Our season opened yesterday here in IL, but unfortunately due to my work schedule I wasn't able to get out until tonight. Decided to sit on the ground in a small finger of woods that sticks into a grassy field where the deer like to feed. Got out around 3:30 and got settled in. Around 5:45 I spot three does coming out of the woods directly to my right. Unfortunately I didn't catch them immediately and they got through my first shooting lane, but were angling slightly away from me and right into my second lane. When the biggest doe got there she stopped just slightly quartering away and started feeding. I drew back, settled my pin on her, and shot right over her back. I plain and simply misjudged the yardage. I thought she was close to 30, but when I paced it off later it ended up being right around 22-23. After the shot they all ran about 40 yards, stopped, looked back, and continued feeding out of sight.
I never really realized how difficult it can be judging yardage in a completely open space with no trees or other landmarks to reference from. Tomorrow night when I get back out I'm going to pace it off and put a few markers out so this doesn't happen again.

I guess this is why they call it hunting, eh? [8D]

If you get a bow that is fast, like my PSE, you can missjudge yardage by ohh say 56 yards and still be dead on. Hey, it happens. Be glad you didn't wound her.

don''t feel bad i had about the same thing happen to me earlier this week n like u said...atleast it wasnt a buck, cause then it would upset u even more

Its really easy to do! (misjudge distance) Its by far the biggest reason people miss or make a bad hit on a deer.

Sounds like you won't make that mistake again...Good Luck!

HNIJustin,

For that exact reason is why my purchase of a lazer rangefinder 4-5 years ago was/is probably the best tool I carry into in the woods with me. I'm a terrible judge of distance and it takes all the guess work out of it. Best of luck the rest of the season!

Anybody who has never done that raise your hand. Anybody....anybody. Didn't think so. Shake it off Bro, lotsa season ahead.

i have never done this but i have had some deer not stand in the right spot[:-], get a range finder even the chepo's help....

That is an AWESOME answer! Can I use it in my signature?

I did it last year. The only thing is that it wasn't a doe. I didn't bring my rangefinder that day and was in wide open sagebrush. The buck was a 30+ inch non-typical mule deer. I saw him 5-6 more times that day and even got to watch him breed a doe. Good thing is that his genes were spread one more season. He better watch it this year. I won't forget my rangefinder.

Justin, Don't they pay you enough at HNI to buy a rangefinder . It's a long season, you will get other chances .