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MISSED SHOTS

Ghost

Ghost

Life Member
I think we all can benefit from discussing some of the reasons for missed shots. Why are shots missed and what can we learn to help to make that shot at the moment it is presented. All the work and preparation for the season come down to a moment in time when you release that arrow. Some people will do everything to be successful and then blow it at the last minute.

Reading deer posture, picking a spot, maintaining mental composure, plenty to discuss here.

What are your thoughts......
 
The main reason I have missed in the past I think is due to "rushing the shot"... I really had to concentrate on slowing down and making sure the correct pin was held in the correct spot... level and clean, and s-l-o-w-l-y squeeze the trigger... a great way for me to work on that "excitement" problem of rushing the shot was to shoot a lot of does... if you live in an area where intensive harvest or bonus permits are available, and you or your loved ones love venison it is a very inexpensive way to train yourself to take your time when shooting at an animal... really increases your confidence...

Another tip that my father taught me long ago... only look at the buck's rack once... committ to shooting him or don't... once you commit, concentrate on your spot, not his headgear... sounds silly, but I've seen a lot of guys get SO hung up on the antler-factor, they end up missing or putting a bad shot on the deer... you have to FORCE yourself to concentrate on your point of impact once you've committed.
 
Nothing beats a little experience when dealing with the things you've just mentioned. I have found that having the experience to get in range of a mature animal is only a small part of it. For me learning to focus on the shot and the mechanics of the whole situation has help greatly. Don't get over run by the emotions until that trigger is released. Its all about the shot, if you can't get a quality shot off the rest is for nothing. With only a couple of seasons bow hunting under my belt I believe that is the one most critical thing I've learned. Wax on, wax off.
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Call it buck fever or lack of concentration, but my misses have ocurred when I failed to concentrate on the vital zone ... seeing the whole deer instead of concentrating on that key spot. I've also had deer jump the string or flatten out to have the shot go just over their back. Extra care in silencing your bow is worth it.
Misjudging distance ... again, a rangefinder or even stepping off distances to various landmarks ahead of time makes a big difference.

Those are main ones for me!

threebeards
 
Thinking back on the missed shots in my past and one thing comes to mind. head problems...
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I've always practiced religiously from all angles and when sept. rolls around I just practice with one arrow and shoot from a different spot every time, including treestand practice shots. My equipment is tuned well too. And I've stilled missed. Really what helps me just as much as all that practice is a couple of really deep breaths to clear my mind before the moment of truth, dressing warm (lot's of buck fever has to do with also being too cold), and being high enough in a tree that I feel comfortable moving a little bit without spooking a deer when it's close (at least 16 feet for me). One thing that has also helped backfired a little last year; I'm sure a lot of you to this too. I don't look at the rack of a buck once I've made up my mind to shoot. I wish I had looked again last year -- major ground shrinkage
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. I think making a clean shot when the pressure is on has everything to do with confidence; all of this I've mentioned builds mine pretty well.
 
I tape a small list of things that I need to do to make a good shot to the limb of my bow.
1. Dont rush the shot
2. Pick a point on the deer
3. Squeeze the trigger

The last one being the most important in my oppinion. You may not read it just before you shoot, but when your sitting there for a couple of hours with nothing to do it becomes imprinted in your head. It hasnt failed me yet.
 
A few things I try and do to make sure I can deliver at the time of truth are (echos what some others have said):

1.Stay on your toes at all times, especially on winding or wet days when you often can’t hear deer approaching. It’s easy to blow an opportunity when you get surprised by a shooter.
2.Try and anticipate where shot opportunities will present themselves. If you run possible scenarios through your head you’ll be much more mentally prepared when they occur.
3.Read the deer’s body language – is it calm, jumpy, alert? Try and match your movements with the cadence of the deer.
4.Place your stand 15 or so yards off the trail you expect the deer to travel to lessen the chance you’ll be spotted before a shot presents itself. It’s tough to keep your composure at full draw in a stare down with a 150†8 pointer – been there and lost.
5.When you spot a shooter, scan the area for other deer. Nothing can bust you better than that unseen and wary old doe.
6.Once you have determined the approaching deer is one you want – focus on the target area and not the whole deer or its antlers. I am much more accurate if I concentrate on a tuft of hair behind the shoulder as it moves towards a shooting lane.
7.Finally, take the first good shot opportunity – I have missed chances waiting for something a little better only to have them change directions.
 
