The Agony of Defeat...

[Triple C]

No pics - Just a short story. Now into my 5th year of trad bow hunting, I had my first up close and personal encounter with 2 shooter bucks Friday afternoon. Pure adrenalin rush of the highest order. Had to watch first buck for 30ish minutes as he worked his way from a food plot about 90 yds away from me and over into a hardwood draw where I was sitting on the edge of the draw and the plot. He was with a doe and her fawn but no chasing. Just a little sniffing between the two. Within 10 minutes or so the doe n fawn show up behind me. I know buck has to be coming and sure enough, he shows up eating acorns not more than 15 yds from my stand. I drew twice but never released due to fear of hitting twigs, limbs, leaves, etc. Had to watch him for another 10 minutes or so just right behind me. Nerve racking.

Doe n fawn move from timber back into food plot and walked almost directly under me. Buck hangs back munching on acorns. I'm glancing at doe n fawn and back at buck for what seems like an eternity. Just when it's getting almost too dark to shoot into the timber, I glance over my shoulder to check on doe n fawn and much to my amazement was another buck walking down the plot not more than 20 yds from me. I turn to this buck, wait for him to clear the cedar tree in front of me, and then draw as he's standing broadside. Heart pounding... I release and watch the arrow fly right over his back. He jumps and walks about 10 yds farter away. I nock another arrow but just have to watch him drift down the plot as dark approaches. Perhaps the most exciting 40 minutes or so I've ever experienced in a stand.

Next time...

 

[Laker]

That sounds like a great description of exactly why we hunt. I wouldn't really call that defeat. It was a fantastic experience.

 

[Triple C]

That sounds like a great description of exactly why we hunt. I wouldn't really call that defeat. It was a fantastic experience.

You are spot on! It was an amazing adrenalin rush of the highest order.

 

[j-bird]

Sounds like a VERY exciting event. But that is why it's called hunting and not killing. Nothing is automatic out there especially with a stick and string. I will be honest....I HATE watching the deer come in. At least ones I'm going to shoot. I get so worked up.....it's easier for me to just be surprised and just react. I like enough time for my eyes to tell my brain...."shoot you idiot!" and that's about it. Hopefully you didn't spook them much and they will be back..... Bow hunting is tough.....traditional bow.....that's even tougher yet. At least you missed clean.....I would rather miss clean, than get some wounding shot. I would have been a nervous wreck and screwed it up well before I had the chance to shoot!!!

 

[lakngolf]

Exciting Triple C. Sort of like Catch and Release in bass fishing!!

 

[Triple C]

Sounds like a VERY exciting event. But that is why it's called hunting and not killing. Nothing is automatic out there especially with a stick and string. I will be honest....I HATE watching the deer come in. At least ones I'm going to shoot. I get so worked up.....it's easier for me to just be surprised and just react. I like enough time for my eyes to tell my brain...."shoot you idiot!" and that's about it. Hopefully you didn't spook them much and they will be back..... Bow hunting is tough.....traditional bow.....that's even tougher yet. At least you missed clean.....I would rather miss clean, than get some wounding shot. I would have been a nervous wreck and screwed it up well before I had the chance to shoot!!!

j-bird...You are spot on brother! In 10 years I've killed 2 bucks with a rifle and probably only rifle hunted 10 times during that period. Last Friday's adventure was such a rush due to it lasting so long before a shot presented itself. To say my legs were wobbly is an understatement.

 

[Triple C]

Exciting Triple C. Sort of like Catch and Release in bass fishing!!

I released him alright! Gonna be back at it this coming Thursday thru Sunday.

 

[Elkaddict]

Sounds like a perfect night (provided you lots of bow season left). I’ve repeatedly passed on shooters early in a long season because I didn’t want a 7 week season to end the first sit or two. Yes, I’ve eaten tag soup a bunch of times....but it’s about those perfect exciting sits that helps me know I’m truly alive! It doesn’t hurt that my archery tag is either sex and I can fill it the last day. Keep the reports coming. For the record, I did draw on our number 5 buck, steadied the pin perfectly on my chosen hair, made sure the sight was level, smiled and let down. It was a perfect evening!

 

[Triple C]

Sounds like a perfect night (provided you lots of bow season left). I’ve repeatedly passed on shooters early in a long season because I didn’t want a 7 week season to end the first sit or two. Yes, I’ve eaten tag soup a bunch of times....but it’s about those perfect exciting sits that helps me know I’m truly alive! It doesn’t hurt that my archery tag is either sex and I can fill it the last day. Keep the reports coming. For the record, I did draw on our number 5 buck, steadied the pin perfectly on my chosen hair, made sure the sight was level, smiled and let down. It was a perfect evening!

Elk - We have 3 more months of season left down here. Firearms opens this weekend and goes thru 2nd Saturday of January. 2 bucks n 10 doe tags for every hunter. I nocked arrows on 2 different doe over the weekend while still hunting but never got a shot opportunity I was comfortable with. I just love the whole trad bow thing. Not much in the way of deer harvest so far but been pretty successful whacking pigs while still hunting. Shot a boar the previous weekend while slipping through our bottoms.

 

[Elkaddict]

Those up close and personal accounters are why we bow hunt!

 

[Mennoniteman]

A similar story, my friend came in from the morning hunt with the following narrative; Shot right over him standing broadside and he didn't budge. Nocked another arrow and held a little bit lower and shot right under him. Nocked my third and final arrow and held right on like the first arrow and shot right over him again, and he slowly wandered off. I'm quitting hunting right now. (But he was back out that afternoon)

 

[Triple C]

A similar story, my friend came in from the morning hunt with the following narrative; Shot right over him standing broadside and he didn't budge. Nocked another arrow and held a little bit lower and shot right under him. Nocked my third and final arrow and held right on like the first arrow and shot right over him again, and he slowly wandered off. I'm quitting hunting right now. (But he was back out that afternoon)

After getting my trad bow in 2014 I went out and killed the first deer I shot at. Thought...dang! Not too much to this. Since then it's been a different story. I seem to be deadly on pigs, whether still hunting on the ground or stand hunting. I've had a dry spell on connecting on the deer ever since.

 

[Mennoniteman]

After getting my trad bow in 2014 I went out and killed the first deer I shot at. Thought...dang! Not too much to this. Since then it's been a different story. I seem to be deadly on pigs, whether still hunting on the ground or stand hunting. I've had a dry spell on connecting on the deer ever since.

I can feel it. Your ship is just about to come in... When you go out to the same place later this week

 

[Triple C]

I can feel it. Your ship is just about to come in... When you go out to the same place later this week

Gonna be sitting in same stand Thursday afternoon.

 

[Mennoniteman]

Gonna be sitting in same stand Thursday afternoon.

Hang in there. Shooting a trophy generally takes multiple sits.

 

[Drycreek]

Hang in there. Shooting a trophy generally takes multiple sits.

Or night vision.......

 

[Mennoniteman]

View attachment 20232

Or night vision.......

That deer has a body like a steer. Must be 4 or 5?

 

[Drycreek]

That deer has a body like a steer. Must be 4 or 5?

I’m thinking five. I have two other pictures of him on the same night. No daytime pics, and might never see him again. It’s that time of year !

 

[dogghr]

Just ran across you story Triple. Great hunt. Something about trads and shooting over their backs from stands, speaking from experience. Last time that happened to me, 2018, I missed as you, but then 30 min later connected on another buck. Lucky. And the missed shot was actually an easier one to make. Go figure.

 

[Triple C]

Update...Missed again Saturday morn at 8 yds. Shot right in front of brisket. Live animal with a rack is so different that a stationary target. Still determined.