Well I Screwed up

[Hunterman]

Let me start my story by saying,,,, The only person I have to blame is myself  

Tuesday morning, Quick Draw and I found our pray..The first bull we saw acrossed the pastures, from the long driveway, (after running off a couple of trespassers   we werehunting on private property). We closed the disstance on this bull to about 650 yards..( Before anyone tell me how unethical this was,,,Yes I can shoot his far, and have quite often) I leaned against a fence post with field wire for a good rest..Put this bull in the cross hairs, raised to put the bullet into his chest..Good solid sight picture, squeezed the trigger, rifle goes BOOM, sights come back down on the elk, and the elk is still standing   Quick Draw says what the hell..I jack in another round, raise a little higher, and BOOM. Bull still standing   Hell there is another bull moving towards the one I shot at and neither one seems not to have a care in the world.. They move off into the trees..We move to see if there is any blood, hair, or what the hell..NOTHING..We look all around, fallow the track into the woods, nothing..What in the hell?? How in the hell did I miss??

Just then Quick Draw says look!!! Here comes the whole herd from the timber, 300 yards up hill from us..First a couple of cows, then the 2 bulls that we saw, including the one that I shot twice at   I dropped to a stump, but didn't get him back into the scope, then a big bull showed,   As he turned to go I fired   Me one dead elk, I look at Erin and she said what in the hell is wrong,,thats 2   NO F'ING WAY THAT BULL IS DEAD UP THERE!!! We get to the top of the hill,,,NO ELK  

Now there is NO DAMN way that I missed 2 bulls, at yardages that I have killed more than one deer at..We cover the area with a fine tooth comb,,and nothing..We even fallowed the herds trail to were they crossed the creek,,Nothing..Need less to say I AM PISSED  

After about an hour of so of looking, and getting madder, we headed back to camp..After getting something to eat, and thinking of what the hell just happened, I put up a target..

I zeroed my rifle before hunting season, dead on..Erin killed a 2 point with a neck shot with it..I know its on..Target up,,distance stepped off rest made..Good solid rest, cross hairs held dead center, and BOOM.. 1 INCH LOW   Shot number 2 same place.. 1 inch low  Adjustments made, shot number 3 dead center.. shot 4 dead center..Instead of being zeroed at 250 yards, I was closer to 125    The only thing I hit on those elk, was the ground  

I know exactly what I did wrong..

1) I zeroed when the weather was warmer..
2) I didn't confirm my zero before elk season..
3) Let Erin do the shooting from now on..
 
I screwed up and paid for it with 2 MISSES,, and no elk..

I'm going back to camp on Sunday or Monday to give it one last shot, but if the season ends with no elk,, then its my own damn fault..

Hunterman(Tony)

[DoubleJ]

If you'd have take me and Jon, we would have been able to help you 

[Blacklab]

Sounds like huntin to me, hopefulley Sun or Mon you'll be harvesting 

[markts]

We all are capable of missing Sorry you did but good luck in the future

[coxral]

Sorry for your hunt, but it's good to see someone man-up to their mistake and not blame the weapon or someone else! Kudos and better luck next time!

[high country]

don't let it get to you, the law of averages says you will get another chance in about 13 years.

[HntnFsh]

That sucks!!! Been there with scope problems.

Dont know what your shooting but it seems like if you were on at 125 you would have hit the elk low at 300 but I could be wrong.Wouldnt be the first time!

[ser300wsm]

Thats a tough lesson to learn, better luck next time... 

[sakoshooter]

With that 125 yd zero the shot from one of today's average elk rifles would be 12" low at 300. 50"+ low at 500 yds and at 650 ??

[dscubame]

First off let me say 650 yards whatever and your a clown.  Second off your story is all screwed up in so many ways.  So many people on this site get raked for so much less in their good hearted stories that I hoe you the best in that I have no idea why you shared.  LOL  lets see how this goes down.