Missed a big trophy today from10 yds.The bruiser came infrom my back around 5:15 pm, I was looking the other direction when I heard him coming about 30 yds away, he came right under me! I have never been so close to a deer during seasonlet alone a trophy buck;of course he stayed in my blindspot[:@](wish I faced my climber the other way) When I saw how big he was I thought I was going to pass out, my heart wanted to come through my chest.I took a few deep breaths and peeked around the tree, he was still standing there obviously sniffing thee doe disks I put out. I counted at least8 pts, real quick, there were probably more as he was partiallyscreened behind someleaves of a maple sapling.I waited for him to move into my lane ..he wouldn't instead he turned and started back the way he came. As he was leaving he gave me a quartering away shot, I shifted my stancefacing the tree now,Idrew my bowback (felt like I was pulling 100 lb's not 60)now he's only 10 yds away, 15 at most. I was already thinking about the drag, put my 20 yd. pin on his vitals and shwapp!! Right over top by 6-10 inches[>:]It all happened so fast...I don't know if I hita maple leaf branch or bit of brush..or just missed. This was a different tree than I usually sit at, there was another hunter near my favorit location. This is my second yr. with the bow ,probably only my 5th or so real bowhunt asI started late last yr. I practiced all summer andwas quite confident outto 35 ydsfor this yr.[:'(]I'm verydissapointed to say the least. I will have to practice shooting from stand as I havn't done this yet, and mabee that contributed to the miss. I'm soul searching for reasons why.[] I watched him trot about 60 yds away turn broadside look at me & flagged away up the hill. I have been gun hunting for 20 yrs and never had this experience of being so close before ;or so much addrenaline rushing through my veins either. He was magnificent 200+ lb. & quite the rack though I can't be sure exactlyhow big,I imaginesome men live a lifetime without seeing such an animal so I guess I should be thankfull just for seeing him. Gonna change my username........
Empty freezer & no trophy in NY

Ahhh the wonders of physics. If you are going to shoot from elevated stands or hieghts you need to practice at those heights. Gravity pulled a fast one on ya lol. Actually you will only need about an hours worth of shooting to figure your shots from a stand, pretty easy if youve already got your bow sighted in from the ground. I cant wait to see the guys posting saying bend at the waist blah blah blah. Pendulum sights are where its at if you hunt from stands IMO.

Bummer! It's an awesome rush isn't it. That is why bowhunting is so addictable and diffucult. I have also come to the conclusion that the trail you anticipate the buck coming from is probably going to be the wrong one. Way more often than not.

I talked to a guy years ago, a pretty dang good bowhunter by the way. He told me we all seem to misjudge our shots under pressure, and if you don't know the exact distance, always aim at the lower 1/3rd of the body, will keep the arrow from going high.

vashadowhunter

That's true, learned quick to lower the shot 6 - 8" when shooting from the stand. Now, the tricky part.....gotta get one this first season!

I was always taught to bend at the waist when I shoot from the tree. Now it takes me longer to pull back set my bow then bend at the waist, aim shoot. But my 20 yd pin is right on from tree or ground. I think because I learned to shoot it has become second nature.
First deer I shot at, no wasit bend and I got lucky and spined it.

I feel your pain NY .... Im not a Monday morning QB so have no idea what may have caused you tomiss but at least you have a lifetime memory ..and you were in the woods ... things dont get much better then that !

ROLL TIDE
DD

When i first started bowhuntin,i just loved huntin the treestand,hoped my first shot would be out of a treestand and it was but I always kept these three phrases in my head,when shooting up,aim alittle high.When shooting down,aim alittle low and a soon as you release the string,the deer seem to fall afew inches.

i feel your pain...I'm fairly new to bow hunting...and also missed a decent one the other day

Practice Practice