a blast. I have no idea what you’re up to when you miss the deer, but I think I know what I was doing my first year when I missed three. Always about a foot and a half to the left. I’m pretty sure I was lifting my head at the shot. I just had to practice keeping my chin tucked and it helps me a lot.

Also, I was shooting my broadheads differently. I didn’t have the confidence in them the same way I did with judos or field tips. For some reason I was expecting them to fly different so they would. I decided I just needed to practice more with broadheads to get it out of my system. It helped.

Good luck. Keep at it and it’ll work. dwc

[Ben M.]

#21628

Thanks for taking the time to talk about this, guys. It really means a lot to me. And…thanks for not roasting me after my first post. I really didn’t realize I was coming off as such a braggart.

And ya know, I really AM having a blast! I’ve lived here all my life, learned so much from this land. Feels good to realize I have so much more to learn, and it has so much more to teach me.

Thanks,

Ben

[bruc]

#21990

I’m glad you started this thread as it generated a lot of remedies for an age old problem. That being “missing” I’ve hunted for 45 years and still have a problem with rushing the shot. I get this feeling that the animal is going to magically disappear or move and I rush the shot. I have developed some little controls that help.

There is nothing wrong with having a few jins:wink: and you did not come across as a braggart.

Bruce

[Ripforce]

#22528

The nice thing about Trad bow hunting is that I learn something new about deer with every encounter I have with them! Where I hunt is kind of thick so the deer have be real close or right in my shooting lanes! so lot of times I have deer around me and never get a shot opportunity, I hunt from natural ground blinds, but I study their actions, how they react to noise, the wind, movement and how they all interact especially the doe groups! By doing this I learned to be more relaxed with deer around me now, and every year I become a better hunter! Just having the shot opportunities you got I would say you have been successful already! Even if everything is right does not mean you will connect,lots of variables at work, if was easy there wouldn’t be a need for compound bows, crossbows and firearms, every one would do it! I have shot lots of deer w a firearm but it wasn’t a challenge and I lost interest! But with my longbow even if I do not get a deer I can’t wait to get back in the woods! Thats what seperates the Trad bow hunter from the rest of the hunting world, I have guys ask me all time how do you hunt with that bow all the time? I just smile, they wouldn’t understand if I told them! Good luck!

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