big blacktail missed, i suck!

[grousetracker]

started the season by trading for a lite gun, site in gun, shoot gun 4 rounds call it good, pass on smaller bucks earlier in the season, probably would have missed any way! this morning i start early, go to my clearcut and wait, wait and wait nothing, so get up and start walking to spot my partner have killed several big bucks out of and there was a deer about 500-600yds away and can see the horns. i knew exactly where he will go and circle around him , he does what he should do and i cant see through the scope its fogged and i am wiping it clear twice and he stops dead broadside and looks up at me and i fire and hit at least a foot low and watched him run into thurston county. i could not of done more things wrong, but atleast i saw one. maybe tomorrow. just a rant!

[bobcat]

How do you know your bullet was a foot low? Seeing where the bullet hits behind the deer can be deceiving, it could have passed through the deer. Often there will be no blood. How far did you see him run after the shot

[adamR]

wait so you got a new gun and fired it 4 times before the season, that's it?  you missed by a foot and you are just going to go back out tomorrow?  Sounds to me like you shouldn't be hunting tomorrow and should be at the range... just my opinion...

[Holg3107]

  x 1000

[Blacktail Sniper]

Tagging...

[Ripper]

Somethings not right about this thread! 

[bobcat]

Somethings not right about this thread! 

 

What's not right? He missed a buck and is frustrated about it.

Seems pretty normal to me.

[headshot5]

Bummer... I recommend shooting your gun a couple of times to verify zero.  Then see if you can't find some scope covers (Buttler Creek or similar) to keep the rain off your lenses.  Then get back out there and knock one over. 

[D-Rock425]

Sounds like a normal rifle hunter.  I didn't see the deer fall over so i must have missed.   

[BULLBLASTER]

wait so you got a new gun and fired it 4 times before the season, that's it?  you missed by a foot and you are just going to go back out tomorrow?  Sounds to me like you shouldn't be hunting tomorrow and should be at the range... just my opinion...

how many shots do you have to take to make sure a gun is sighted in before you can hunt with it?  just because he only took 4 shots doesnt mean it isnt sighted in well. What if all 4 were in a small group at 200 yards? Would it be ok if he shot 30 times but still missed the deer?

Misses happen and yes they suck! Just keep after it! Good luck!

[BULLBLASTER]

Sounds like a normal rifle hunter.  I didn't see the deer fall over so i must have missed.   

[scout/sniper]

Sounds like a normal rifle hunter.  I didn't see the deer fall over so i must have missed.   

Better than the elk I see with arrows in the hind quarter.   

[adamR]

wait so you got a new gun and fired it 4 times before the season, that's it?  you missed by a foot and you are just going to go back out tomorrow?  Sounds to me like you shouldn't be hunting tomorrow and should be at the range... just my opinion...

how many shots do you have to take to make sure a gun is sighted in before you can hunt with it?  just because he only took 4 shots doesnt mean it isnt sighted in well. What if all 4 were in a small group at 200 yards? Would it be ok if he shot 30 times but still missed the deer?

Misses happen and yes they suck! Just keep after it! Good luck!

this is a poor thought process... I suppose if it was an old gun that was sighted in the year before 4 shots may be enough, however, with a new gun that you aren't used to I would think you would want to practice for awhile. 
During Modern season I watched a hunter miss 13 times at a buck... I'll bet he thought 4 shots was enough too.  Thankfully the deer ran to a different hunter who knew how to shoot (or probably just practiced) and he dropped him with one shot.

misses do happen, but they happen alot less to people that shoot more than 4 times before the season.

[scout/sniper]

wait so you got a new gun and fired it 4 times before the season, that's it?  you missed by a foot and you are just going to go back out tomorrow?  Sounds to me like you shouldn't be hunting tomorrow and should be at the range... just my opinion...

how many shots do you have to take to make sure a gun is sighted in before you can hunt with it?  just because he only took 4 shots doesnt mean it isnt sighted in well. What if all 4 were in a small group at 200 yards? Would it be ok if he shot 30 times but still missed the deer?

Misses happen and yes they suck! Just keep after it! Good luck!

this is a poor thought process... I suppose if it was an old gun that was sighted in the year before 4 shots may be enough, however, with a new gun that you aren't used to I would think you would want to practice for awhile. 
During Modern season I watched a hunter miss 13 times at a buck... I'll bet he thought 4 shots was enough too.  Thankfully the deer ran to a different hunter who knew how to shoot (or probably just practiced) and he dropped him with one shot.

misses do happen, but they happen alot less to people that shoot more than 4 times before the season.

Agree 100%  It takes practice to learn proper technique and confidence in your equipment, even if it was sighted in the year before.

[Kowsrule30]

I shot my rifle 6 times this year to sight in... First group was a little low to the left... Made the proper adjustment and she's dead center with the next group 2 3/4" high @ 100 yards... Some years it only takes 3 shots.... Don't see the problem... Maybe he made a horrible shot and just missed....

[ellensburgpo]

I think the problem people are having is that it was a brand new rifle, he shot it four times, then tried to go take a life with it....

