Well, hunting season is here or rapidly approaching and the stories will start coming in about game that is shot. There has been a lot of talk recently about the performance of gear on game and it's effectiveness, and for good reason. For example there are the mechanical vs. fixed blade debates, the fast vs. slow debates, the heavy arrow vs. light arrow debats and so on. My thought is this; do we question our gear so much so we have an excuse when things don't go perfect? There will be people that don't get their deer and they'll say, "I'm getting a faster bow" or "I'll never use those wimpy carbons again" or "Darn mechanicals didn't work."

I think we are placing so much blame on our gear when the component at fault is in the mirror. Let's face it, the gear that is out there today is far better than anyone could have imagined 10 years ago. So if something goes wrong, it probably (note: I said PROBABLY was not the gear. I know most of us practice endlessly and prepare for the moment, but when the moment happens emotion takes over and sometimes makes all that preparation for naught.

If you mess up, say so. Most guys here will admire you more for admitting your mistake than if you blame it on your gear. On the doe I shot this year I had a perfect broadside shot on a calm deer with her head down. I knew the distance within one yard and placed my arrow squarely in her shoulder resulting in poor penetration, a lousy blood trail, and a 400+ yard mid-day tracking job. I know my bow put the excellent penetrating expandable broadhead tipped arrow right where I aimed. Unfortunately, I aimed poorly at a distance that I normally smack half dollars at. So in closing, we all make mistakes. Be big enough to admit yours and do the best job you can to recover the game when a mistake is made. And most of all, good luck this year.<img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

I agree. After endless threads and snipes about slow/fast and heavy/light I could care less. Only things I know is I have a new fast rig with carbons and the arrows go deeper in the target than my old bow so hope they do the same on the animal. We will see. New stuff is great and all is interesting reading BUT most of the time it's the indians and not the arrows. I still have a major adrenaline rush on the shot and can't wait to feel it next month. Good hunting.

Well said but I hope my wife wasn't reading this because I was using all those excuses to get a new bow with better arrows.

HuntingBry,

Very good post. You are right on target. Wish everyone thought the way you do.

I have never missed a deer due to equipment failure. I missed deer because I messed up in one way or the other.

Some things are true whether you believe them or not.

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm happy to see that I'm not the only one that feels this way.

Yep...I totally agree with you! And if you bring home a fat ugly chick from the bar don't blame it on the beer! LOL! Good post HuntingBry

Good Post Bryan!

Actually it really was the heads fault...or maybe that light carbon....LOL just kidding <img src=icon_smile_wink.gif border=0 align=middle> <img src=icon_smile_evil.gif border=0 align=middle>

I really do like that earn a buck program....wish VA and WV would adopt that.

Wolfen, you kill me <img src=icon_smile_big.gif border=0 align=middle>

THAT IS A GREAT POST.

THERE IS NO EXCUSE FOR POOR HUMAN PREFORMANCE DURING BOW SEASON. I AM NOT SAYING THAT MISTAKES DO NOT HAPPEN, THEY HAPPEN REGULARLY, WHAT I AM SAYING IS THAT THE LACK OF PRACTICING REGULARLY SHOULD NOT BE BLAMED ON EQUIPTMENT. I BELEIVE STRONGLY THAT WITH DAILY PRACTICE YOU WILL OVERCOME BUCK FEAVER AND YOUR INSTINCTS WILL TAKE OVER.

MY SON AND DAUGHTER WILL BE HUNTING FOR THE FIRST YEAR THIS YEAR. BUT YOU YOU KNOW WHAT? THAY HAVE BOTH BEEN PRACTICING DAILY FOR 2 YEARS. THEY ARE BOTH CAPIBLE ON THE 3-D RANGE. THEY WILL BOTH GET THERE FIRST KILLS THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY KNOW THERE EQUIPTMENT, THEY KNOW THERE RANGES AND THEY HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO MAKE THE FIRST HUNT GREAT.

HUNT ON HUNT HARD AND EAT WELL