Better luck next time....

Thats a bruiser there

Do you shoot with your nose on the string?

First off, to start, don't beat yourself up. You shot at him with a bow, he will be back. May take him a day or two to get calmed down, but he will be back for those does and the saftey that ridge provides to him. He doesn't know any better. So don't worry about that.

I will say that you learned a hard lesson about being ready to drop the big one every time you step foot into the woods. I say it time and again on here: hunting is as much of a mental game with yourself as it is a game of pursuing and killing deer. Overcoming those nerves is part of it. And being ready, every time, as mentally exhausting as it can be, is key to killing large deer IMO. It's a hard lesson to learn for hunting newcomers because you really only get to learn the lesson after you get put into a situation like yours.

Give yourself time to calm down next time. Observe the deer for a while, take some deep breaths, and then start your process. I'd bet you messed up your anchor points during all the excitement and that's why the shot went high. Are you using a single pin sight? I had issues missing high or low early on when using a single pin because I would get caught up in the excitement of seeing deer and wasn't taking my time to range them first, stay calm, then start to think about drawing on them.

I'll finish with this. I've had more than a couple bow hunting sessions similar to what you went through. I haven't missed on a huge buck, but I have had some sessions where I have missed twice clean, missed THREE times clean, etc. So I know how it feels. In that same spot where I've messed up I've now killed a decent buck with a bow and another good buck with a rifle. A hot spot is a hot spot, go hunt it again in a few days when the wind is right and kill that deer.

I'm betting buck fever took over and shot at him with both eyes open. I had the same thing happen one time on a buck. Went home shot my bow and it was on. Asked the guys at the archery shop about it, and they said I didn't anchor right or had both eyes open. I've always used a kisser button so that only left one thing it could have been.

I love it!! I know, that's cruel, but we've all been there! You will NEVER get over this one!

Five years ago this week (it was actually on New Years Eve) I was hunting one of my favorite spots and heard deer coming, it was 3 does. I stood up and grabbed my bow, then I heard grunting and more footsteps...when he came in sight I nearly crapped myself, a legit 140/150" deer (I know that's correct because he was killed in the training area next to this two days later) Main frame 8pt with split brows and forks on both G2s, I think he was like 144. I'm sitting on a dim roadbed full of scrapes and the does walk right under me and then veer up the ridge just behind my tree. He sees them going up the hill, so instead of following them exactly, he cuts the corner and walks 15 or so steps straight in front of me, I draw and shoot!!!! I thought I center-punched him, but I watch him run like his hair is on fire for 200 yards out of sight. (I didn't think that was a good sign) All I had done was hit him through the top of both front legs.

I was guilty of not AIMING, in the rush and excitement I don't remember ever aiming at the deer, I just pointed and pulled. The ONE deer I wouldn't want to do that on!!!! Happens to all of us!

Been there before. 2 things...First, you should practice using conditions that simulate real hunting situations. Practice from an elevated stand with and without a range finder to the point where yardage is never an issue. Actually climbing and shooting at randomly set targets would be ideal. Wear the same gear so things feel familiar. You probably just altered your anchor point slightly with things like nerves, gloves, gator, being elevated, dip in your mouth on anchor side, etc. Also, yardage looks very different during dusk and dawn so keep thst in mind. Second, look into joining BHA and shooting at the events. This was the turning point in my bow hunting learning curve. BHA will give you alot of confidence in your ability. I put it to use a few weeks ago when I hit a small doe too far back as she turned on me when I released. Took me 2 hours to find her about 200 yards away but still alive down in a hole but above my level and only about 10 yards away. Her head was the only thing I could see. Thanks to BHA I was able to finish her off with a headshot rather than risk bumping her again. Prior to the shooting experience gained at BHA I would never have been comfortable or successful with something like that.

Something else I do from time to time is when a spike or any deer I'm not going to shoot cruises by I will practice by visualizing the shot, getting in position, going through the motions as if I'm going to shoot the deer without actually drawing. This has helped me learn how to manage my nerves, learn my limits on movement with different situations, and get used to actually going through the process without actually shooting the deer.

It happens to the most experienced hunters. I missed a big 10 point earlier this season because I didn't center my peep with my pin housing. I beat myself up pretty good because it was a rookie mistake and I have been bow hunting for 15 years. I learned from my mistake. Keep hunting and you with connect on a big one and believe me it is an awesome feeling.