I have killed 1 deer with a bow a buttonhead at 32 yards over 10 years ago. Since then I have shot at more than I care to admit. I haven't had a chance on one the last few years. Well I had a chance yesterday and you guessed it a clean miss. I have killed many with a gun but man that bow hunting keeps me shook up. Maybe the drought will end soon.

Good luck and keep at it! My hunting season is now over and I got skunked too.

Calling it quits early this year?

Have to. Won't be here.

Oh how precious will the moment be when you finally kill another one.

Bend at the waist
Aim small
Keep a loose grip, let the bow fall into your hand
Don't watch the arrow

If you can remember those 4 things and practice them, it will eliminate 90% of your misses.
There's still about 50 additional ways you can miss, but it will greatly improve your shooting.

Bending at the waist keeps your bow arm and anchor point in natural shooting form.

Don't aim at the deer, aim at spot the size of a quarter.

Don't tighten your grip, keep your fingers extended, open palm, use a wrist strap, let the bow fall into the strap.

Don't try to find the arrow in flight, keep looking at that quarter until the deer is running away with blood pumping out both sides.

I've been bowhunting off and on for 14 years and never seen a deer with a bow til yesterday. Didn't get to draw but I at least got to stand up on her. It was awesome!! But I took the day off hunting. Took my daughters to see santa and shoot the genesis bows. Think santa will bring them one.

Bamaman I know the feeling. I grew up hunting behind my house and it was a huge deal to even see a deer. I got in a club once that had a ton of deer and I shot completely out of arrows the first evening. Of course I didn't come close to hitting one those were the first deer I ever shot at with a bow.

This probably leads to missing more deer than anything else. I was taught to pick out one hair and aim for it.

That's probably the leading reason for misses. But also the habit of watching for the arrow is a tough one too.

I was a teenager when I picked up bowhunting, and I probably missed the first 5 (or 20) deer because I was aiming at the deer instead of the spot I wanted to hit.

Then I had to break the habit of looking for the arrow. I wanted to see the arrow hit the deer, but that was just like flinching before you pull the trigger on a rifle.

I don't even notice the arrow anymore. I expect it to hit where I put the green dot, and usually it does, but I don't notice it until I find the dead deer.

Its tough, I've only killed 3 with my bow. But haven't killed one in about 4 or 5 yrs. I don't get many shots, so when I finally do, I think I panic. Think if I had more opportunities it would get better. Stick with it, like said before, when you do it will feel sooo good.

Chad

Hang in there and keep at it.

The main thing I think about is "Follow Through" before I shoot, i.e. keeping the sight pin on the target after i release the arrow. I say it to myself each time i shot, whether practicing or hunting. This has helped me greatly improve as a bow hunter. Practice picking your spot and keeping the pin on it until after the arrow hits the target so you can do it without thinking when the moment of truth arrives! :twocents:

LOWER 1/3

Outback has it nailed. For the first few years I hunted them with a bow I would recover about 75% of what I shot at. When I figured out how to follow through with the shot and let the bow rest in between my thumb and fingers I have greatly reduced my lost recoveries. Those were things I did when I practiced, and didn't realize I shot different while in the tree. Now it is just second nature.

Don't give up. :thumbsup: