What to do when you're feeling blue?

eagle_eye · 05-30-2006, 05:22 PM

Last Friday I hiked to the top of a wicked mountain, gaining 3,500 feet of elevation looking for a bear to make a rug out of. 3 hours later I arrived at the top, which is a series of open parks surrounded by black timber. The parks were extremely greened up and looked exactly like a place a bear would be hanging out in. Exhausted, I side-hilled to a smaller park to sit down, relax, and glass. After eating some jerky and downing a half a bottle of gatorade I set to glassing. Low and behold ten minutes later out walks a bear to remember. There didn't appear to be any space between this guy's gut and the ground. Closing the distance to 240 yards (I later paced it out), I set up waiting for a good shot. After staring at the bruin for at least a minute he turned broadside. I settled the crosshairs behind the shoulder and squeezed the trigger, AND MISSED!!!!!

I am now sick, and his image is haunting my mind. I don't know what to do. Anyone have any advice or stories that will cheer me up. This is one I will be thinking about for a long long time.

EE

Limbhanger · 05-30-2006, 05:27 PM

You could hunt almost everyweekend from April 1st till today and still not gotten a shot... like I have.... cheered up yet???

That sounded like a nice one too!! Bummer.

DAB · 05-30-2006, 05:31 PM

Sell all your firearms and stay out of the woods, thats the only sure fire way to make sure it doesn't happen again.

DAB

Beeatease · 05-30-2006, 05:46 PM

Should have finished the gatorade.......darn rookies....

RAGHORN! · 05-30-2006, 06:22 PM

2 for "FLINCHING" :grin:

:grin:

eagle_eye · 05-30-2006, 06:28 PM

I deserve it I deserve it. And I'm also confident that we all have a similar story to tell...so let's hear em'

Wak · 05-30-2006, 06:42 PM

You're right. I do have a story like that. 18 yrs later and I'm still kicking myself!

baltz526 · 05-30-2006, 07:39 PM

yes we all have them stories, but why should we all be blue, with the shoulda, woulda, coulda's

bullslayer · 05-30-2006, 08:06 PM

0

gottafish · 05-30-2006, 08:15 PM

Don't feel bad I shot seven times at a 5x5 muley at 100 yards and missed every time. LOL I can't shoot a rifle worth a squat.

Beeatease · 05-30-2006, 08:49 PM

At least you get a shot......I've killed 2 deer in the last 14 years with my bow.....and just got within 18 yards of a spike bull after cow calling him in.

My spike was behind a tree and I didn't want to chance a shot and have it glance off a dead branch that was under it....

So I waited.....then let off my arrow and gosh darn it....some really nice people in a truck road hunting above me drove by talking and spooked him.....

That's when I started writing letters to the forest service about Green Dot roads during archery season in the Chesnimnus Unit and how nice it would be if there were one or two.......

MarlinMark · 05-30-2006, 08:57 PM

I know some good shooters and the one thing you will find in common with all good shooters is that if they have any real experience....they will admit that "Everybody misses." There are those guys out there that will tell all kinds of tales but don't believe them. Everybody misses.

Dust yourself off and get back on.

Mark

Duckwheat · 05-30-2006, 09:05 PM

I remember a similar experience. I was learning to insert IUD's.

The old Doc that was helping me with the process was very reassuring. This is a fairly delicate proposition that I was taking very seriously. For those of you who do not know what an IUD is, ask the female part of your relationship.

Anyway I was taking a little more time than the Old Doc wanted to spend that day. "This isn't rocket science you know. If you don't perforate a few along the way, your not doing enough of them".

You could sort of change the words around to fit the situation. If your not hanging enough lead, you will never perforate anything.

I hope I have made you feel better.

Duckwheat

uhmw · 05-31-2006, 11:13 AM

I missed a monster bull from about 6 yards broad side just standing there

with my bow. The arrow hit a stick that I failed to notice. I still have yet to harvest a big bull 7 years later

but that wont keep me from trying. I did embibe heavely around the camp fire on the wild turky that evening to dull the pain and felt beter about it till the next morning

sunshinefisherman · 05-31-2006, 11:55 AM

smoke a cigar

ehunter · 05-31-2006, 12:46 PM

Just know your not alone we all can feel your pain I could have gone three shrinks in my life time with my stories, and worn out several couches. You will have some sleep less nights. I just read a article about this in Outdoor Life, they recomend you use this as a chance to improve your odds next time by thinking though what happened and working to fix it next time. Try to use it as a learning experiece as pain full as it is.

