Tradhunter - Traditional Archery Bow Hunting Forums

I have this rule and it is a very simple one, if a deer gives me a second shot after a miss, it pays for it. Several times, things just happen that cost me the shot but I was able to mouth grunt the buck back for a second shot and they paid for it. You think that you have a perfect shooting lane only to find out that there was on long briar hanging down and somehow I managed to hit it perfectly to kick my arrow off. One time I smacked the deer across the back end like you would with a switch, all because of one stupid briar. One time I managed to hit a small limb with my bow limb and that wasn't good at all but nothing bad happened to my bow. Anyways, if given a second opportunity, I have usually figured out what went wrong on the first and I do my best not to do it again. I once had the same seven point buck come back to the exact spot where I had just hit a stupid briar two hours earlier and missed the deer. It stopped in the exact same spot again and I didn't shoot because I knew the stupid briar was still there even if I couldnn't see it. That was the first and last time for that, I kicked myself because I had climbed down after the first shot to see what had happened and saw the stupid briar and didn't cut it down. But as a general rule, they pay for it!

This rule I like...

I have discovered that I have a remarkable ability to miss second and even third shots!
I remember once in my younger days during my compound years I emptied my three arrow quickie quiver, climbed down and retrieved them, climbed back up and later shot two more arrows! No deer were harmed, but when I told my camp buddies I thought they would bust a gut!

Way too honest. I try not to tell those stories. One time late season, last weekend actually, the "whole herd" came down the hill I was in a tree on. It was a beautiful sight and one I'll never forget as they came down in two's and three's all around me. What I try to forget are all the arrows scattered on the ground. That too was during the compound years and with one I never did get figured out. I've come to love those very late season hunts. One year I counted 16 bucks in the field I was sitting on. It was amazing to watch. Everytime a really big one would come out, they would all stop what they were doing and watch. It was a doe only weekend and I never did get a shot offered but enjoyed it all more then if i had.

I really don't remember having that many times I've had a chance at a second shot. It did happen one time with an older T.C. Hawken. I was up in a tree and missed a crazy head shot I'd tried. That was all that was available. Don't know what I was thinking. Anyway, I was able to quietly reload and made a killing shot. As I remember back to that day, I still laugh a little after that first shot. The deer shook his head like, what was that? It must have been real close.