PLEASE..WAIT for the shot!!

[Ravin R10 man]

This post is in reference to bad shot placement, not directed at anyone in particular;

I'll start with a local hunter who uses a crossbow,he has shot two 8 pts and lost both of them...both poor hits.

Another local party said they "put holes in two of them"...thats his attitude...REALLY???

Guys...if the shot isnt there..dont shoot and force it..the animal deserves a clean and humane kill. You should be as a bull fighter with the sword...PRECISE

http://dougsmotorcyclediary.com/photogallery/photo00023479/DSC_0978.JPG

[bowhunter97]

I agree. Bad shots only have bad outcomes.

[wtnhunt]

I agree also, but unfortunately sometimes bad shots or mistakes happen even when we run everything through our minds.

Hit one back this morning and it was not for not waiting, I drew while the deer was walking under a limb with a lot of leaves and waited for him to clear a tree, he had to go less than 5 yards to be where I wanted to take my shot. In my mind I planned my shot for once he cleared the tree. As I watched my arrow hit I could not believe it hit the deer back, shot felt good. Turned out to be a very small limb(smaller than a pencil) I somehow overlooked up close that my arrow must have grazed just enough to throw it off. The limb was clear in my line of sight through my peep, but evidently not clear in the arrows path. Deer layed down in view for about 30 minutes before getting up and walking off. Turkeys got to carrying on and does walking all around and he got up, thought I heard him fall down about 50 yards away but did not go to look. Going to try to find the deer this afternoon. Hopefully he layed down again somewhere on our property.

[Ethan Givan]

I agree. I cant stand an attitude like that, like you have accomplished something just by hitting the deer at all. I dealt with a similiar situation 2 years ago. The guy hunting the farm next to the farm I hunt shot two bucks with a rifle, and found neither of them. Come to find out he shot at one of them while it was running, and he said "I know I hit him hard a couple times atleast." He was found on an ATV on the farm I hunt searching for the deer without permission. We called the neighboring landowner, told him the story, and the guy wasnt back this past season.

I agree also, but unfortunately sometimes bad shots or mistakes happen even when we run everything through our minds.

Hit one back this morning and it was not for not waiting, I drew while the deer was walking under a limb with a lot of leaves and waited for him to clear a tree, he had to go less than 5 yards to be where I wanted to take my shot. In my mind I planned my shot for once he cleared the tree. As I watched my arrow hit I could not believe it hit the deer back, shot felt good. Turned out to be a very small limb(smaller than a pencil) I somehow overlooked up close that my arrow must have grazed just enough to throw it off. The limb was clear in my line of sight through my peep, but evidently not clear in the arrows path. Deer layed down in view for about 30 minutes before getting up and walking off. Turkeys got to carrying on and does walking all around and he got up, thought I heard him fall down about 50 yards away but did not go to look. Going to try to find the deer this afternoon. Hopefully he layed down again somewhere on our property.

Yep it happens, even if you do everything right.

Hope you find him. Doesnt sound like he will go too far before laying down again. Thats probably where you will find him laying this afternoon. Good luck.

[smo]

When bow hunting, deer hear the string and will drop sometimes 12" or more. A guy that tells me he has never wounded a deer hasn't shot at very many. I hate when one is wounded but it happens. You don't cry or lay down and quit, you get back out there and get in the tree with confidence. Practice, practice, and practice some more, but it will happen sooner or later.

[Ravin R10 man]

Not a fun time having a shot go bad...deflections do happen.

[PotashRLS]

While this thread is good and noble, hunting is an imperfect sport. Many, many variables exist.

On the flip side, I/we have seen many poor shot decisions glorified on TV also. Some were marginal and some were blatantly poor decisions. It unfortunately is a part of reality, especially when the adrenaline is flowing.

[stevebeilgard]

this is just so very true. animals suffer because we hunters make poor decisions. it's no different for rifle hunters. wait for that killing shot and do not force it. i, as an outfitter, never allowed a shot at a moving animal. it's always a disaster.

[dbHunterNY]

good thread with good advice.

TV stuff was mentioned above and it's important to understand what you're seeing. it's tough to judge shot placement when seen on TV if you're not understanding that you're viewing things from the side or above. some are good and others bad. sometimes the hunter calls himself out on it and other times he/she doesn't. even though it looks like the animal is quartering to or away in the camera, it might be completely broadsided or quartering away to the shooter. it's easy to understand a hunter with little experience would would see the odd angle and think it's ok to shoot when seeing that. best to understand deer anatomy then to watch lots of impact shots on TV.