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I went out the past couple of days and have enjoyed the cool weather. I only hunt at one WMA for the most part and unfortunately after this incident today cannot disclose which one it is. The incident is not uncommon and very sad. I was scouting around this large, off the beaten path field the past couple of weeks and finally found a spot with tons of sign around it, including some nasty rubs. I knew bucks were in the area as well since a game warden told me yesterday that he had seen a monster buck in this field last night around 530. I got situated in my climber and waited. Around 530, sure enough out walked three smaller bucks. One might have been a shooter, but probably not. They mulled about the field for about 15 min and two of them went back in the woods behind where I had hung my stand. The other one just kept on walking through the field eating. I kept listening and hearing sounds behind me and sure enough out walks big boy. The circumfrence of his horns was about three fingers thick and at least a good 8 point if not a 10. I was too damn excited to count. He was standing perfect broadside about 25 yards. I drew and shot in about 5 seconds. I knew I put the bead on him. As soon as I released, he jumped. I think they call it "jumping the string." However, I still wasn't certain I missed. He jumped and ran back in the woods. I gathered my wits and climbed down. Took about 10 minutes to find arrow stuck in mud. No blood on arrow and no blood on ground anywhere. Dammit boy! I know that this is "HIS" area. My question now after saying the f bomb about a hundred times is will he return to this spot or have I scared him off for good??? Has anyone else missed a deer when they jump like that and do you think he'll return.

Thanks
P.S. This is only my second season deer hunting. I killed a doe last year at the same WMA. I'm afraid I've missed the opp. of a lifetime!

You should get a few does under your belt and leave the big boys to the experts. Just messin with ya. Sorry you missed him, there's a chance he'll return...especially since you missed him with a bow. Give him a few days and try again.

Yeah, I just hope, I just hope....That was definitely a wall-hanger. I coudn't believe my buck virgin eyes!!

A friend of mine got three chances at a good buck at his camp this year. Finally on the third try he got it all together. The buck was a big, old deer and he still came out, so I feel like you will get the chance to redeem yourself. You may want to give the spot a rest for a few days though.

Yeah, going to give it a rest tomorrow. May try on Tuesday again.

Don't feel bad, i've killed over 30 deer with my bow, and i missed a bigun saturday, he ran off and came back 30 min. later on the other side of me. Id rather spook one by missing him, than letting him wind me.

JD

I'm now discussing within my head whether I made a bad shot due to practicing primarily with field tips and then switching to a broadhead. I shoot Muzzy 3 blade and have enjoyed them. I just wonder if I shot lower than my field tips. I believe I'm shooting same grain with field tips as broadheads....Shot was made 25 yards using pendulum sight I was 15 feet in a tree. Tree was small and a little shaky, but nothing major that should have affected my shot.

i use older broadheads to site mine in, takes all the guessing out of the equation!!!!!!!!!!

rybo wrote:I'm now discussing within my head whether I made a bad shot due to practicing primarily with field tips and then switching to a broadhead. I shoot Muzzy 3 blade and have enjoyed them. I just wonder if I shot lower than my field tips. I believe I'm shooting same grain with field tips as broadheads....Shot was made 25 yards using pendulum sight I was 15 feet in a tree. Tree was small and a little shaky, but nothing major that should have affected my shot.

If you dont miss, you aint hunting. he will be back, remember.

1. PICK A SPOT TO SHOT
2. HOW MANY YARDS
3. WAIT ON THE SHOT
4. MISS EVER NOW AND THEN, HUNT SOME MORE
I missed a doe Friday at 6:15 at 25 yards, killed 15 or more with my bow over 15 years ,
just did not pick a spot on the deer to shoot, shot right in front of her.

Keep on him, he'll be back..

rybo wrote:I'm now discussing within my head whether I made a bad shot due to practicing primarily with field tips and then switching to a broadhead. I shoot Muzzy 3 blade and have enjoyed them. I just wonder if I shot lower than my field tips. I believe I'm shooting same grain with field tips as broadheads....Shot was made 25 yards using pendulum sight I was 15 feet in a tree. Tree was small and a little shaky, but nothing major that should have affected my shot.

Have you shot the muzzy's at a target. They may be several inches off from your field points. A lot of folks have to tune there bow to shoot broadheads like a muzzy.

He'll be back!!!!! Next Year if he makes it through this year!!!! Good luck with him...

He'll be back. Keep after him every day you get. If he hasn't winded you and the only thing is the miss don't worry about it. Go every day.

Thanks for all the replies and encouragement. I've got a serious case of the buck fever I've always heard about. After shooting my first doe last year, I was fired up, however, nothing like this. I see them in my mind's eye and dream about it at night. I hope my wife is still there after this season

After missing Mr. Big on Sunday, I target shot my broadheads on Monday afternoon to determine if they were flying different from the field tips. Sure enough, the Muzzy's were flying low and left about 5-8 inches. Problem spotted. Solution was to go and bite the bullet and buy Rage 2. These fly much better and more accurately just as my field tips. I practiced about 3 hours Monday from my roof and from 15 and 30 yards. I feel much better about my shooting as I'm finding confidence in shooting is key.

I was able to go Tuesday evening. I hunted the exact same tree and got in stand around 3 pm hoping against hope to see Mr. Big step forth. I saw nothing on my side of the field this time and not even the 3 smaller bucks I saw the other day before Mr. Big stepped out. ON the opposite side (which is about 100 yards), I saw a flock of deer step out just before dusk. A few does and at least one pretty decent buck from what I could make out at that distance, but it wasn't Mr. Big. I did not see anything come out from direction of where Mr. Big showed up Sunday. It had only been a couple of days. I just hope he didn't wiff my scent. Although I was covered in scent protection and the wind was blowing from SE whereas I was hunting North of where I saw him the other day. I'm pretty sure right now in Mississippi that deer in general are sticking to predictable bedding to feeding patterns. Who knows with these animals! Maybe I'll see him this weekend. I just hope I didn't scare him off to another neck of the woods!! It just seems odd as the deer on Sunday started moving earlier in the evening about 530 as opposed to around 6 yesterday.