I know that the OUTCOME of a clean miss is preferrable vs. a wounded deer. I also know that things occur to even good/great shots. Animals move. Unseen obstructions find the arrow. etc...

In REALITY, though....isn't a total miss a worse shot than one that at least is closer to finding its' mark?

Why do we not look at it this way??????

Fran's thread got me to thinking of this...and I in NO WAY am saying anything about his shot. I agree that things happen when your target is breathing. It just got me to thinking why we give one shot a "pass", when....in reality....it was further from the intended mark than the one that wounded an animal. I know Fran to be a skilled shot and an ethical hunter.

Anybody ever thought of this?

Yes it is a worse shot, but it is the more desired result of the event.

GMMAT, I would rather nmss the deer and not wound him. Yes, you are right, there is something seriously wrong with a complete miss, it means, either you flinched, arrow hit something, or your bow is off, not tuned, wrong size, etc etc etc.... One must find out why they missed and be thankful that they did rather than wounding and not finding an animal.

Greg, what a great deer you took, it must have been an emotional moment. Congrats.

Jeff,
I understand what your saying here! A clean miss is a worse shot if you did not hit a branch or anything. To me that tells me you are way off and need more practice before attempting to take an animal! Therefor a wounded animal is also not good in its own way. #1 Obviously you got an animal out there that is hurt! #2 Yes you may have been close to your mark but not close enough, rethink your shot maybe you rushed or just really did not have a clear shot but took it anyway? Alot of things can happen when wounding a deer and it happens to all of us! Hell I had a clean miss on Sat. was I off my mark "NO" The buck saw me and literally ducked my arrow. SO there are clean misses where its not the shooter or an obstruction. I just think every situation is different. I think for the experienced hunter who knows whats going on a clean miss is what they want. I know I was very upset when i missed but also on the other hand glad he totally ducked it and I did not wound him! Dont know if this all makes sense but I do understand what your saying Jeff.

Of course the shot is worse.... and sleep may come hard. But at least you know, that you're the only one sufferring, because of it.

Use a Rocket Hamerhead 2" 3 blade, Rage 2" 2 blade or any mechanical with a 2 inch or bigger cut and those not so perfect shots won't be so bad anymore. You will find more wounded deer with broadhead that does massive damage over your traditional 1" or 1 1/8" fixed blades.

I would rather miss completely than wound a deer. Unfortunatley i have done both but things like that happen over time. I will say this though, I have never felt like i was going to throw up from a complete miss like i have a wounded one. You will kick yourself in the butt for a while with a miss, but its better than that sick feeling that doesnt go away for a while. my deer this year i had to follow up with another shot because i didnt see a limb when looking through my peep. I felt horrible after the shot but got lucky enough to get another shot.

Just had some more time to think about this.

It is and it isn't. Let's take a shot where a deer ducks. Arrow flies right over it's back. The SHOT is EXACTLY where the archer aimed. The TARGET moved. Can't blame the archer for that.....unless there's an issue with shooting at a deer that's already on high alert.

It CAN be a worse shot (clean miss)....and it can be a GREAT shot. The target dictates much of how we perceive the outcome of the shot. I jus think that the guy who wounds a deer gets unfairly POUNDED, sometimes.....when he's done nothing worse than the guy who missed, clean (as far as execution).....and sometimes put a better shot on the animal.

I see both sides.

Is it better to swing and miss or to foul the ball into the stands ?

Both strikes,one just a little closer to a hit than the other.