A Good Year!

[Silverbulletbandit]

Well lets start at the begining, October 1st in Branch County. Hadnt seen anything in the morning hunt and was beginning to think that it was going to be a wash out. I had one day to hunt this area and the time was ticking away fast. As the sun died behind the horizon there was that erie silence as I watched a family of racoons cross in front me heading into the cornfield. I decided I might as well stand up one last time to look behind me before it got too dark and I couldn't see at all. As I was about to stand I looked down between my arm and my body and there looking right up at me is a nice 16-20" 8pt. He jumps about 5 feet and then stops. Im thinking it's over and he's going to bolt but he calmly walks around me in a 20ft radius and never even made eye contact with me again. I made my way to my feet and grabbed my bow from the holder...waited for the right tree and drew back my bow. He is now broadside at 20 yds so I stopped him, picked my pin and shot. He tucks tail and runs away. I shot right over his back.....man what a hunt. Thats how my year started October 1st opening night. Three weeks later I would have encounter with a six point that made his way into the back of my truck and about 10 minuets an 8pt that was bigger than the first, I missed him to no avail. Opening day of gun was a shorter story with the buck coming right under the tree almost and shooting a nice 7 pt. with no tracking job what so ever. I was happy to say the least . Thats my year and definately proud of it.

[dsmithgall]

sounds like you should practice a little......Good job on the bucks....

[flyrod4steelhead]

Sounds like you have a good year Ethan. I know that missing a deer sucks, and is heartbreaking, as I missed a couple this year as well along with a couple other misfortune shots that I had :mad: Just the one deer for me so far this year, but the year isn't over for some of us.

As for "sounds like you should practice more".........Everyone misses every now and then. Even the pros miss a deer from time to time. Yes alot of it is human error, but deer jump/duck you arrow from the sound of your bow. There is nothing that can be done when the arrow leaves the string. I don't care if you shoot every single day, you are bound to miss a deer every once in a while. And if you tell me that you have never missed a deer, I am going to have a hard time beleiving that..........

[dsmithgall]

I wasn't saying it as a slam, sorry if it was understood that way... Like I said before, congrats on the bucks.

[Silverbulletbandit]

dsmithgall.......I shoot all year long including during the winter. I practice and practice all year long. The first 8pt i missed I later found that my sight which I had bumped earlier in the morning hunt was off by a 1/4". That was definately the problem. On the second 8pt., he ducked my arrow to the point that his belly actaully made an indentation in the ground. He ducked my arrow by at least 6-8". I shoot enough that I know I going to miss a few times a year. Even shooting outdoors and indoors your not going to be perfect. Even the pros miss they just dont show you those shows on tv. I dont take offense to people telling me to practice , but if you knew me than you would know I shoot more than most people ever think of shooting in fact I have a new Hoyt (2005) and have put 2 strings on it already. Enough said ...All I know is it was a good year!

[dsmithgall]

well you just found your problem, you shoot a hoyt... :) , try a mathews.. Just kidding...wasn't a slam, just some good humor.....Like I said, great season...

[Silverbulletbandit]

matthews cost too much money and I got a deal of the century on mine so we are sticking with the Hoyt. Shoots just as good as any Matthews any day:)

[FMJ]

Missing is part of hunting.....but hell, just SEEING deer is a great thing....then actually getting a shot is even better. Congrats.....you have venison in the freezer and THATS what its all about.

[flyrod4steelhead]

dsmith-

I guess I took it as a slam. That was the way that I read it. My bad :)