I feel horrible
 

Well guys I'm sure this isnt what you expected when you clicked, but I still feel horrible. Not because I wounded one, but because I missed one. It's a long story and I'm way too tired to type it all, but long story short. I rushed a shot on a nice sized doe and cleanly missed her. Now it's not the rifle, and I feel I am a very good shot. I just messed up and now it's really bugging me! I just wanted to see how many of you guys have missed a deer with a gun?

RE: I feel horrible
 

It happens. Dont beat yourself up. Weve all done it.

RE: I feel horrible
 

You show me someone who never misses a deer and I will show you a liar!

RE: I feel horrible
 

If you keep hunting it will happen again, too.

RE: I feel horrible
 

Anyone who has spent anytime in the woods has missed a deer. Dont worry about it and get back out there. Just think of it this way. Much better to pull a clean miss on adoe than a big old buck right??

RE: I feel horrible
 

I've missed one at embarassingly close range simply because I forgot to compensate for my sights being set higher than the range I was shooting. :(

RE: I feel horrible
 

I was at camp a few years ago with some buddies who were telling me we should all be able to shoot a deer in the head (with gun or muzzleloader) to preserve all the meat. Well, I had a doe come in to within about 10 yards on a slow walk, and completely missed the head shot with my scoped muzzleloader! Needless to say, I won't ever do it again unless the deer is standing still at close range, and even then will probably go for the shoulder.

RE: I feel horrible
 

I missed a nice doe at 30 yards with my Remington 870 Express. Figured out that I shot right over her. I wear contacts but still need reading glasses....I couldn't focus in on the sights properly.

The next year I had a scope put on the gun!!! LOL!!!!

Think of it as a story to laugh about in deer camp!!! [X(]

RE: I feel horrible
 

An easier question would be to ask who hasn't missed. I've missed and there is no shame in admitting it. And there is no shame in admitting you hit one and didn't recover it. I'm guilty of that too although it sucks. It also happens to the pros you watch on TV. Shake it off, it's early in the season. At least you didn't hit and wound it. Enjoy the rest of your season. Maybe you'll fill your tag with a better deer.

RE: I feel horrible
 

like they said we all miss, sooner or later! and we will all more than likely miss again in the future! one missed deer wont kill you, it might sting the pride a bit, but look at it a different way. you let that doe so you can get that bigger deer later! as long as you still have tags you can still go to the woods, and hunt!

RE: I feel horrible
 

I missed a 6 pointer opening day last year.Got the "fever" and rushed the shot.

RE: I feel horrible
 

I missed 2 does in the same day 2 years ago..that was a bad day for me

RE: I feel horrible
 

One thing I would suggest...Check your gun, again...This is SOP whenever I take any guests up to our farms to hunt...It doesn't matter if they miss, or get a bad hit...I can tell their confidence is shaken and they need reassurance...Sometimes it is the gun, best to find out now and it will also help your confidence....

About 2 weeks ago I missed a doe with my bow...Twice!!!!

I checked my bow, everything was good...Went to a pro shop that I trust, on Saturday morning, he spent some time with me and showed me what I was doing wrong, took 15-20 minutes...Since then, I have killed 2 does, hit both perfectly....

RE: I feel horrible
 

Is this the first deer you ever missed?

If "no", then relax and learn from your mistake.

If "yes" then relax and learn from your mistake.

RE: I feel horrible
 

Kevin, I have missed a head shot at very close range as well. I am a relative rookie. I have made a head shot at about 70 yds and my gun is sighted in at 25/100 yds. Can you explain to me the very close shot because I have completely confused myself over analysizing the shot. Thanks

RE: I feel horrible
 

I consider myself to be pretty good but I have still missed a few and made a few more bad shots.

RE: I feel horrible
 

YES speaking from experience...Missed a wall hanger (150+inch). First of all I let myself get buck fever and rushed the shot. I also found out after the season that my scope went to crap on me. My cousin almost missed his deer with that gun and I missed three...The scope was about a foot off in any direction...Its a muzzleloader fyi

RE: I feel horrible
 

add me to the "missed before" list before it gets too long.

RE: I feel horrible
 

I have missed deer that would make a grave digger cry all the way home.

RE: I feel horrible
 

I was sitting on top of dirt mound with the trusty 30-30 and this mature Doe walks right in front of me at about 10yds. I dont know how or why she didnt see me but I raise the rifle, cock the hammer and all I hear is, "Click". Low and behold I forgot to chamber a round so she just looks at me and runs off. I was pissed but afterwards all I could do was laugh. Thats the joy of hunting, you win some, you loose some but at the end of the day we still pat ourselves on the back and say, "There is always tomorrow".

RE: I feel horrible
 

Awwwwwwwww CHEER up little buckO ....there is nothing better then a clean miss except a clean kill ....theres always tomorrow ;)

dd

RE: I feel horrible
 

I've never missed always hit something,just might not be what I was shooting at.:D

big rockpile

RE: I feel horrible
 

Missed cleanly 4 times with my bow last season, 3 of which were decent bucks. Don't feel bad.

RE: I feel horrible
 

We all miss sooner or later! Better to miss cleanly thanhitting, tracking and never finding an animal.
You still have your tag and that doe is still out there! Good Luck!!!

RE: I feel horrible
 

What kind of fairy tails you been reading? Every one will or has missed at one time or another. Better a clean miss than a wounded animal. Get over it and practice once a week, even if its just a couple shots, and keep hunting. Practice all year, once a week.

RE: I feel horrible
 

Thats sucks! We all miss sooner or later! Where were you hunting with a gun this time of year in Wisconsin??

RE: I feel horrible
 

every hunter has done it dude dont beat yourself up ive missed 2 deer in 1 day!

RE: I feel horrible
 

Happens to all of us at some point and time. Keep practicing butit'll still happen again...:D...if you hunt long enough.

RE: I feel horrible
 

It happens to us all.

RE: I feel horrible
 

Sooner or later it happens to everyone! I missed two bucks in one morning a few years back and I didn't even try to make a shot on a third opportunity! I know its hard not to beat yourself up over it, but on the bright side, I'll take a clean miss over a lost wounded deer any day! Better luck next time!

RE: I feel horrible
 

Hey I missed at under 10 yds one time. I spotted one when I was on the ground and rested my rifle on a limb. He started walking right towards me so I waited to see if it would turn. It came in right at me so by the time it was almost to me I had to tilt my rifle way up because it was still resting on the limb. I figure I couldnt miss at this range so I fired and missed.
I felt stupid because I should have stepped away from the tree to shoot. I made it worse because I took another shot as it ran. Then I didnt have any more rounds loaded and it stopped and looked back at me. I reached slowly for another round, but then it ran off.
I wont forget that one!