When you have missed an animal with archery equipment - What do you estimate the cause was?

[Dos Perros]

Not getting a good range is probably my #1. Rarely do I get a chance to range the actual animal where I'm going to shoot him and then execute a shot. Most of the time I'm ranging a tree where I think he'll be in a few moments, or through grass, and then making mental adjustments when I finally draw. And, sometimes I just go to shit when I have to depend on my brain.

 

[5MilesBack]

I've over-estimated distance once, and under-estimated distance a few times. That over-estimation really bedazzled me as I watched the arrow fly right over the back. I ranged it afterwards and didn't believe the reading. I walked it off several times and still didn't believe it. That one was bizarre to me. I was almost 20 yards off, SMH.

 

[chasewild]

You left out the one I have seen that causes the majority of archery misses - buck fever. I have seen big game animals completely missed inside of 10 yards before... buck fever is real. Especially for the rookies and first timers on elk.

THis.

 

[rileybassman]

I have missed two whitetails high - one jumped the string and ducked the arrow, the second was a poor estimate on range... so my shot went high. They are touchy critters - I intentionally aim lower third - heart area now in hopes that if they jump the string it will still make lungs.

I much prefer shooting at elk... big target that doesn't generally drop at the slightest sound

 

[Rob5589]

You left out the one I have seen that causes the majority of archery misses - buck fever. I have seen big game animals completely missed inside of 10 yards before... buck fever is real. Especially for the rookies and first timers on elk.

A guy I've hunted with got it so bad he almost couldn't draw his bow back (took 3 tries) and when he finally did missed a 6x7 bull at 21 yds.

 

[Rob5589]

I usually shoot over/high for whatever reason

 

[Fatcamp]

You left out the one I have seen that causes the majority of archery misses - buck fever. I have seen big game animals completely missed inside of 10 yards before... buck fever is real. Especially for the rookies and first timers on elk.

Yup. It sucks.

Not a bit of it with a rifle. I think it's being so close, and I'm really good at getting close. Not sure what the answer is but I'm gonna keep trying.

 

[OKHunter84]

Buck fever has caused me to rush a shot more then once. One of the best shots I ever made came after i missed a buck. I shot underneath him, he was rutting pretty hard, went into the woods after a doe. Then he came back out at 60 yards, I was already calmed down by then and beating myself up, adjusted my sight and let it fly, nailed him. He died within twenty yards.

The first shot was much easier but my nerves got the better of me.

 

[Beendare]

Embarrassingly- in 4 decades of bowhunting, I’ve experienced almost all of them.

I do learn from my mistakes- grin- so even shooting a recurve I’m 12 for 12 in the last few years with my 45# setup.

 

[Grechrist]

I have gotten so it’s not buck fever, just rush the shot and don’t take the time!

 

[sambo3006]

I've experienced my share of buck fever, but I'd say that the two top culprits for my misses are poor range estimation on a moving animal and loss of proper anchor point due to holding at full draw for a long time and/or a weird shot angle.

 

[MountainTracker]

I don’t normally miss…but when I do, I shoot again.






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