Only the good ones will make you pull your hair out. Last night, 3 deer came sprinting up to me and the lead deer was a heavy 9-point whitetail buck. At first, I'm thinking he is gonna blow right past me the way he was approaching. But he and the other deer (smaller bucks) came to a very abrupt stop and don't you know big boy was right under some branches preventing me from taking a shot where he stood not ten yards away

So he moves forward a little bit (acting very nervous) and proceeds to stop again right underneath my stand! So again, he is not a good shot. So during the next several minutes shaking uncontrollably, I waited until he decided to MOVE! So then he moves albeit little by little. He is facing away from me and I vision a between the shoulders spine shot. So I draw back, line up the peep and the 10 yard pin and release. After a loud thump and a the big buck thundering away from the scene seemingly okay; I suddenly felt sick. What could have went wrong? Right underneath my stand and I practiced that shot this season and past seasons. After getting down 20 minutes later, I found my arrow clean as a whistle and a stealthy twig between where the arrow stuck in the ground and where my stand was. Oh well, the rut is still coming...Thank God!

I would just be thankful you missed by a lot an missed cleanly, it could have been much worse if you missed by a little. Not a good shot to take IMO no matter how much you practice it.

Shooting at a fixed target does not equal real situations entirely.

missing was probably the best thing that could happen, maybe he'll show again and give a better shot, the rut can't be far off for you guys, best of luck, iffy shots and tracking marathons can really leave you with some sick feelings, oh yea don't forget to breathe

It happens to all of us at some point. Two years ago, in the spring, I missed 3 turkeys in about 1 week!! I was mad cause when I would go shoot at the target, I was right on. It's different when you get out in the woods and have an animal out there. You get nervous!! Its the best feeling in the world though, as long as you can fight it off and make the shot of course. Good luck in persuing him throughout the year and hope your season turns out good.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. I wish everybody a great and exciting season. The big ones do not provide a lot of oppurtunities. If they did, I guess I wouldn't have been shaking so bad...