Opinons on Misses While Hunting

[Steve Sr.]

#3327

Missing……aka, not putting the arra’ where we thought it was going is our shared “cross” that we all succumb to, sooner or later.

While no one really LIKES talking about past misses at game animals learning from mistakes is a great teacher.

Ever take a look back at misses over the years? Odds are that something may rear it’s ugly, unwanted, head repeatedly on at least a few recollections.

The reasons we miss are, of course, many in number yet I’m betting some of us share similar “oops” situations that will be a subject of discussion.

Who knows? Maybe we can even help others (and ourselves) to NOT do so out amongst em this and future years as well.

I’d be interested in hearing from you all on your opinions of missed shots that repeated themselves again at a later time.

For myself, I KNOW, if I am going to miss…..it will be HIGH. In pushing 40 years I have missed a grand total of ONE shooting low attempting a “twist to the FAR right and try to hit full draw” shot.

Any takers?

God Bless

[Bruce Smithhammer]

#18686

Steeper-angle uphill shots are always a tough one for me.

[jaytbuzzard]

#18910

Being new to the hunting world, I’ve missed three times. Two high and one low. I think my biggest problem is not picking a spot. I guess I get so worked up about a deer being at that point where I could actually take a shot is that I forget the basics. That’s’ why when I was about to take the shot at my doe two weeks ago, I was practically screaming at myself to “PICK A SPOT!!!!!” and “AIM SMALL, MISS SMALL!!!!!” I guess it worked because the arrow went exactly where I wanted it to go. It was great.

[kellydockter]

#19829

twisting – picking a spot – steep up or down – out of range are all good but what about being too close. try that one and you’ll really kick yourself.

[David Coulter]

#20019

I’ve had nothing but misses so far. Fortunately, I’m new at this, but the misses are all fresh in my mind. Last year I was lucky enough to have three fine opportunities and sent arrows consistently about a foot and a half left of my mark. I’d shoot that same arrow into the foam block back at the house and bingo, right in.
I’ve been shooting every day with few exceptions and often twice a day, stumping while walking the pup. I’m hoping not to make the same mistake, whatever that same mistake was. dwc

[Steve Sr.]

#21517

A buddy had left misses on game and , at least for him, it was purely an anchor problem.

He figured out that he wasnt anchoring as solid INTO his face on hunting shots as he did on targets when form was concentrated on.

With his anchoring hand further out from his face (right handed shooter) the arrow was simply “pointed left” compared to his normal anchor and easily done in a faster shot situation.

A little more time to hunt a couple days. Wish me luck.

Hoping all dont have more posts here concerning misses in the field this year. I find the info interesting and agree “not picking a spot” is the main culprit for most but Id rather look at hero photos!

God Bless

Steve Sr.

[David Coulter]

#21539

Hi Steve,
Thanks for the tip. I’m sure it’s a form issue as the misses were as consistent as as the target hits. Much appreciated. Good luck this year!
I’ve only been able to get out a few times this year. No shots. Yet…

[recurve man 91]

#21629

my worse miss was on my first deer, i had around a 15 yard shot on a broadside doe. when right over the deers vitals, but i think my main problem was i never picked a spot and was using a to heavy bow weight for me at the time.

[qsmith]

#21716

Went out for my first hunt with my new Bear Grizzly recurve last weekend. I was looking for deer and fall turkey but happened to have a coyote come right in front of me at 30 yards. I couldn’t believe it! I gave him a quick mouth squeak and he ran right to me, and stopped dead on in front of me at 5 yards! At that close he could see me and knew I wasn’t supposed to be there so he turned to his right and started walking away. I drew, and let loose, only for my arrow to fly barely over him.

Looking back and re-living the moment, I tried to find an explanation to why I had missed at such a close distance. My thought was that I was sitting down on the ground with my feet out in front of me when I shot. I had never practiced this shot before. My heart was beating a million miles an hour.

To try and correct this I will practice more, “hunting situation” type shots. As for the heart beating a million miles an hour, if that feeling ever goes away then I probably shouldn’t be hunting anymore.

[paleoman]

#28832

Mine go LOW! “UGGGHHH!” says Charlie Brown. I have missed a few shots in the last couple years at a couple very nice bucks. They go a whisker low and I could cry every time. Maybe I’m overcompensating for the tree stand shot, but I think I have issues locking onto a spot – I’m actually sure that’s the problem. I’ve actually shot a number of deer with my old compound but had my issues with that for the same reason. I’m really in the dumps lately on overcoming this.

[snafu72]

#29135

i have Never had a clear shot on big game [with a bow] cows in the way of bulls or just out of range

but i have missed small game almost always abit to high

[Mark Turton]

#29204

Like Paleoman I shoot low but in my case I know why, years of target pistol shooting. My practice targets now consist of a blank backstop with the smallest aiming point I can clearly see at the distance I’m shooting from.

I also practice coming to full draw and then back down so that if my attention is taken at the critical moment I don’t take a shot that I’m not comfortable with, well that’s the theory, we’ll see in January when the adrenalin running on the afternoon of the last day.

