To add to what Troy said,I also know folks that are of the philosophy that if it is big you get an arrow or bullet in it any way you can,especially so on snow.
I have passed on many animals that I "may" have been able to kill,because the shot wasn't right.

I'll take a clean miss any day. Last week one ducked an arrow on me and when I found it there was some hair and grease on it but no red blood. I spent the rest of the night searching and then tried again in the morning. Turns out the deer is fine and I just nicked her, since I saw her later. If that had been a clean miss it would have saved about 5 hours.

First words of the thread header....for those just joining us....

I think I see what you're asking Jeff (my name's Steve, btw).

As far as archery and shooting an arrow, a wounded-shot is 'better' than a clean miss as far as being close to your intended point of impact. But as far as hunting is concerned, a clean miss is much better than a wounding hit.

It depends on how you're looking at it.

And I can't help but think you're referring to the other night when you made that not-so-perfect-shot on that HUGE BEAST of a buck you ended up with (big congrats on that one too). If that's where this is coming from, you don't have any explaining or rationalizing to do about it. You know what happened and I'd bet my bow it doesn't happen again.


If I'm way off, then just please excuse me and ignore all this.

A clean miss means no long drug out death. A bad shot means a long drugout death with not benefit to anyone but the yotes. Or at least that is the way I see it. But I understand what you are saying though. I never thought of it that way, but a miss is a worse shot in accuracy, but its more
favorable then a miserable death with no benefit to the shooter.

Bowman:

I never put a bad shot on a buck this year. You have me confused with someone else.

Sorry Jeff. I get some of your names mixed up if I don't pay closer attention. I wasthinking of GregH's post. I'm sorry.

The desire is to kill the deer, not wound it. I am out there programed to kill, of I miss I may feel like crap for missing the shot, but I still feel much better than tracking a wounded deer.