I missed a cow elk twice with my bow when I was much younger. She was walking broadside down the hill from me. This was before rangefinders, but I estimated she was 30 yards. Shot and the arrow and went right over her back. As I was nocking my next arrow, I thought it through. "I know she is not less than 30 yards away, must have had a bad release." Shot the second time........shot over her back again, same exact spot. No more shots, I didn't deserve a third shot. I sat down, figured out what I did wrongand almost cried. I had never practiced that shot before.