Get Over It!!

[E-Town Hunter]

Every body that missed this year should just give up hunting altogether.......leave all the bucks to those of us that can hit them. 

[Swiftkid]

Lets see some pictures E hunter, talk is cheap.

[halflife65]

Well, I guess there are some perfect people that are posting here, but I dare say that most people who've shot more than two or three bucks have missed before.  Unfortunately, it's just like you say - those are the ones that stick with you.  I can't remember all the deer I shot but I remember the two that I missed.

Someone posted earlier that you should be glad that you missed and didn't wound it.  That's good advice - it could be a lot worse.  Also, I like to think of a professional ball player that's throwing a no hitter and gives up a home run.  You expect that guy to be a professional and not just lose it after one bad pitch.  He gets out there and finishes the game.  Just check your equipment, think about what you did wrong so you can make adjustments in your behavior (you've probably been at the range and can hit something under good conditions, so most likely it's over-excitement and/or not taking your time) and get back out there and give yourself another chance to get it right.

$h*t happens sometimes. 

[duckmen1]

i practice more at the range
and practice all kinds of shot situations not only off the bench

[runamuk]

Want to feel better I missed a grouse on a limb 10 feet from me 

of course all this did was cause me to go home and burn up a ton of ammo trying to shoot better because I felt like a total moron  once someone explained to me how to aim the shotgun I was able to hit things.....now if I can find and shoot a grouse I might feel a tiny bit better about myself...

[workstohunt]

Halflife65 has it right.
I have killed a lot of bucks in my life. I have a hard time remembering the stories behind the racks.

But I can remember exactly the ones I have missed. Like I always say--there's a lot a room around em and that's why they call it huntin instead of gettin!

[hunterofelk]

I missed too!  I thought I would try my luck so I went to the stand of timber I got my buck in last year.  Went on the same day, Tuesday, as last year, except I went in from below instead of above.  I jumped a buck and took a hasty offhand shot because I just got excited.  Missed clean.  I went back the next day and jumped something again, but didn't get a look.  I keep playing that scene over and over.  Big neck, thick chest and dark antlers with the forks about six to eight inches deep.  It happens, I missed the deer so now I am missing the venison.  Maybe if we could spend more time out with the animals the excitement wouldn't be so uncontrollable.  When I only have a week to get it done, I feel a little rushed.

[Houndhunter]

have fun playing it in your mind over and over again, great now im replaying in my head my misses

i think you can get good enough where you hit where you want every shot, im pretty close to that point during practice but when you calculate the rush you get when a big critter steps out *censored* happens

[Galpster]

After 5 shots you need to go to the range and practice more before going back into the woods and letting lead fly every where. Heck I might be out there and I would be a little scared if you were there. 1 or 2 maybe 3 misses but 5. Not acceptable and you shouldn't be handling a firearm until you can correct that.

[Broken Arrow]

I missed a 6x6 bull opening day. Pinned at 40 but it was 30. Guess my 4 days a week shooting at the range, garage and back yard were not enough. By the way as an archer....I would never suggest you shoot in a 40 mph crosswind....not a good idea!

[Hillbilly270]

at least please tell us you didn't sight your gun in on a paper plate...........

[blackveltbowhunter]

5 misses aint so bad. Anybody that says " you shouldnt touch a gun, after 5 misses". Is full of bs. Sure you may have some correcting to do and/or buck fever control. But its a domino effect, i have seen seasoned hunters that know how to shoot and have shot alot of bucks, fall apart when that first bullet doesn't go where it was supposed to. Myself included. When your confident about the shot your taking, that first miss shakes that confidence, which causes your brain to get more focused on why you missed the first shot, instead of focusing on aiming a second shot. If the animal takes off running your good, can't shoot anyway ( unless he's real close or your real good ). But hes is probably moving around so your even more hurried cuz when you get a bead he moves so your rushing again. Now hes really moving, your way hurried its your fourth shot and you cant figure out wtf is going on so your commited, on and on until hes gone. 5 shots down the drain. Recheck your zero, range time for confidence, get yourself amped up while shooting -vizualize the buck in your sights and the adrenaline that coms with it. And work on follow up shots. my 2.

[squeeze2drop]

Ok galpster, I'm not stubborn enough to say I need to go out and shoot some more, I realize I need to correct that, BUT don't sit there and tell me not to pick up a firearm, like I said, I'm 14-15 now, and I'm sure a lot of guys would take that for a lifetime! Hell I'm only 27, don't start barkin orders when I bet you have missed too! 1 time or 30 its principle if u really wanna look at it, so calm down

[alecvg]

I missed a buck last year, and my uncles advise or support was "As much as you tell yourself you will forget about it, you never will, you will think about that buck the rest of your life."  But once you shoot your next animal, the feelings go away. 

[Axle]

Look at the bright side - there is plenty of room for improvement and lots of room in the freezer