[SteveMcD]

#32735

I would be lying if I said I never made a bad shot. Because, I have. anyone who hasn’t, hasn’t hunted long enough. I think over time experience builds confidence, For me it had always been rushing the shot. Take your time, once you move the animal is likely going to see it anyway. Just take the shot. Establish a mantra, it applies to hunting as much as any form of target shooting. Over time it is your foundation. To quote a phrase from Reg Darling, “I have taken few shots that I have regretted. But, I have never regretted not taking a shot.”. Then on the other hand… if you’re waiting for a perfect shot all the time… get use to an empty freezer. What goes on in the woods, stays in the woods!

[Steve Sr.]

#33063

I know this much:

If it weren’t for the misses in my life…….I wouldnt appreciate the shots I connect on near as much.

How’s THAT for classic “Sour Grapes” LOL

Added to my “memory of misses” this morning…dag nab, rotten, stinking, NO GOOD branch, anyway.

God Bless

[LimbLover]

#34167

I tend to miss high as well. Every deer I’ve missed has been high. I’ve missed two this year. Both of them were downhill. This is apparently something I need to work on. Especially if I hunt ridges and what not.

[David Petersen]

#34486

For the answer to why some folks can consistently shoot well in practice, yet consistently miss when hunting, we need look no farther than to the sister thread “I got the shakes.” Of course it’s not necessary to actually be shaking. Rather, we “get shaken” and lose our composure and concentration. I personally believe the most common reason for this form of buck fever is fear, either conscious or subconscious, that if we don’t shoot “right now” the animal will disappear and we’ll have missed the opportunity and we won’t see any more game and hate ourselves forever for being “over cautious.” I know that’s been my problem when I’ve done a post-mortem on my own hunting misses. And it’s a tough one to overcome because sometimes it’s true that it will be your only chance that day. Bottom line is that it’s loss of concentration and form due to extreme pressure, most or all of which we put on ourselves, leading to rushed shots. I agree with suggestions above to practice on blank targets, picking a different spot each time. And I believe in doing all we can to run through a last-moment mental checklist of the basics before releasing: full draw, solid anchor, pick a spot, follow through. The other primary reason for missing is taking shots too far. No comment.In any event I’ll leave it to you guys to find cures for all the trad bowhunting world’s problems while I’m away for a week — gone whitetail hunting!

[rnorris]

#34510

I’m 48, have bowhunted all my life, and used a compound for 3 years in my early 20’s. I missed more deer with a compound than I have with traditional gear.

That said, I have made some SPECTACULAR misses, and over time I have found a link….if in my mind, I have already killed this deer, and I’m thinking about the rack, and how much fun it’s going to be to show LaClair, my Dad, etc……..I WILL MISS. EVERYTIME.

So now I have a different attitude. I quit caring if I kill the deer. I quit thinking about it, and just hold out for that perfect slam dunk shot. And now I rarely miss.

I had one coming in tonight…a great little buck for the area I was hunting. I felt that old “can’t wait to show my Dad” feeling creeping over me….and I made myself STOP thinking that way. He was a dead buck….except the wind shifted

[bruc]

#34523

Dave Petersons suggestion, that, where we get a fear that we have to rush because the animal is going to ” magically” disappear pretty much sums it up for me !!
I saw on another thread where someone said I was “screaming at myself to pick a spot” I think that might be a useful tool at “Crunch Time”
Bruce

[trl242]

#43796

David Petersen wrote: For the answer to why some folks can consistently shoot well in practice, yet consistently miss when hunting, we need look no farther than to the sister thread “I got the shakes.” Of course it’s not necessary to actually be shaking. Rather, we “get shaken” and lose our composure and concentration. I personally believe the most common reason for this form of buck fever is fear, either conscious or subconscious, that if we don’t shoot “right now” the animal will disappear and we’ll have missed the opportunity and we won’t see any more game and hate ourselves forever for being “over cautious.” I know that’s been my problem when I’ve done a post-mortem on my own hunting misses. And it’s a tough one to overcome because sometimes it’s true that it will be your only chance that day. Bottom line is that it’s loss of concentration and form due to extreme pressure, most or all of which we put on ourselves, leading to rushed shots. I agree with suggestions above to practice on blank targets, picking a different spot each time. And I believe in doing all we can to run through a last-moment mental checklist of the basics before releasing: full draw, solid anchor, pick a spot, follow through. The other primary reason for missing is taking shots too far. No comment.In any event I’ll leave it to you guys to find cures for all the trad bowhunting world’s problems while I’m away for a week — gone whitetail hunting!

Exactly. The only way I make a good shot is if I tell myself I don’t really care if I hit the deer or not and in fact, may not even shoot this one. I tell myself I’m just practicing drawing on one and once I get to full draw then I think, “Oh, why not release the arrow?”. If I start thinking about how badly I want it, will it walk away in a minute, will there be more behind it, I miss every time. I think the key is to find some way to make yourself feel like you are in control. If you draw and the deer runs or if you don’t draw at all and it walks off, you tell yoursef “I wouldn’t have shot that one anyway, it was just going to be a practice draw”.

[William Warren]

#44348

It is natural for us to believe that fear of one sort or another is the cause. Will I make a bad shot? Will I miss my chance? And this list goes on.

I can only speak for myself, but I’d like to introduce another possible reason for this anxiety.

After much self examination it boils down to this.

Acceptance of the deer’s death due to my action. Without acceptance of causing the deer’s death, we become unwitting victims of our sub-concious and miss.

Duncan

[woodsman84]

#45466

For me, nervousness and lighting have always been the issue. Because you know deer always start moving right before dark and it’s hard to not shoot when looking down your arrow at a nice buck.

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