Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Ok perhaps not that controversial as it is "what would you do".

You have a best friend, great hunting partner (in most cases). You do everything with this guy, from buying equipment to scouting, bsing, & hours and hours of practice. Skill-wise on the range you are near equals.

However as good as a shot as he is on the range.. even mixing up distances, stances, etc. He shoots at and misses & wounds more deer than your comfortable with. He is not a bad shot. But he obviously gets overly excited and somehow manages to blow the shot. We have narrowed down his shooting range to 20 yards. A yardage he could shoot quarters at on the range.

He has taken numerous deer with rifle/shotgun etc. So it's not that he never done it before.

How do you handle this situation so you don't loose your pal, but are also doing the "ethical" thing?

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Pick a tree where we both could hunt in together and help him by watching, maybe even videotaping, his performance and provide him with useful constructive criticism that will help him become a better bow hunter.

If he is truly a friend, and a truly dedicated bow hunter, then we will work through it.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Good answer.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

i would shoot him (in a non vital area of course) or try a shock collar!!!!!!!!!!!;)
if that didn't work go with hazcon7's idea.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

If this was happening a lot I try to set up with him and watch/video the hunt. I can understand the occasional errant shot but if it's repetative I'd almost wonder if the shots weren't rushed off or if he was just taking bad shots. The only way to know for sure would be to see with you own eye.

Hunting buds are hard to come by, good ones anyways. If it's not a deliberate act I don't think it should be held against him. I'd personally be more interested in helping to correct the problem. Shooting many diffrent 3-d ranges may do the trick as might watching the hunt and descovering that he takes questionable shots. If you know the problem you can work for a solution.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Another thing occurred to me. Maybe he (the hypothetical friend) should consider hunting with only a camera a couple of times out. Being a gun hunter doesn't necessarily mean he is used to seeing deer up close and personal. A couple of close encounters without a weapon where he still has to practice site/scent control might calm his nerves a bit and keep him a little less jumpy when the time comes.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Hazcon's advice is on the money.

(but I kinda liked mt hands' suggestion too - LOL)

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

When I first started bowhunting, I would get buck fever something awful. One thing that helped me was to go out hunting, with no intention of shooting anything. Then if and when an animal came in range...I would draw on it and count to 3 and let down. This helped me alot not only with my buck fever issues, but also with learning when and how to draw on animals. It's probably something he's just gonna have to work through.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Well first of all I'd make sure that he practiced exclusivley on a 3-d target with complete hunting gear and an elevated poistion if he hunts from stands. The I would only encourage him so that I didn't make him any more nervous then he already is. Things like watching or video taping him may only make things worse.

RE: Weds..Must be controversy time
 

Send him a link to this thread...