It was a whitetail in the trees along a river. only had a 5 foot wide shooting lane where he was at
I barked to get him to stop in the lane-he did but turned and faced me instead of giving me a broadside
I have been second guessing everything a 1000 times-probably should have bleated and grunted to get him to investigate but the does he was with kept moving and this was my only chance at a shot
In nebraska we can't use powered objectives so I was iron sights still should have been a easy shot
My hypothesis is that the round was a floater-a few trips to the range after cleaning the rifle good before hand the first shot often hits a little high-may be that was it-I don't know
I killed a doe last week with the same rifle-on the first shot off ofa clean bore and it killed her dead enough

like I said before-its called hunting-not killing, for a reason

I had one of those days too,14 point walked up behind me 35yds and scented me before he got to where I could get a shot after hunting in the rain all morning I am hacking and coffing and there are only two days of muzzle loader season left and I still have one tag unfilled. Lee

What do you mean we can't use powered objectives??????? You can use any single power scope or a single power reddot..........

but sorry tohear about your troubles...

Yeah-I was referring to greater than 1x, didn't really come out that way-where are you at? I'm in Kearney-tired of working the Platte River, going back to Alliance for Christmas then going after some Sand Hills mulies-may be better luck out west

Sounds like all your troubles are behind you now. Tomorrow will be a diffrent story. I've had hunts start out terrible,only to turn out to be the best hunts I've been on later,your luck will change!

Well you'll be happy to know that we all have those kind of days once in awhile. In my case it seems that if I can shake it off, and head back out the next day something good always happens. Best of luck to you.

i only hunt bucks here in pa..i cant count on my fingers how many i missed or was waiting for great shot,only to lose them..i bet over 40 in 42 years at it..

i only shoot a buck behind shoulder or in neck..if not, buck walks..many have walked..bigones too..

the one i shot first day here in pa. was 8 point with 21 inch spread..he walked by me at 20 ft, yes 20ft and all i could see was that big rack above laural,you have to count points now,3 to sideand about 10 inchs of his back.then he disappeared, i said, well sproul, you lost another one,ha ha..

then 20 yds away, he turned and came right in front of me..when i aimed behind shoulder as neck was covered, he was ready to run..he had his right leg up,and i shot..50cal hawkins flintlock,80 grs of2f geox,295 powerbelt,bore button,rmc v-peep..

so, i guess you can say we all had those days with gun but most of mine were from letting deer go do to my principal of shooting a deer where i have indicated..

i never get excited even if its biggest buck in world..why, because i was forunate to grow up in one of the best deer familys in area, my dad had me in woods all time..

i lost that fever at 16..this is why i use a muzzleloader with open sights..its too easy for me to get buck with high powered rifle..ikilled many with 250-3000 sav..it has to be challenge or i will quit..

muzzleloader has been my challenge for long time,even with bad eyes i still use open sights..

sorry i got off track..you may have got buck fever and with muzzleoader, does not take much to miss..it happens to us..good luck..