Bowhunting (Frustrating / Addicting)

deadI · Aug 28, 2006

PART 1

So this year was my 2nd time bowhunting. To make a long story short. On the second day of the hunt. I was able to put a stalk on a good 22"-24" 4 point. I got around the tree I was using for cover, and ranged him at 41 yards. I thought sweet, cliped my release in, and was just geting ready to draw when he turned and went strait away from me. I thought he went about another 10 yards, he wasn't very nervouse so I decided to try and close the distance back to at least 40.

Well he started to get nervous, so I decided to try the shot. I put my 50 yard pin on him ( thought he was about 50 ) and let the arrow fly, next thing I see is space between my arrow and his back. Dirt flying behind him, that did it, he wasn't going to stick around after that. I barried that arrow ( gold tip expiditions and wac'em 100grn broadheads) approx 14" into the hill side. A complete miss.

Jared
aka: DeadI

deadI · Aug 28, 2006

PART 2

Well last night I decide to get the bow out and do a little target practice. I was standing at 50 yds, I thought to myself, man that deer did not seem this far away. So I moved forward to about where I thougth I was away from him, and used my 50yd pin. Same result If I was to put an average size deer on the target I would have just barley missed him. s.o.b. I thought, pulled out my rangefinder 35 DAMN YARDS. I was aproximatly 35 yards from that buck. I miss judged him bad. Talk about frustration, It really did look farther away when I shot him. Oh well. It will be a shot I will remember for the rest of my life. Talk about addicting. Can't wait till I am able to conect on my first bow kill.

Jared
aka: DeadI

Lien2 · Aug 29, 2006

Good story. Next time carry your rangfinder while you are out hunting.

Hope you get him, good luck.

Lien2

cobowhunter · Aug 29, 2006

Jared,

I feel your pain. I never had that problem hunting from a tree stand back east, because I had distance markers on all my trails. The first deer I shot at in CO I estimated at 40 yards, so I put the 40 yard pin a little high behind the shoulder - just in case he's a little farther - and the arrow sails right over his back. I pace off the distance and wouldn't you know it, he was only 28 yards away. Now I carry a range finder. I shot a lot of 3D this year and that really helps on range estimation.

You're right about this being addicting. I got my first shot at a bull last year and even though I missed, it was the most thrilling hunt I've experienced. I'm heading up in 2 days for another elk hunt and all I can think about is releasing a well placed shot right in the boiler. Good luck on your future hunts.

Mark

Idahoelk · Aug 29, 2006

you said you ranged him in your first post at 41 yards ,then he moved about ten more yards away before the shot. Was he by chance downhill? I ask cause if he has downhill that would also explain the high miss. Down hill shots usually require you to knock off some yardage depending on the degee of slope. If you had used your 40 yard pin for example you may have drilled him.

deadI · Aug 29, 2006

It was actualy a really slight up hill shot. Maybe 10-15 degrees. I had my rangefinder, the first time I ranged him at 41, I thought he then moved away from me farther then he actualy did, my only took about 2 steps. I thought he went about 10 more yards. Hell I had so much racing through my mind.

If I would have had more time I would have ranged him again but the stinking 2pt he was with was getting nervous So decided to shoot, thinking he was at about 50. When actualy he was at about 35. If I would have used my 30yd pin I figure I would have drilled him. Ohwell like I said "Addicting"

Jared
aka: DeadI

Deerlove · Aug 29, 2006

I had a chance last weekend with my boy in my back pocket. I didnt think I had time to range him only to shoot over its back. Russ

lone_hunter · Aug 29, 2006

I have had several of those experiences over the years. I still replay several even years later. What I would give to have a second chance. But, that is the great thing with archery almost always one chance, no cranking another one in the chamber at shooting at 300 yards. It is addicting!!

One time my brother walked up to a guy in a sporting goods store who was obviously looking at buying a bow for the first time. He told him with a straight face "don't do it, it will become you addiction, take all your money and time, your wife and kids will hate you for it". (then he advised him to go to a pro shop where he could get the right advice).

Kirby · Aug 29, 2006

When I was 18 I missed a nice 165-170 4x4 by doing the same thing. Figured he was 30, then second guessed myself to 40 yards, arrow went right over his back.

Next year I had a 160" buck bust me as I was drawing back, then the next week had him bust me again when my arrow fell off the rest.

Next year I had another 4 point bust me as I was drawing(I think he heard my arrow on my rest).

But when it all comes together, its just sooooo sweet.

Kirby

When in doubt, floor it.

Diplomacy is the art of saying "nice doggy" until you find a big stick.

ismith · Aug 29, 2006

I did something similar with antelope last week. It sure is frustrating to miss an antelope buck after putting all the time and effort to get in range. Things finally came together though Sunday and I was able to arrow a 12 incher at 40 yards. Didnt have time to range him, but he sure looked like 40 so thats the pin I used. Archery IS VERRY addicting!

AWHOLELOTTABULL · Aug 30, 2006

Jared,
Anybody who has bowhunted and reads this post will feel your pain. It has happened to all of us. Fortunately the rangefinder has eliminated a lot of the distance misjudgement but that all depends on if you have time to range them. Good luck. You should have another opportunity. There are those bucks that are still on strawberry ridge to the east of where you and your dad went in that day. I saw them yesterday. I'm guessing that the one buck will be somewhere in the 180 class.

www.awholelottabull.com