In 5 seasons of hunting, I have wounded and not recovered 1 buck, and I felt terrible about it. We looked for hours and hours, and the next day, but no sign. I was disgusted, but it didn't make me quit hunting.

The experience did, however, make me work on my marksmanship quite a bit. The past two seasons have been two deer, two bullets. Hopefully next year will be one more deer taken with one more bullet.

I rarely take shots our over 150 yds (my estimate), but strangely enough the deer I mis-shot was actually at such close range that I really could have used a scope mount I could see underneath for the iron sights.

I also shudder when I hear 5-6 shots ring out in the canyons.....