missed the biggest buck of my life tonite. been poutin pretty hard. he fed at 25 yards for over 20 minutes and I held to my rule of 20 yard limit. he finally made it to 20 yards and I shot over his back. not the bows fault at all, but my compound buddies are having a blast with it at my expense! got lots of trail cam pics of this buck over the summer, but they were taken over a mile away! didn't think they would go that far this time of year but I guess I was wrong. mid 150's buck with 11 point frame and 3 large kickers. I can still see him running away.

guess I didn't pass the proficiency test:(

Should have shot at 25 yards:) My biggest fear is the "big ol boy" walking in at 30 yards when the stick bow is in my hands.

Proficiency won't help ya. Get back in saddle it happens to all of us could have been worse in sending one through his back. Now you might have another chance. Good luck on him. I don't know how I am going to handle one myself yet I saw last night. First I have to set up on him 1 shot. If he's in a pattern I'll get 1 shot on him and have others hunting him as well. Whats in the cards? Wasn't your hand last you shot at him. The next shot might be his last couple breaths. Hopefully you connect on him.

Pick a spot , not look at the "whole" animal ,, I know, its hard ,, but gotta do it ... good luck next time ...

I been there before, and most likly again.

Proficiency test won't prepare you for that. It will happen to everyone. This is the time of year the bucks move to their early fall haunts. Many disappear after a summer of trail pics because of this. Don't be surprised if you see him again in the next couple of weeks. If you don't get him by then, and he has some age, likely won't see him in daylight until he is shadowing a doe in November. So stay after him hard. A mile is nothing for a deer. And as studies are done more frequently, they are showing some deer's home ranges are huge, depending on the season. God Bless

Hang in there. Season is still young.

We have all done it. Compounders miss too. Don't get down its a long season. Good luck.

Been there. Keep hunting you'll get the next one

been there, done that

That's hunting, those compound boys miss to.

as much as ive shot this year my confidence was great. I shoot off my deck every nite before I go to the stand. I guess buck fever IS alive and well! even my dad told me to get the compound back out. the last 6 years I killed the first 5 deer I shot at. now ive missed the last 2. my wife wont listen to me pout, so I figure that's what the internet is for. haha

Agree with the above. Proficiency has very little to do with. You can't simulate hunting, too many variables. Not too mention the OMG factor of trying to pull on a 150 class deer! Don't beat yourself up. That's why the call it "hunting" and not "killing."

Been there the last 2 years. It happens.

Did the same thing my first year with trad bow. Missed just over his back as well.

Missed my biggest one at 11 steps... Just had to laugh and shake my head. Just smile and try it again! It will be ok... :)

I garantee you just looked at the whole deer and shot! It will go over thier back every time !... your eyes are drawn to the line of the back when you are just looking at the whole deer !

It happens. Be grateful you missed and didn't hit him an inch or so lower, you might have lost him! And I am betting he didn't go far!

Your in good company!

Well it keeps you coming back, he'll show up again and you can't go 0/2 can you? I have missed and no need to pout, just get back after him.

Don't fret. That is why it is called hunting! If you want a for sure thing, head to Krogers. It has happened to many if not all of us at one time or another, but you still got to love it.

I've killed P&Y deer with a compound. I've also missed them with both compound and longbow. Longbow was a long poke that was a guaranteed kill if I cleared the trees between us. As far as I know, that arrow is still about 15 feet up in the tree on the left. It didn't bother me to miss him.

However, the most notable one was an 8 pointer well into the 150's I'm guessing. He was at 9 yards, wide open, with a smoking hot compound, on the ground no doubt. It was the biggest of the deer I've shot at and/or killed because a 150 or better 8 is like a 165 or 170" 10 pointer.

9 FLIPPIN' yards I say. In a reclaimed field on a surface mine. Nothing between us but AIR. BROADSIDE, STANDING STILL, looking at the doe that just came by and he was trailing. I was beside an autumn olive bush buried in, at full draw when he stopped. He NEVER knew I was there. I remember trying to get the peep lined up but, I kept looking through the whole above the peep sight that is caused by the peep splitting the string. Best I can figure is in the heat of the moment and, me rushing before he took off trotting again, I just finally put the pin on him and cut drive while looking through that hole instead of the peep. I shot over his back, at NINE YARDS.

Don't let those guys get you down. It sure happens with the wheelie crowd. Much more so in my guess. Because it isn't an accuracy problem. It is an emotional problem. One that affects accuracy regardless of weapons choice. It is the one biggest influence in me coming back to the trad bow. I am pretty certain I'd killed him if I just had to pick a spot and hammer it home, instead of all the crap that comes with shooting the modern compound.

9 FRIGGIN' yards bro. You aren't alone or nearly as bad as you think. God Bless

Just be glad you didn't miss by a little less.

What SB said! My dad used to say," look at the front leg and come up to where it meets the body. Shoot there." I still sometimes look at the whole deer and have the same results you did. Skeet

Your story is exactly my problem with leaving the compound at home every day. I started hunting in Missouri & there are some good deer in my area. Private land with no pressure & I've seen the deer with my eyes & on camera. I hunt with my recurve & then in the back of my mind I hear voices that tell me to carry my compound. I too feel like 20 yards is my limit & these deer are bigger than i've killed in my entire life. Good luck to you on your quest & if someone has a good answer for this confused 57 year old, please help me conquer my quest of traditional only.

