Friend that just can't shoot???

Edcyclopedia · 08-15-2009, 10:18 AM

Do any of you have a friend that just can't hit the broad side of a barn with an arrow?

I have a dilemma AGAIN this year, as my friend is an older guy, @ 67 years old, that has hunted his whole life and is in rougher shape than most, with bad hips. In the past few years I have helped him set some stands, cleared shooting lanes for him and even placed him in my stands when he had nothing going on in his spots.

This year he is worse off than last and I feel I want to help him more, as he indeed is a good friend. We tend to hunt a bit differently, as I am a very methodical when it comes to scent and wind. Also paying attention to my entry/exit routes, so on and so fourth. I say this because I'm damned to put him in one of my good spots and have him mess up my area for the season.

Here's this mornings story...
I bring my 3 year old boy to his house so we can start practicing on the old targets. He shoots 9 arrows total - 3 arrows never touch the target and are lost, 2 hit the dirt in front of the target and the 4 that hit the target, well let's say 2 would have been "close" to the kill zone (6"). He proceeds to tell me he has target panic, but never when a deer is in front of him (ya sure).

He says he has been practicing all year long in his basement and doing great! He starts off by blaming his glasses, then he said it was a "single" flinch, then that he held too long before shooting. I was a bit furious with the whole ordeal, knowing I spent better part of a day last season looking for a wounded Doe. He tried to tell me it was a good hit maybe a little high, but no explanation when I find a batch of white hair (I asked him if it was an albino)??? Not to mention 4 years ago, he whacked a big buck and it had the same results.

Anyone have any suggestions on how to get my point across and not tick him off too much, as I do have respect for my elders?

magicman54494 · 08-15-2009, 10:31 AM

Take me instead! LOL
If his shooting bothers you then tell him if he can put 5 in the target in a row you will take him. If it were my call to make I would base my decision on how hard he's trying not how good he is. If he is really making the effort and doing the best he can I would take him as long as there are no safety issues. Maybe you could watch him shoot and give him some pointers. Another idea would be to set his stands where he could only get real close shots.

camokenny · 08-15-2009, 10:40 AM

Does your state have a handicap tag where he could use a crossbow for archery season? I would look in to this if you do. If not you are just going to have to get him to only take short yardage shots. Try hunting out of a blind and only use one pin on his bow.

diamondrack · 08-15-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicman54494

Take me instead! LOL
If his shooting bothers you then tell him if he can put 5 in the target in a row you will take him. If it were my call to make I would base my decision on how hard he's trying not how good he is. If he is really making the effort and doing the best he can I would take him as long as there are no safety issues. Maybe you could watch him shoot and give him some pointers. Another idea would be to set his stands where he could only get real close shots.

I don't think you should ever base hunting on someones effort. So the guys is struggling and probably should go to a cross-bow, sometimes its tme to hang up the bow! But I do not think it is fair to the game to send someone out in the woods that has a better chance of wounding a deer then killing it. I love deer hunting and love the outdoors and I have 100% more repect for the animal, then to say "hey buddy you've tried really hard this year I hope you don't wound to many"..If it was my friend I would be honest and help him to find a different option in order to fullfil his hunting needs.

bawanajim · 08-15-2009, 04:50 PM

Heck a rage two blade will bleed out a booner with a well placed hoof shot.

Heck Ed you and I both know people that wounded more than two deer last year alone.

If hes a good friend help out the best you can, if you need, I will send you a single pin site to limit his range and maybe help his consistency.
Is he drawing more weight than he can handle? Wrong arrows or just a **** poor shot like Teddy Roosevelt was notorious for?

Ben / PA · 08-15-2009, 04:56 PM

Ed, I am not envious of your position. When I first read your post, I thought we had the same problem. My friends that can't shoot are guys that will put 10 arrows in a 12 inch diameter group at 20 and say they are ready to go. It's a tough deal, but honesty at this point might prevent a later, bigger problem. Like I said, I don't envy you.

Edcyclopedia · 08-15-2009, 05:34 PM

Thanks gents, very good points I will ponder, as I try to mend this situation...

Kreagerm · 08-15-2009, 05:55 PM

Man, that sucks. I feel more sorry for all the wounded deer running around for a few days, suffering, before passing on due to infection.

The Rev · 08-15-2009, 05:56 PM

I would make sure I set up behind him...

I'm sixty and the oldest among my hunting buddies, but I can hit a barn. Not all of us old buzzards are blind..

HUNGAR · 08-16-2009, 06:43 AM

Zip tie his string and cable together before hunts?

Bad situation for sure, other than talking kill zone with him and letting him know it's not fair to the deer I don't know what you can do without cutting him off. It sounds like he knows he isn't a very good shot with all the excuses he is making after target misses. He is probably to proud/stubborn to ask for help in his shooting, anyway you can work a crash course in shooting with him before season?

Do yo really think he "practiced" all winter? Is he struggling pulling the bow, does he have a high let-off, how's his form? Just some questions that came to mind, I would immagine if he were an older gentleman and didn't practice keeping his muscles up that it would be a problem shooting at 67yrs old. I know your not his babysitter, but hopefully he isn't just blowing smoke about practicing.

I know bad hits happen to everyone if you hunt long enough (I've had my share), but I get sick when I think about them. After any bad hit that I've ever had I have always drove myself nuts checking equipment and flinging arrows at the target. I have friends that chalk it up as "no big deal" and get on with it. I guess it just doesn't bother some people as much as others.

Sorry I couldn't offer any useful solution to your problem, but it is a great thing your doing letting him enjoy the woods while he still can. I am sure it means a lot to him.