...and it cost me a doe yesterday.

I had stuffed it into my pack because I was going to carry my jacket in, and wait to put it on until after I was set up so I didn't overheat and start to stink (worse). Well, after I put my jacket on, I forgot all about my armguard.

Later, two does came right down the trail I had staked out at about 9am. They turned off the trail right in front of me, passed crosswind, and then downwind without smelling me. One even looked up since I was sunlit at that particular moment, but didn't spook since I froze and closed my eyes, ostrich-style.

They continued to walk around the other side of me from right to left, and I took a broadside shot at the second deer at about 10 yards. I felt a funny jerk as the bowdelivered it's arrow, and the shaft buried itself in the snow passing just in front of the doe's brisket.The arrow had gone wide to the left, and I didn't figure out until later that the bowstring had caught my coatsleeve and messed it all up.

They still didn't spook too hard at the shot, since they only ran about 20 yards and looked around for what made the noise. Then walked away slowly with only the occassional tail flip as an indication that they had any idea how close they had come to their end.

When I got down, I checked to make sure I missed.
No blood, no fur, nothing but a slightly dulled broadhead, and some bruised pride.
Well, that's what I ask for when I go out...either a solid hit, or a complete miss, and a learning experience either way. Yesterday was just a day to relearn how important it is to remembermy armguard.My freezer's fill-o-meter depends on it.

No harm no foul. Still beats sitting at home thinking of new ways to cook a carp.

Well congrats on getting close. Get back out there, you'll get 'em yet.

In the last couple of hunts I've seen deer - a gazillion miles away -and two aimlessly wandering hunters - up close.

At least you are getting out!

I consider an outing a success every time I getclose enough to loose an arrow at a deer.

I'm going out both days this weekend to try again.
The wife is really liking a few of the ways we've cooked up the meat, adn my kid is now asking for it when she gets to help plan the meals for the week. That's my kiddo.