The humble truth

Well this years rifle deer hunt sucked for me. I blew it, the only day I had a chance. I could blame it on a number of reasons, but in the end it was my shooting. These things happen I guess.

We just finished up our late control hunt yesterday. It went down the same as the rifle hunt. Not my year for sure.

Thursdays wind was interesting to be up in a tree stand. It was like being in a rocking chair at 20’ up. It got me thinking how do grey squirrels do it? I mean how do they sleep in those leaf nests during these wind storms and not barf all over like a drunk sailor?

My dads got a bow I could borrow and try to fill my tag until closing day. Otherwise get out the carrots and celery, I’m making tag soup.

Missed out on a couple of good bucks myself.
Fortunate to get a freezer doe.
Hunting can be a humbling experience for sure.

I've missed more times this season than any other. The deer didn't get wounded but it hurts to waste bolts when my arrow setups are like $80 each :')

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Originally Posted by MihajloSimsic

I've missed more times this season than any other. The deer didn't get wounded but it hurts to waste bolts when my arrow setups are like $80 each :')

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Thats where the lighted knocks really pay off!

Swing and a miss for me during the shotgun and controlled hunts. It doesn't matter that much whether I take a deer or not. It's getting out that matters.

I wish I had a shot opportunity during the rifle season, even if I missed. I didn't even see a deer.

There's still lots of good bow hunting left, you should give it a try.

Last season, I was holding out for a buck - not necessarily a big one - because the population in the area I was hunting felt like it needed some help. I passed on a smaller buck in the early archery season and a few does. Then towards the end of the rifle season a forkhorn showed up after a pretty dismal two weeks. I took a shot, and everything looked good. I was expecting to find him laid out where I lost sight of him in the woods. Then, shortly after, I heard a shot close by on the neighbouring property and started to get nervous. I got to where I expected the deer to be - no deer. Backtracked to the sight of the shot - no hair, no blood. I was so certain that I hit it, but there was nothing. I walked over to the neighbouring property and saw that they shot a deer that looked just like the one I shot at. I was still convinced that I hit the deer that I shot at so I enlisted the help of the neighbour on the other side and his dog. We searched for hours in the dark but could not find anything suggesting I hit the deer. I was very dejected that night. I even went back the next morning to triple check and check the zero on the rifle, which was fine. I found a larger set of tracks that headed from where I lost sight of the deer to a crossing to the neighbouring property near where they shot their deer. Looks like I missed, though I have no idea how. I ended up eating tag soup that year.

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Originally Posted by dean.f

I wish I had a shot opportunity during the rifle season, even if I missed. I didn't even see a deer.

There's still lots of good bow hunting left, you should give it a try.

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For me, shooting and missing is worse than not seeing anything at all. When I shoot and miss, regardless of how well I have searched for the animal and didn't find any sign that I actually hit it, there is always some worry that I may have injured the animal and not recovered it. I absolutely hate that feeling.

I missed a nice doe this past rifle season at Burks Falls. It was a 120 ish yard shot down the trail but no excuse.
Getting the rifle steady in a tree stand is not easy, glad I didn't wound her

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Originally Posted by alfoldivandor

More practice .....Attachment 42817

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Nice group. Nothing wrong with that.