Someone is gonna have a full freezer! Congrats.

Someone is gonna have a full freezer! Congrats.

mac and ADV

Sorry that my story has so many misses in it.

The longest shot was the one I attempted on the elk the day before.

Unfortunately, NV does not allow scopes during ML season, so that is out.

None of the shots we took were at running animals. My dad's shots were both at less than 50 yards. The first was a clean miss, no doubt. The second, he hit in the chest, watched it run, looked like it was going to die, got up, and kept going. He could see where he hit, and he could see the off shoulder soaked in blood, but the buck did not leave a blood trail. That was a slightly angling away shot.

I have been shooting this muzzle loader since 2008. I have killed one other elk, with a good shot. I have also missed some deer in the process. I practice with the gun about once a month in the winter months, and from about May to the hunt, about every 10 days. My dad kept having issues with things on his guns, including the stock screw stripping out on one, getting a barrel for his shotgun, and having the extractor break, and then finally bought a CVA Optima. He practiced several times, and was dead on with his loads. We both practiced to 100 yards, and the longest shot taken by either of us was 125 yards. These were estimates of course, and walking some of them out. I do not have a range finder, and keep saying I need to get one, but there again, thats life, and how things go.

We sighted in our guns, and practiced from field positions only from there on. I have only shot my ML from a bench on 3 occasions since I have had it.

Bottom line is things happen. In the mountains, angles are weird, yardages can appear different than what they really are, and buck fever can have a weird effect that no one can control 100%.

As much as I would like to say I am a perfect shot, I am not. I challenge anyone out there to prove to me that they have never missed a shot at an animal.

I talked to one person while out there that had missed 4 shots at elk in 6 days. I also read on another board where a marksman in the military missed a 60 yard shot, and 2-250 yard shots at elk, with a centerfire rifle.

I wish we could have recovered that buck, but we didn't, and so life goes on. He is done for the season, and I am also. We were out for 10 days, spent some good time together, and have some good memories.

Later, and good luck to all this season.

Marcial

Charlie,

I hear you on all the variables. It's easy to be an armchair quarterback and say, "Hey, how'd you miss that shot". It's another thing to be behind the sights, sweating with a touch of buck fever. I've been fortunate to only miss a deer with a ML once, but I've only been hunting with a ML for 5 years.

On the other hand, I've missed deer with a shotgun and a bow multiple times, even though I practiced a lot with them and thought I was ready. I've had scope/sight problems that cause misses, deer moving at the last second, buck fever and some unexplained ones as well.

Just keep practicing, keep looking for a very accurate load and try your best - that's all we can do!

I sure can't remember all of the deer I've killed. But I remember each and every one I've missed (two) and the ones I know I hit but could not find (also two). It happens, but shouldn't happen too often. That's a 40+ year record, but I seldom take a shot that is in any way risky.