I learned that a good shot is better than a perfect shot. I was too worried about meat damage, minor brush, and perfect bullet angle which made me hold too long. I learned not to rush a shot even when they spot you. I learned I am pretty good at finding deer and grunting them in. (Which I have done for every buck I've shot, and most I've missed, except one).
There should be some possitive take aways from a learning experience as well as the negative. Learning what you did right can be just as important as learning what you did wrong.
What killed me the most was this was something right out of an elk hunting video, I did so much right. I was calm, used cover to my advantage, ranged from it very effectively , and I was amazed at how quiet I was on that short stalk. The wrongs, in my opinion, the distance, 43 yards is to far for a whitetail for me. The buck wasn't on full alert, but he knew something wasn't right, and that combined with the distance should have been enough to pass on the shot, and try to get closer. Also I hadn't taken into account the elevation difference between us. After checking the area post shot he was probably ten to 14 feet higher then I was. What i learned was for me, 45 yards is to far to shoot at a deer, especially one that is possibly alerted to your presence, and always take elevation into consideration. I hear tell that buck may have been taken during rifle, but haven't had confirmation on that. We'll see once I get cameras out, fingers crossed. This whole thing is a learning process, and it's important to know your limitations, and always take the high percentage, ethical shot. The picture is this buck two weeks after.
The broadhead hangs from the rear view mirror in my truck to this day and I look at every time I leave the truck to remind myself to not rush the shot.
#2 A Similar quality deer on the other end of town . I had seen a great chase about 80 yards off , on the morning before so I moved my climber . (mistake) The next morning I was hustling along and almost walked into this big 11 pointer. He was standing in his scrape that was 20 perfect yards from my previous tree . I had the wind and a raked trail and the path we were on had a slight rise that may have covered half my crouching body but not more than that. He seemed to look over me as I had to kneel down out in the open. He was looking for the does that passed behind the houses that were now behind me. It was getting light. I had to drop and open my bag to fish out the release , unbuckle my bow holder , knock an arrow and draw back with this big lug just standing there looking past me at 20 yards. It was that or nothing , so I got into position as slowly as I could and I could see him now beginning to walk off , still looking for those does. When I drew back he was about 40 yards off and it was still too dark to see clearly at that range (if there was any obstructions) so I advanced . He was silhouetted and perfectly broad side but as I moved up he slowly slipped over the hill... I don't think he was at all concerned with me if he noticed at all but I find it hard to believe that he couldn't see me because I was out in the open. Weird.
#3 Best shot I never took. I had hunted the morning and again that late afternoon without seeing anything. It was warm and I wasn't feeling it so I called it quits and was walking home with another half hour or better of good light. I decided to duck into a spot that was on my way but within eye shot of home. Just to kill off the rest of the day, why not? This was a little hollow that collected water and was always lush . It had good sign and I took a position behind a bush where a trail crossed at 20 yards. I called and to my surprise a giant head popped up from the tall grass about 60 yards away . ( a slight incline with a intermittent creak and clear open expanse ). He was sporting a big grayish rack with bases that looked to be 6 inches round. At least 10 points and all of 150 inches plus. He stood tall and looked in my direction , scanning for that noisy doe. Then he dropped his head and began to walk straight at me smelling the ground as he came closer. I was hoping he would continue on the crossing trail which would have put him broadside at 20. He didn't. When he dropped his head just before stopping I came to full draw and was well hidden and in good camo but I was now just above the cover . He just stopped behind a 4 foot bush ( a thin bush ) and craned his head high , exposing the great white patch . I was tempted but thought it was best not to try to slide it through those twigs so I held for what must have been 2-3 minuets and I could feel the shakes coming on. Still, he didn't cross into the open but instead let out a great huff as if to curse , the best a deer can muster. He then turned on his heals in one quick motion and walked back up to his starting point. I could see his tail sticking out from behind a ceder tree as the trail bent there and it was over.
The most painful of all. Actually the only one that almost made me give this up . The best deer I have shot but "got away" was taken/recovered by another hunter as a pick up. That one hurt . Not because it was a 15 point ,mid 150 class deer but because it was such a great moment in an otherwise extremely tough time in my life. It took a year to track it / him down as he was an out of state-r and several decent folks tried their best on my behalf but there is little we can do (morally/legally) when that happens. Its a long sad story and I would rather not re-live it . If that man is out there reading this ... Your forgiven, but I sure would like to have that one back .
Last year is freshest.
Go in and bump some deer. Just after shooting light is forming I hear running - it's November 4. If you hear running, you get happy. I see a doe flying down the opposite hillside and she has what I'm sure was the biggest deer I've got on film here the past few years, a beauty of a high and white racked 8pt. He charges with her, and while they got barely in range for a second, they were going 100mph and paid no attention to anything.
I was bummed, but knew the funnel was good, and if there was a hot doe in the area, more bucks likely would come looking.
The woods died for an hour or so, when I bleated 3x. Not 5' later, behind me, and up on a 20 foot tall little ridge about 20-25yds behind me, I hear a crunch. Uh oh... I turn and look, and a deer I am very comfortable in saying was one of the biggest I've ever shot at was standing there, sun behind him, drool hanging from his mouth, panting. It was AWESOME! I'm pretty sure he was a deer I thought was a 5.5 last year... But now suspect I was wrong, I think he was 5.5 this past year. Anyway. bow's on the hook, I'm looking and standing 180 degrees the wrong way, deer's 20yds ~ level with me. At this point, I figure that I'm toast, so any time he glances another way, I move. amazingly, I get the bow up and go to draw. Ugh, forgot to slide the pursic knot down in the hustle to get in position... He seems a little nervous and takes a step, I slide it down - nothing to lose. Testosterone has him doing things he'd never do another day. He walks a few steps, I mouth bleat while drawing, anchor, put the pin on the opposite front leg (xray vision through the body for quartering away shot) and simply had to have pulled it. Ended up cutting hair and giving him a small cut. Sucked seeing him walk away with those giant antlers glinting in the sun.
Two days later and maybe a couple hundred yards away I shot the 9 I got last year, so it doesnt end badly... But I could have put the antlers from the 9 (a 3.5YO) INSIDE the bigger deers antlers. Pilot error all around.
Another was probably 05 or so. Had a pic of a great 10pt with a huge body. Nov 1 I grunt him in with a bleat for good measure and was so amazed to get the shot, that I didnt settle the pin. Steep shot, at 15~yds and the head gave him a cut on the side. The arrow clearly didnt go through him, but he did bleed for a good ways before I lost blood in the adjacent land owners field. I remember I'd just joined bowsite, and someone who saw the pic said "good luck seeing him during daylight"... I had to hunt just outside bedding, 300-400yds from where I got the pic... But I saw him with a smidge of daylight left that day... And I messed up.
Archery hunting is a game of inches... And the ability to cool your nerves.