Davoh

"ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ ZZZZZ"

*BOOOM*

"Huh, wha..."

"I was going to let you shoot him, Son,but you wouldnt wake up"

5 minutes later My dad and I climb down to go get the biggest buck he ever killed, a 12 point with split G2's.... [&:]

Whitey5196

I have to agree wit an above post. I think people tend to take a shot to quickly. Wait for the animal to present the correct angle for a shot.

rybohunter

I don't know if I can list just one

Not scouting enough/properly
Forcing the shot. Also phrased as taking a shot that really isn't there.
And rushing after a deer that's hit

NEW61375

1. Inadequate scouting.
2. Inattention to detail before/during/after season(the deer-woods
are constantly changing)
3. Poor prep. in the off season.(shooting/equipment/practice like you
hunt).
4. Scent control.
5. Travel path to/from stand.
6. Overhunting good stands at wrong time.
7. Hunt smarter not harder.( I feel this goes with #6)
8. Lack of patience (stick it out)
9. Confidence (this goes with #8, believe in your stand, if you lack
confidence, SCOUT HARDER!!)
10. Poor stand placement in good areas.

I think it is hard to isolate the biggest mistake because any mistake can cost you your deer. Here are 10 I try not to make. As far as the shot and after the shot Iagree witha lot of the other posts don't force anythingand be patient after the shot.

Rick James

lack of proper scouting that doesn't educate the animals, and knowing movement patterns of deer

scent control

poor choice of entrance/exit routes to and from a stand

NEW61375

I liked the post from Quiksilver about over emphasis on gear. $5,000 worth of gear and 5 cents worth of woods knowledge gets you nowhere (but broke)!!

janesburg

A form of "buck fever". With a bow you have to let the deer keep coming in close for a shot. With a gun, in some cases as soon as you see it you can shoot no matter the distance, not giving you as much time to hyper ventilate or get all shakey.

SuperRedHawk

My only mistake has been not practicing with my cold weather clothes on. Sucks when the string hits your coat and the arrow lands 3 feet in front of the deers face, TWICE!! [:@][:@]
But misjudging distance has to be a big one.

hardcorehunter

Overhunting the same stands and not knowing where to put stands because they don't know how and where deer move through the woods on a said property. I also know a lot ofbowhunters that have no patience and can't sit stilland they really should get a new hobby as patience and sitting stillis the name of the game when hunting from a stand. HCH

Antler Eater

Lots of good replys. I guess it could be argued that the biggest mistake is the one that you made that cost you the deer you were pursuing.

My best guess would be that it would be a combination of errors that really costs a guy. Most of them coming from a lack of preparation, and precaution which spawns a low confidence level, that among other things diminishes ones will to "stick it out".

On another note, many of the mistakes that are made are not even thought of as mistakes because one is not there to see the reaction of the animal. The shutting of the vehicle door. Grabbing a branch, a fence, a pull rope, several lowtree steps,etc. with your bare hand. Believeing your hunt is over because your not seeing anything and leave in a less than conservative fashion.

For those that have not killed many deer with a bow (certainly not limited to just that class however)many times they will experience an emotional meltdown at the moment of truth. It robs them of their good judgement and powers of reason. One's emotions under most conditions do not respond to reason, only action. Therefore you need a plan of attack. Again it goes back topreparation.

I could go on and on...I know it sounds like I am bragging but the truth is this post is oneto my shame. Being that I have made every mistake imaginable, I feel like I am somewhat of an authority on the subject.