Give your wheel bow away and then you won't keep thinking about using it. As far as looking at the whole deer, I just keep repeating to myself the whole time to pick a spot and focus, and it works. I shot a doe at 5 yards and hit her luckily in the ham and she bleed out quick but I was looking at the whole deer just got lucky.

You behaved properly. Good on you. That is all we can do. Results are not always under our control.

Now, as for those pulley pullers. I have heard a lot of stories about elk season here in the west. I believe there are many more ways to miss with a wheelie bow, and more and worse excuses for it.

Tings, de hoppen. - lbg

Sounds like you did everything right. I cant help but think he just jumped the string as that happens so often. Compound guy would have missed at 20 as well if that's what happened. Maybe you will get another chance.

Happens to everybody my friend, even guys with compounds! Hang in there, just pick a spot and focus on a single hair. You will get another chance, good luck! Tom

Don't sweat it brother! Happens to everyone. It takes a lot of discipline to pick a spot and focus intently on it in the heat of the moment. My Dad had a neat little trick to remind him to pick a spot. He took a self adhesive mailing label and put it on the back of his upper bow limb just above the riser. He wrote the word "SPOT" on it. He said more than once when he was drawing on a deer that he noticed the sticker and it reminded him to focus. I hope you get another chance at him. Sounds like a great deer.

I've done it, feels terrible! I've made some good shots sence it happened. Before I draw on an animal, I commit to center punching the heart. Not just shooting at the vitals.

That's hunting, gotta love it!

What a memory a good thing, now you can continue to hunt a good thing, look forward to the rut another good thing. SO ALL IS GOOD.

You may see him again. Leave that spot alone a while......

No blood, no foul.

That's why they call it hunting and not shopping:-)

I never , ever had anything like that happen to me

"no I did not lie- my telaprompter malfunctioned"

You'll get him next time grizz.

Happens to everybody, even your compound buddies.

This just means you get to hunt more.

Good luck.

Been there! No worries, just keep hunting. The bucks have to win once in a while! I lost to a beautiful drop point 8 last year. Looking forward to a re-match this year!

don't feel too bad, a few years ago I took an 18 pointer that scored 202 5/8, The next year about 100yds from the same spot slipped in on an even bigger buck, had him at about 15yds but something just didn't feel right so let him walk and enjoyed the show. On the way back to the truck I drilled a thumb sized sapling about 1 inch above my aim at 25 paces and cut it down with a magnus and shakespear ocala still sick over that one

Congratulations on sticking to your 20 yard rule. Mine is 18. If we had more hunters who don't just let fly every time we'd not have as many cripples. Of course things can go awry even at close range but most certainly not as much as with the longer range arrow slinging. Sorry about the miss but proud of you for the restraint!!! Sending along a good hand shake for your dedication!!! Buds...Whitie

Grizz, you simply prove how useless the proficiency test is. Hunting a whole different game. It happened to me a few years ago, but keep at it. You won't miss the next big boy!

thanks for all the "pick me up words" guys. I can count on one hand the number of times in 24 years of bowhunting I had a buck of that caliber that close. but, as you all said, the season is young!! GAME ON. in all honesty, I shot about 20 times before I went this evening and my confidence is still high. wonder if they'll hold still long enough next time for me to run out and hang a bullseye on'em? :)

The season hasn't opened here yet, and I'm bending my string every chance I get. Only thing I have watched on a place I get to hunt this year are young does. No, I am not ashamed to put meat in the freezer, but at least your seeing some horns. The biggest Buck I have seen this season was in spots with lumps. LOL It may be a slow season here. Good luck and stay in the woods. -Bones

Dry Bones, I aint the type to hold out for a whopper. just know there are some in the area, but the first doe in range is just as good.

The only thing as good as a clean kill is a clean miss. It is better than a bad wounding shot any day. You will get another chance.

Sounds like you got him on the hunting. Lost him on the shooting. Good job . You put yourself inside his radar, thats worth something. Sounds like a great hunt to me.

I feel your pain. I missed a monster bull this year, trophy of a lifetime. I still can't get it out of my head. Wish I could have that one back. I guess that's what makes me hunt harder and smarter for the next time.

That's why we bow hunt. Compounds or stick every one misses. We do everything in our power to not, but it still happens. That's bow hunting, if it was easy we would all probably be throwing spears. Good luck with the rest of your season. Pip

bummer. Hope you get another crack at him.

I remember the misses as much or more than the hits. They make much better stories. I know I have lost my edge right now but I also know how quick it can return. Good hunting.

just an update. I may have missed him, but didn't run him out of the country. saw him tonite about 150 yds further up the fencerow!! never saw a buck that size more than once, much less than 3 times. don't know if I mentioned it or not but saw him the nite before I missed him also. I know where hes livin now. man its exciting! there is nothing id rather do than bowhunt:)

Glad you saw him again...you'll tag him this time..good luck!

sweet!! good luck

psyched? Hugh? have a good time ,

that is what hunting is all about

I would feel worse if I drilled the monster I was after with a compound at some distance beyond my comfortable range with a longbow. Same as I would with a rifle. It just would not be the same for me.

If you are sitting in your stand wishing you had a different weapon you have cut your success in half before you start. Confidence breeds success - throw the wheel bow away and get off the fence or suffer chaff - riding the fence hurts you balls!

Glad you are still seeing him :)

Guess I'm trying to figure out why you'd tel anyone of your miss.

I say CONGRATULATIONS. You obviously were in the right spot. Your shot will present itself again, just knowing that you had that big boy within your range is a success.

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