2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Well, as of last night, my cousin has now missed two nice bucks in 2 weekends of hunting. Last year he killed his first deer, but it wasn't exactly a good shot, hitting it about 8 inches in front of the tail, but got the spine. Anyway, my question is, what advice could I give him to help calm down. I bowhunt and I know to keep controlled breathing through the shot, is that the same for rifle hunting, or should he hold his breath? Maybe chew gum, lol I am at a loss here,but Idon't want him wounding deer, for the deers sake and his.

And also, he said this deer jumped, fell over, then got up and ran after the shot. When he got to the place the deer was when he shot it, the deer blew from about 30 yards up in the woods, as it got up and ran off. He checked the "bedding" spot of the buck and said no blood was anywhere to be found, and they scoured the woods until dark, about 2 1/2-3 hours. What does that sound like to you? I think he hit it. Thanks in advance for all the advice

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

My advice for helping him calm down is to not put up the gun immediately and take some deep breaths. I tend to get excited when seeing any deer (doe or buck) so I just take it easy and breathe deeply and gain my composure.

On the second, it definitely sounds like your cousin hit the deer. If it fell where he shot it and also laid down 30 yards from where he shot, it's probably in the woods somewhere. He might have gut shot it and it hasn't started bleeding out yet but is hurt.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

I made a bad shot yesterday, the doe started to bolt as I shot so It caught her in the back right hip.[:@]Maybe his gun is off? He ought to go someplace where can shoot so he can be confident. Make sure once you know the buck is a shooter, don't look at the antlers anymore, just concentrate on your target.When I go to shoot once I got the gun on target I take a deep breath, hold it, then fire. Also make sure he's not jerking when he shoots butwatchesthe target through the shot. For the deer he shot make sure you get down and look for tiny droplets of blood. My dad and I followed a trail like this for hours yesterday. Sorry for the long post but it is no fun for the hunter or the hunted to have bad shot/recovery made. Good luck!!:D

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Let's see, he shot at the tail and hit 8ins in front!

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

get him a set of shooting sticks or trim a branch to hold the gun steady.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

How much shooting practise does he do before hunting season?Nothing improves ones shooting more than practise from actual field positions.Even practising with a 22 or air rifle will help a great deal.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

i agree...sounds like he needs to hit the range......if he shots groups on the bullseye at the range then he needs to calm down....sounds like he sees a deer pulls up and cracks one off......tell him not to rush it...and goto the range and practice.......i practice alot with my deer rifles.....long range groundhog shooting all summer plus pop cans ect when the groundhogs arent coming out makes shooting deer simple........

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Your cousin needs to practice several boxes of shells at the range not using the bench - mimicking actual hunting positions. He needs to practice as if he's actually shooting at a deer - every thing that we do when we draw down on a deer that appears out of the brush. See the deer. Quickly and quietly flip the scope covers if needed. Slowly but surely get a good position and rest on whatever is available. Acquire the target - the RIGHT target!!! (not just getting on brown!). Flip the safety. Exhale, squeeze. He needs to practice this slowly and carefully in a variety of positions and gradually speed up the sequence when he can do it accurately. In otherwords, he should go through the routine and fire as quickly as he can, but only as quickly as he can do it smoothly, quietly, and ACCURATELY.

If need-be he should use life like targets.

Anything that makes this all routine and almost without thought - but at the same time, a good aim and accurate shot.

Sounds like he's just not practiced and gets flustered.

AS for loosing the deer- he also needs to learn the importance of letting a deer be after the shot. At least 1/2 hour for a good clean chest hit. At least an hour if not two for a leg shot like his. A leg will bleed out and fairly quickly if the femoral artery is hit, but they will also hang in there and run for quite a while afterwards if pushed, but if not pushed will often lay down after just a minute of running or trotting.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

You didn't mention the caliber of gun he is shooting. Is he overgunned, or does he have a flinch? If not he needs to practice shooting at lifesize paper deer targets in the off season. This will improve his accuracy and help him concentrate on the vitals.

I used to have the same problem with buck fever. After killing a few deer it has really slowed down a lot. Also, I used to put the scope on every deer that came into range and pretend to shoot it. I made absolutely sure the safety was on, and my finger was away from the trigger. This helped greatly.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

some practice would be good for him also sounds likes he's shooting at the deer and not picking out a spot to shoot.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

How is the trigger pull on his gun? Seems simple but I attribute several misses as a youngster myselfto having a HORRIBLE trigger. Being young it took me a long time to figure it out. Once I really got into guns and realized how hard I needed to pull before the gun went off, I realized many times I was pulling the crosshairs off of what I was shooting at. Especially in hunting situations.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Shoot Ive missed more times then I can remember ..or want to remember ...experience and practice will help calm him down!

dd

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Practice makes perfect and when he spends a bunch of money on ammo and range cost. Trust me he will take his time cause he wont want to spend the money like that lol. Wish him luck.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Hey guys, sorry about the lack of information. He shoots a 7mm-08 and I've been to the range with him about 3 times or so. He always does well, and once I handed him an empty gun when he thought it was loaded and he squeezed the trigger calmly and had no jerk when it clicked. He gets about 1-2 in groups or so at 100 yards, so the gun is fine, and he checked it again last weekend after the first miss, andit was right on. He hunts out of an enclosed deer stand with windows, and uses the carpeted window ledge as a gun rest, which is just as good as the bench at the range. And as for the tail shot Rebel Hog, he wasn't aiming at the tail, he was aiming behind the front shoulder [:-], butthat pic is exactly what I looked like when I saw thebullet hole. Thanks for all the advice and God bless.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

When he shoots out of the stand does he rest the barrel on the stand to steady his aim?Resting the barrel can cause a change in point of impact.Always have the stock on the rest.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

I took a friend out hunting a few times this year. Well the first day we went out A really nice 6 pointer came to within 15 feet of him, he fired and MISSED.[:@] I was like wtf?!?! The second time I took him hunting A super nice 8 pointer was walking towards us. I blew a doe bleat at it, and it stopped to rub on a small tree, at the time this deer was only 30 yards away and making its way to us, I whispered over and over "Wait until it gets closer". The next thing I knew.. BOOOOOM!!! All he could see was the deer's head because it was behind a tree. STUPID STUPID STUPID!! He missed. The deer ran down the hill a little bit and stopped, he shot again... MISSED AGAIN!! I said, PUT ANOTHER SLUG IN THE GUN!!! And he said :eek:I only brought 2 shells:eek: So we sat there and watched this great buck walk right back out into a perfect shot, and I said, LETS GO. And got up and walked back to the car, I was MAD!![:@]I plainly said to WAIT, but he couldnt wait until he had a clear shot, WHICH HE WOULD HAVE HAD A10 FOOT SHOT IF HE HAD WAITED! I told him later that Im not bringing any mentally incapable person back in the woods again!

I said "Wait until it gets closer!!" and he said "I thought you said shoot" I was right beside him! I never took him again.

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

I missed a six point at about 150yrds day 2of the rifle season. I immediatley got down and took the gun for a walk. I walked til i found a good safe spot to shoot I grabed a piece of paper out of the jeep to target shoot at. 4-6 inches high and 2-3 inches to the right. I pledge to my self it will not happen again ( i know better). last time I shot the gun before season it was shooting right on.
Things to consider. I hunt from a tree the wind was blowing, accuracey,breathing and distance. I shoot 30-06. which will reach out there. I let off the trigger twice because of wind gusts. and did not have anything to steadey up against..this is the first time I ever missed. Just I'd give you my penny's worth.. good luck ya'll

RE: 2 misses in 2 weeks
 

Yep[:@]