Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

Minnesota deer's story on his first buck (congrats, again;)) and the shot got me to thinking, this morning.

DO we get better at discerning....or....maybe I should say...."absorbing" what "just happened" as we mature as bowhunters?

I'll clarify....buta fewthings immediately come to mind.

1. I remember the first time I shot at a deer. I missed, low...and I just knew I missed. It was kind of a blur.

2. Matt/PA's post about "keeping it together" also comes to mind. I keep going back to the part where he speaks of coming to full draw (for those starting out....and, to an extent, I still get this way....which isn't a bad thing....if controlled) and your mind starting to race. I can't stress how true this has been, for me. It's spot on.

3. I remember the first time I hit a deer......my second shot at one. I clipped a good buck 9/12/06....and everything in my head told me I'd smoked him. That was FAR from the truth....as I barely clipped him. (That story has a good ending....as he was killed 11/6/07 by me. I still have to live with clipping him).

4. When I think back on my most recent kills....my recollection of the shot (POI) has been spot on. I completely backed out, last Monday, because I KNEW the hit was a tad back. It was the right call.....even though i must have got some liver on the off side. Happy ending with a next morning recovery.

Do you feel like we gain perspective as we get more kills under our belts? I would hope that's the case....and that it only gets better and better. In going back to what Matt said (the part I keep referring to)....I hope I never lose that adrenaline rush of being at full draw on an animal. But I hope I become more and more in-tune with those feelings....and I'm able to "better" discern what's happening during these "frantic" milliseconds.

Anyone else feel like they're getting better at controlling the moment?

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

I’ve always seemed to get clarity of thought when I make an attempt to kill a deer with my bow. I can remember every miss, every kill shot and what was going thru my mind at the time. NOW after the shots the mind’s eye can see what it wants to, rather than what is there. Mostly I am pretty accurate with where I think my arrow went but I have been off a little a few times. Once I saw what appeared to be horrible penetration and a flapping arrow. Reality was a shaft buried 2” shy of the fletching. That was even after having killed many deer.

My worst bout of nerves came this past spring with a turkey. There was no clarity, I just fell to pieces and ripped off the shot without any sign of coherence. I hated it, I hope I never get like that again.

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

The key is to take control of the situation from the first sighting and realization you will take the shot if offered. (Not every one sets out to kill all available deer) From that point until after the shot you must follow through with the shot execution that you have practiced thousands of times.
I never ever make eye contact or even stare at a buck until it reaches the point where I am comfortable with the shot,then drawing and shooting should be as natural as target practice. A good follow through will finish the job.
After the shot keeping an eye on the deer and his reaction should be second nature.
Now is when the shakes start, hang your bow up, sit down and resume breathing in deep gasps,by now you realize that the shaking in your hands prevents you from dialing your cell phone and when you are able the first person you call screams "whats the matter with you." as you try to babble something about shooting a buck.
I try to remain quite and still until I feel I can safely get down,then after it becomes obvious that I can't even tie my bow on the pull op rope I sit some more. After I regain some sense of calm I again try to get down which would be easier and quieter achieved by just dropping my bow and just jumping from the stand.
Then I "sneak" out of the area.
The key to success is not letting emotions over take your senses.[:-]

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

That's what I'm getting at, Ryan. I'm hoping (based on the last few) that I'm getting better at this. Hoping.

I'll give you a good example..

I keep referring to what Matt said about coming to full draw....and your mind racing. Full draw comes right beofre you try to kill something. I've come to full draw twice this year and had to let down (animals I didn't end up taking). I STILL got "that feeling" (like most of us do after we shoot). I was THAT close. I don't know.....It used to be not that big of a deal if I came to full draw on a deer. Now....seems like I do it less often....but make it count more often. It was kind of a surprise I didn't shoot those two times, earlier. I know my mind must've been going into "shot" mode. Hard to explain...;)

I'd say "I hope you're not making an inference towards me".....but your reputation precedes you. :eek:

If I set out to kill "All avaiable deer"......they would add up, fast. 'Course....you knew that.

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

I think the more deer we shoot the better we become at the "moment of truth" times.. I read an article recently about shooting does and how it helps the whole process in what we do..so yes, I think we gain more understanding with every deer we shoot.

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

Jeff we get two tags,very few deer I see even tempt me to pick up my bow.
You on the other hand have expressed many times that you will attempt to kill all female deer that present you an opportunity.
I was making a point.Sorry it went over your head.:eek:

As well as your reputation precedes you.[:-]

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

It's not quite that way, Jim.....as I pass on MANY female deer, each year. I reserve the right to kill 'em all (all that present a shot opportunity), though. Right place...right time.

For the record....I've sighted 42 deer this fall, so far. Iv also had 23 of them in bow range. I've pulled the trigger EXACTLY......twice.;)

Your "point" is obvious.;)

Brandon.....I think you'r eonto something. I'm not saying it gets "easier" to discern things.....I think someone mentioned "clarity". Yeah....better "clarity" with more opportunities.

Why would it be any different than with anything else we do?

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

it's not Jeff, the more we see deer in rage and the more we take, it does get easier or we have more understanding of it.. it's like shooting free throws, the more you do it, the more likely it will become easier to at least see what you need to do...I don't see how anyone can argue this...

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

No doubt the more you experience something the better you are at being able to discern all the nuances involved in the process: drawing, picking a spot, watching where the arrow hits, watching how the deer reacted, watching the exact path the animal took, being able to "see it" on the ground as it looked from the tree, knowing what the arrow tells you in regard of when to start tracking, etc, etc..

I am a firm believer that a bowhunter should attempt to kill at lest a couple of doe each year just to keep his skills in all of these areas fine tuned.

For the guy that is waiting on nothing but a mature buck and will only kill a deer once every 2 or 3 years......he is much better than me if he can keep all these things intact by drawing on and shooting at a live animalso infrequent.

RE: Do we (bowhunters) gain a better understanding?
 

Absolutely agree with all that.