Show me a bowhunter that enjoys missing and I’ll show you a liar. Especially after so much effort, it is crushing to watch your arrow sail harmlessly passed an animal. It’s damn near debilitating mentally. While there is no shortage of suck that comes from missing, I will say that there is a lot to gain.
This past early season in the high country was one that I won’t soon forget. I’m a guy that prides himself on his shooting ability. And while I’m no professional archer, I do consider myself to be a good shot and a dedicated one too. So, when I miss, it really hurts. And I did plenty of that this past August/September of 2023.
The first miss was at a mule deer buck 60 yards beneath me on a 25-degree angle. Heavy winds beat any confidence in aiming down to the ground. I couldn’t hold steady. With that said, the buck was staring at me. So, had I let down, like I would have preferred to do, the deer would have run out of my life. So, instead, I opted to force the situation, break the shot, and watch the deer run out of my life like that. My arrow lay in the dirt clean as can be.
Next in my missing streak was a great buck bedded on a spine with sparse timber. My camera guy and I snuck into what I now know was 41 yards. Remember that. After 2 hours of getting cooked by the sun overhead, feet burning as we stood in our socks, the buck stood. Before this, I had ranged a tree that it looked like the deer was bedded under. 50 yards is what I was picking up. Upon the buck standing up, my initial reaction was, “Wow he looks closer than 50 yards.” However, I had that 50 yards stuck in my head. With the buck looking at us, I aimed for 50 and made a fantastic shot…right into that tree. The buck ran unscathed.
Lastly, after the duration of most of my time in Colorado, I spotted a few bucks beneath our glassing spot. I snuck down and confirmed that there was a deer in the group that I’d like to go after. 3 bucks lay in their beds with the one I wanted to pursue at 93 yards. And just as I was trying to come up with a plan to get closer, the wind alerted the bucks to our presence. In a “now or never” moment, I pulled back and tried to settle in. That ended with the buck missing a few hairs off the top of his back. A far shot, yes. But, one I’ve successfully made at animals more than a few times.
After all of that, I may not have walked away with a mule deer buck, but I did walk away with a few great takeaways.
One, you never know what hand you’re going to be dealt on hunts. There might be crazy winds, day hikers messing up your approach, a fox that busts the deer for you, or maybe you’re just nervous. I’ve experienced all of those and fell victim to them. So, I need to have confidence but also know that I don’t have it all sewn up. Other variables can have an effect on how good of a shot I think I might be.
Two, I need to have an accurate range. In the case of the first, and second buck especially, I didn’t have an accurate range. Having an accurate range is huge and in steep country it’s an even bigger deal. This 100% cost me the second buck. The first buck though, something else was at play.
Along with the wind, on the first buck, there was something else that I found out that contributed to the issue. My sight rail was actually crooked a bit. Which meant that my pins weren’t totally straight up and down. This means that when I was aiming at 60 yards, I was actually aiming way more left than I should have been, which is how I missed that buck. It’s a lesson in making sure everything is buttoned up with my bow before hunts. I made the mistake of setting up a new bow right before this hunt. Like a week before. That is not enough time for me to get a new bow absolutely dialed, but I ignored my worry and paid the price.
I’ll say it right now. As much as it hurt missing those bucks, I’m glad that I did. Yeah, I know, but hear me out. It shined a light on some issues I need to work on(I’ve already started). Taking the time to work on the things I don’t excel at, is going to make me a better bowhunter. The hard part is seeing those holes. Lucky for me, Mother Nature showed me. And for that, I am grateful.
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