Trad Mental Struggle

[roysmoke]

Well I can say that for the most part since picking up a Trad bow things have been very successful. I started about 9 months ago and have shot one pig and three does all recovered. I lost one pig but it had an arrow hanging out of both sides just where I aimed behind the shoulder so there was nothing else I could have done to kill it, I just couldnt find it.
This last weekend thigs were difficult. The past few does I have shot ended up a little higher than I liked and I assumed that it was because the deer were ducking. I decited to aim lower to compensate. I aimed right where the leg and body meet thinking she would duck and it would most likely hit the heart and would result in an easy blood trail. Well the arrow hit exactly where I aimed but the deer never moved and she ran off with an arrow hanging our of the top of her leg..I was sick...After spending a great deal fo time looking for her I assumed that she was going to make it but be real sore. The next morning things got worse.
I hunted another stand and the deer were spooky. They finally appeared to calm down after feeding for about 15 minutes. There were 2 does and 3 yearlings. I waited for the doe I wanted to get at 10 yards broadside and was able to draw on her undetected. The other deer were to her side and noe behind her so I felt comfortable with it. I let the arrow go and (this time aiming right where I indended to hit) and she ducked the arrow completely and the other doe (that was to her right and about 5 yards behind her)darted forward and the arrow passed through her guts. I dropped my stuff, put my head down, and felt like I had just been called to the principals office.. I felt sick. I pulled out for several hours and then came back with my dog and had no luck at all.
On the way home I pondered selling all my stuff and getting another compound. I dont want to take on a new and exciting challenge of Traditional Archery at the expense of the animal. I also know that these were two situations that I did with a clear conscience and the results just went bad. I can shoot fairly well and dont take shots over 15 yards. Heck my only 15 yard shot was the pig and all the deer were within 10 yards.
Any imput you guys have is greatly appreciated.

[mbfranklin]

Stick with it. Sometimes you get dealt a bad hand and sometimes you get dealt a good one. It is looking like you have gotten several bad ones in a row. You are due a good one!

[jreyna920]

well I consider myself new to traditional but have been shooting longer the yourself so i hope you dont mind my input. To start out theres only so many of the varibles you can control when hunting with a bow, so if the animal ducks it then the way i see it... when you get her its that much more rewarding. I wouldnt aim at a none vital part on the deer unless it was a bit more certain then the last two ducking a bit.... i actually have had a couple hit in the upper vitals too but thats still in the vitals. I aim about 2" above the bottom of the stomach and in the crease for that reason, if they duck i get a lung and if they dont then i shoot a hard heart. stick with it man its not always in the cards.... some days the strangest things line up and ill get away with noise, a bad release, or whatever and make a kill then the next day ill do everything to the T and it just doesnt happen,its bowhunting.... and the reason most of us shoot traditional.


good luck

John

[widdler]

Make the best shot you can make aim where you want the arrow to go and that is all you can do. What you described can happen to a compound as well as a gun hunter so stick to your trad gear take shots you know you can make hunt well you well be ok.

[Draco]

You must not read the Campfire section. There have been a load of hit and not recovered on there and all with mechanical arrow launching devices. It wasn't the shot that was bad, it was your read of the situation. With bows it is much more important to read the situation and the animal to determine when to shoot. You have already taken some animals so you must be a decent shot. Keep building on that. But also study your quarry more. Watch their interaction with the other deer as well as their surroundings. It will help you decide just when to try the shot. It's something you probably can't learn here but that you need to get better at and you will. That knowing when to shoot is the main difference between a good bow hunter and a really good bowhunter. If this was easy, every body would be shooting sticks. Now, just the ones with real grit and determination shoot them.

[roysmoke]

Thanks for the support. I have had feelings when the shot is good and it has worked out well. There have been some times when it didnt feel right and things didnt go as planned. I guess I need to trust that feeling more.

[glen]

Its hunting and it happens to everyone- gun, wheel bow, and trad equiptment.
sometimes things just happen and they alays will. If it didn't bother you when they didn't go well you wouldn't learn from them. Get your head back straight and go back after them.

[RickBarbee]

There was a time, you could walk up, and spit in my ear at full draw, and it would not break my concentration, or effect the shot.

For the past two years I have been having a heck of a time with my target shooting. All it takes is thinking someone is watching, and I go to pieces. Never has effected my hunting though, thank goodness.

Lately on just the shooting side, I have started trying to take a "don't care attitude", and it seems to be helping. I mean, I still want to make a good shot, but I just try not to sweat it if I don't.

You can put more pressure on yourself, than anything, or anyone else can even come close to.

Simple solution, but sometime hard to implement - just be there for the enjoyment, and usually everything else will fall into place.

[tex4k]

I agree with what everyone has already told you, especially about learning to read animal interaction. Anyone who has hunted any time has or will have these types of situations, heck I've even had deer run off after being broadsided by an f-150.

[Buff]

suck it up and go kill something.... it will all look better to you after that

[Texas5o]

I'm with Buff on this one. I also like the comments Draco made about reading the quarry. As I recall, you told me on the phone that those doe were skittish to begin with. I usually try to let the deer settle down as much as possible after they come in before I attempt a shot. Sometimes they walk away without me getting a shot off, but if they don't, they are usually calm when I do take the shot.
In my opinion, a skittish or overly alert animal is not a target I want to shoot at. Too much can go wrong with a calm aninmal. An alert animal adds even more possibilities for something to go wrong.
Stay with it Bobby. I think most of us have been right where you are.

[Oneway]

Dude, everyone who shoots struggles, trad, compound, cross bow(LOL)! Seriously, i have had deer with in 10 yards of me every trip out this year and I have failed to fire one shot because , (the animals were not ready) does that make sense? I was ready, I can promise you that, just continue to practice and get back out there!!!!!! Someone has to shoot them all I can do is watch! LOL, oh no that is what Fishin'Dude does! I have been damaged, ugh!!!!!

[SAM STEPHENS]

Sounds like your bow might be a little loud try getting real heavy arrows they will make your bow a wisper.I like what they do to mine and they tend to go in real deep since I did this cant say an animal has jumped the string.Just a thought good luck

[brent hill]

It happens to all of us. I have taken animals in Africa with my curve, .... only to come home and have doe laugh at me as they duck my arrow. I took a doe 2 weeks ago at 12 yards that ducked and almost spun out of the way of my arrow. They are full time survivors going against part time rookies. (Thats me) They have the advantage. The next time you get busted by a deer or it ducks your arrow, remember how blessed we are to be able to hunt these beautiful creatures and that you just witnessed nature's little miracle. I am now only beginning to see that with every encounter I have with deer and such. If you want a guaranteed kill, try something else. 270,... But the stick bow will force you to reevaluate why you are hunting, and how you are hunting. When I started, I took a pig in my first year and then I went 4 years without taking a deer or anything. Quitting, sure I considered it. I'm so glad I stayed the path. You will to. You will lose at times, You will win also, but don't forget to enjoy the journey. Now, I'm off my sopebox, have a ball, Brent Hill.