[scout/sniper]

I shot my rifle 6 times this year to sight in... First group was a little low to the left... Made the proper adjustment and she's dead center with the next group 2 3/4" high @ 100 yards... Some years it only takes 3 shots.... Don't see the problem... Maybe he made a horrible shot and just missed....

That sounds fine to me, you trust your rifle and ability.

[D-Rock425]

Im guessing the rifle was used and already sighted in at some point.  4 shots seems fine if its hitting dead nuts the way he wants it.  I think we should be more worried about the lack of effort put forward to make sure it was a clean miss.

[bobcat]

I think the problem people are having is that it was a brand new rifle, he shot it four times, then tried to go take a life with it....

I read it differently I guess. He said he sighted the gun in, and then shot it 4 times. For all we know, it may have taken 20 shots to get it sighted in to his satisfaction. After he was done adjusting the scope, he fired a 4 shot group for confirmation. Does that sound better?

Also, we don't know it was a brand new gun.

[BULLBLASTER]

We also don't know that he never practiced. Maybe he sent 13000 rounds downrange this summer with a different rifle. Fundamentals of shooting don't change depending on the rifle. I don't shoot my 300 rum once it is sighted in and drops confirmed unless it is at an animal. But I practice regularly with my 22 and 17 hmr.

[Kowsrule30]

I guess I was pretty much assuming the same as bobcat...   

[scout/sniper]

We also don't know that he never practiced. Maybe he sent 13000 rounds downrange this summer with a different rifle. Fundamentals of shooting don't change depending on the rifle. I don't shoot my 300 rum once it is sighted in and drops confirmed unless it is at an animal. But I practice regularly with my 22 and 17 hmr.

^I agree^  ...There is not enough information to help him. Assuming he wants help at all.

[BULLBLASTER]

.

^I agree^  ...There is not enough information to help him. Assuming he wants help at all.

some people are way too quick to tear into another person without all the information.

PS s/s ill be in your neighborhood after some elk during rifle season! Please save me one!

[scout/sniper]

.

^I agree^  ...There is not enough information to help him. Assuming he wants help at all.

some people are way too quick to tear into another person without all the information.

PS s/s ill be in your neighborhood after some elk during rifle season! Please save me one!

Nice, I saw a herd yesterday with a 3x3 and 5x5 while deer hunting. They are out there. 

[sirmissalot]

I missed the biggest blacktail of my life a few years ago. Got a better rest the next time and killed a smaller buck in the same spot only 30 yards apart from where i missed the big one. Missing sucks but that's how you learn.

[scout/sniper]

Saturday morning I watched my son miss an easy shot at his first buck. It happens.
For the OP- As stated before, go to the range and gain some confidence, then smoke the next one.

[scottfrick]

Not going to give u any crap for only shooting 4 times at the range. Thankfully u missed than hit the deer in the ass and it get away. Good luck and hope u drop the next buck!

[jackmaster]

i bet it was buckfever  we have all been there, if you say you havent then what a bullsh$%&er, its the best feeling in the world, i would bet from the sounds of it he was breathing out of control, breathing affects up and down...

[grousetracker]

I WAS JUST VENTING THAT I MADE SO MANY MISTAKES AT ONE TIME, THE GUN I BORROWED IS A TON LIGHTER THAN MINE, SO I BORROWED IT AND SIGHTED IT IN TO ME. I AM GOING BACK TO MINE. AS FOR THE DEER I WATCHED IT RUN SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS THEN TURN AND LOOKED AT ME BEFORE WALKING ACROSSED THE LOG ROAD. IT COULD OF BEEN BUCK FEVER BUT I THINK IT WAS NEW GUN, FOGGED SCOPE, AND A NUMBER OF OTHER FACTERS. I LOVE HOW SOME PEOPLE QUESTION EVERYTHING, I AM NOT PERFECT!

[scout/sniper]

Nail the next one!
Good luck, I hope you get another chance!

[BOWHUNTER45]

Somethings not right about this thread! 

We think alike Ripper 

[hambone]

dont get upset i have shot my gun alot and i know its sighted in and i missed a big whitetail just yerterday it happens just keep at it next time you will get him good luck

[bankwalker]

My rifle was sighted in shooting 1/2 to 3/4 inch groups last year. I missed 1 deer at 50yds, it happens.

And shooting a rifle 4 times and hunting is not bad. I've been lucky and sighted a rifle in 2 shots (took 10 shots after) and all 12 shots were in a 1 inch group. So i could have very well hunted with that rifle after the first 2 shots.

[jackmaster]

grousetracker, dont sweat it dude, there are alot of people on here that think their perfect and probably screw up by the numbers but they dont have the stones to say it...... i get my rifle out right before season and shoot it 3 times and she is always dead nuts, i cant remember ever shootn a deer more than once, but i know with as jacked up as i get before i touch one off that my day is comin, i just pray it aint at the time i am drawing a bead on a huge blackie      but i will tell you this i would go back to my heavy gun, unless that light gun has open sights that you can shoot, once a scope fogs up its done, i dont think there is a way to fix it unless you send it to the factory..... good luck, i would go right back and find that buck