WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU MISS WITH JOHN E. PHILLIPS
Don't Leave a Good Spot And Have A Good Attitude
 Editor’s
Note: You'll immediately feel violently ill when you
release an arrow and watch the broadhead cut nothing
but air. Unfortunately, I've had this happen to me more
than once. At times, like you, I've heard off in the
distance my hunting buddies screaming and hollering
when they've missed shots. I've also seen bows have
rude encounters with tree trunks after they've failed
to perform properly. However, I've learned often the
best part of your bow hunt occurs after you've missed
a shot. Many times, you'll get a second shot at the
same deer or a bigger deer.
Just because you've missed several deer in the same
location, don't give up hunting that site. As a novice
bowhunter years ago, I found a stand site in the woods
between a big briar thicket and a hardwood bottom. A
large mound of dirt ran between this bedding area and
feeding region. I discovered a deer trail ankle-deep
with tracks going in both directions between these two
places.
Back then, I hunted with my own homemade pin sight I'd
invented. I'd had great success with my accuracy with
it in the backyard. However, when I climbed the tree
to get to my stand, I inadvertently bumped the sight,
causing it to no longer shoot accurately. My arrow flew
over the back of the first deer that appeared. On the
next deer, I shot the ground 6 feet in front of the
deer after I'd moved my pin sight. From 1:00 p.m. until
dark, I shot 24 arrows at deer less than 30-yards away.
I made four trips up and down the tree to collect arrows
after I shot. Although I had put plenty of scent in
the area and spooked many deer, the next week I went
back to the same tree stand. After adjusting my sight
properly, I bagged a nice buck.
 Usually
you'll have the most success bagging a buck with your
bow the first time you hunt an area. However, unless
the deer sees you before, when or after you shoot, he
probably won't know what's spooked him. Then you can
hunt from that same stand again. Don't give up on a
productive tree stand site just because you miss a deer
there.
Have a Proper Attitude About the Miss:
You can pull success from the ashes of defeat if you
maintain the proper attitude and have a never-say-die
spirit. I've known bow hunters who've screamed and hollered,
thrown temper tantrums on their tree stands and/or left
the woods after they've missed shots. Your mental attitude
has more to do with your success after a miss than the
place you hunt or the equipment you use. I believe and
know as truth that if I
miss...
* one deer, I'll probably see another deer at the same
spot in a very short time,
* I may get a second shot if the deer stops,
* the same deer may return to see what's spooked him,
* I've still had a great day afield because I've had
the opportunity to shoot,
* I may have faulty equipment, which I quickly can check
out for flaws and
* the sooner I can forget about the miss, the less likely
that I'll miss the second time.
I also realize that if I become aggravated or frustrated
because I've missed and spoiled my hunt, then I'm hunting
for the wrong reasons and should change sports. Even
the best bow hunters can and will miss at some time.
None of us like to miss. But if you know what to do
once you've failed to be less than accurate, you'll
have a greater chance of success the next time you try.
TOMORROW: WHEN THE BUCKS COME RUNNING AND WHEN YOU
HIT BUT MISS
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