Most of my misses have come either from me not"picking a spot",rushing the shot,or failure to have a good clean shooting lane.The little vines\ branches that you don't always see in poor light conditions have probabaly been my biggest nemesis over the years.Also clothing issues.I learned this the hard way .A few years ago a cold snap hit on opening weekend and I wore a new jacket that I hadn't shot in.I had a beautiful yellow racked 150 walk up and give me a ground blind shot of 15 yards broadside no less!I pulled back ,released and phew off went the arrow about 5 yards behind him.When I got home I noticed the left pocket of the jacket was partially ripped off.The string had caught on the pocket as I released.Now I always practice in all my hunting clothes.
OA
Gary
 
Some great advise here.

I personally think this is the real differentiator of those that are succesful each year.

Shoot lots of does
Use solid fail-proof equipement
Confidence is key
Practice during the season
Mentally go through the motions of making a killing shot while on stand
Shoot lots of does
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Good luck to all this year
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I agree with OneCam,you got to have confidence you can make the shot,just like you have all season on your backyard buck.Also visualize the shot,with your arrow disappearing right where you aim.And don't wear a grunt tube around your neck!
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What ScottIC and Onecam have said were on my mind as I read the post. Does are the best confidence builder in shooting live animals and are a pretty tasty reward.

Rushing the shot has caused me the most problems in the past.
 
there is some great advise in this post, excellent post. learning from past shots in my experience, it is always 1 of these 3 reasons for the miss:

1. anticipating the shot, this one is more for the gun hunters but it can easily happen to bowhunters also.
2. squeezing the trigger and not pulling it.
3. misjudging yardage. doesn't have too bad of an effect at point blank range but at 30 and 40 yards it only takes 1 yard to be off, and next thing you know you have over/under shot your target.

one more thing i think is important is, breathing. you must breathe deeply to try and calm yourself down
 
Everytime I've ever missed, It's all because of mind games mentioned before. rushing the shot, not concentrating hard enough, misjudging yardages, etc... anyone that has hunted many years has been there and done that, the only thing we can do is learn from our mistakes
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Ah the power of positive thinking! Know in your mind the shot will be perfect.
It's just a deer...
 
Buck fever and rushing the shot have always went hand in hand in my book. I for some reason am very calm before and when I shoot a good buck, but after the shot a wave of emotions takes over that is uncontrollable for me. The posts prior to this mention all my concerns but the one that hunters don't normally put a lot of emphasis on is picturing it in your head prior to the hunt.

I coached a junior hockey team last year with a former NHL player and to watch him in the locker room with the kids prior to a game was amazing. He would ask them to close their eyes for several minutes and picture shooting the puck past the goalie and the kids would instantly enter into a new level of focusing. He claimed that it is what a lot of NHL players do and that it is documented that teams that did this had a significantly higher winning percentage year after year. Last year our team won the championship and I believe that this had a lot to do with it. The kids confidence soared to new highs and even when behind in games when I had my doubts they never did and came back to win nearly every game.

I have always done this while I shot deer and more so when shooting competition clay targets and to be honest I thought it was a little wierd but it works and works very well for me. The mind is a powerful tool and if used properly can build your confidence to new levels.
Good Luck this season and may your arrow(s) fly true.
 
I am with Shredder and Nonres... my misses have come from simply rushing the shot and not closing the deal when the time comes. I am sure that buck fever had a little to do with it also.
 
I missed what should have been an easy shot on a potential Booner, last year during early muzzleloader season...
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I would say it came down to buck fever, rushing the shot, you name it... I definitely was thinking about the horns when I saw this bad boy
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couldn't help it, as I watched him for the better part of an hour, until he started meandering my way... never knew a full grown man could shake so much, on a relatively warm evening
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Of course, I'm thinking he lasted the year, and I don't intend to make the same mistake
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I missed a buck on a deer drive this past muzzleloader season for a number of reasons. The biggest reason being that I didnt follow through with my shot. Instead of following the deer with the gun I tried to shoot him as he passed by with my gun remaining in a fixed position. The next reason is that I second guessed myself as to where I should of set up on the deer drive. Instead of a 80 yard shot I should of had a fifteen yard shot.
 
In 2003 I missed a 170ish 5x5 in Oct. with the muzzleloader. I simply hurried the shot and missed him clean. It was piss poor execution by me. His body language should of told me he wasn't going to stand still. Being what I consider somewhat wise on big whitetails I should have known better. I should have let him walk and hope for another chance another day but I didn't and I never saw him again. I like to think I've learned from that mistake.
 
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