Hang in there I have missed some real trophies and they still haunt me at night...

If I could only shoot as well as I hunt....

Irish Pennant · 05-31-2006, 01:22 PM

Just realize that nobody else has ever done that. You are the first, you are unique, you are the alpha and the omega, you are special, you have accomplished the unaccopmlishable, you have exceeded all standards, you have raised the bar, Yours is going to be a hard one to follow, this one is for you

.
All kidding aside, the joy of the hunt and the struggle for success is what keeps me comming back for more. To be able to get the kill is the icing on the cake and I'm sure you already know that. I can't get blue when I'm out doing what I enjoy, even if I do pull a Homer.

cougfan · 05-31-2006, 01:30 PM

Quote:

I know some good shooters and the one thing you will find in common with all good shooters is that if they have any real experience....they will admit that "Everybody misses." There are those guys out there that will tell all kinds of tales but don't believe them. Everybody misses.

Dust yourself off and get back on.

Mark

Are you kidding me, I've never missed. The gun was off of course. Especially the time I took 5 shots at a whittail broadside at 50 yards.

eagle_eye · 05-31-2006, 01:42 PM

I've also missed two spike bulls with my bow within 40 yds and a B&C blacktail with my rifle at 100yds...but a trophy bear? I just don't see enough bears to have an opportunity like this come along. I am continuing to "drink" this one off. If it is anything like that blacktail, I will be feeling this 10 years from now. Nothing I can do but punch myself in the N*TS!

Beamerfish · 05-31-2006, 01:59 PM

I'm way more philosophical about this than I used to be. By my way of thinking, in a couple years it's not going to matter whether you killed him or not. The memory is still going to be there and you can take it out and replay it whenever you want. Your choice on whether it will be a cherished memory or an angry one. I can't remember what I had for breakfast yesterday but I can still remember every critter I took and every one I missed. I can picture exactly what they looked like and what I did. Sure you won't have the photos or the rug but there will be plenty of other pictures and trophies. If I beat myself up for all the hunting coulda shoulda woulda's I'd never make it back out in the woods to chase them again. Course don't ask me about the big black bear I missed 20 years ago in the Snake River country. Misjudged the distance and held at the top of his shoulder - you guessed it, shot right over the top of him. Shot other bears since but I still remember that one fondly.

oregoncritters12 · 05-31-2006, 02:06 PM

Happened to me last night if that makes you feel better....

Limbhanger · 05-31-2006, 02:44 PM

If I end up getting a shot and miss I dont know what I'll do......wheres the puke icon.

beardbuster · 05-31-2006, 03:17 PM

I hunted my rear end off in the John Day wilderness trying to fill an archery elk tag. Worked a great bull into range after splitting the herd. Cow called and all I could see was a huge rack walking towards me - 320"

He turned, I cow called and guessed him at 20 yards - nope 35+

Called in another bull that evening 25 yards - hit the only tree that was the size of my wrist next to his rib cage.

4 days later, I called in another bull to 30 yards. Shot looked perfect and about halfway the arrow skimmed a branch the size of a number 2 pencil and deflected.

Each day is a new day. I shot a small buck on my way out of the wilderness that weighed over 170 lbs. That made me happy.

jmcvo · 05-31-2006, 09:45 PM

First whitetail I shot at in Iowa walked behind a small tree just as I squeezed the trigger. (I never hunted brushy country w/ a scoped shotgun again!) Was always gonna cut a section out of the tree to mount on the wall as a "trophy".

Based on your story, my money says you'll get another chance, another day.

'Till then, practice, practice, practice!

--
jmcvo

Gun Rod Bow · 05-31-2006, 10:18 PM

Quote:

Anyway I was taking a little more time than the Old Doc wanted to spend that day. "This isn't rocket science you know. If you don't perforate a few along the way, your not doing enough of them".

I hope I have made you feel better.

Uhm...not really, just let me say...EEEUUUUWWWW!!!

And I am so glad I am a boy.

Hookset · 06-02-2006, 07:19 PM

The pain of missing will slowly give way to the thrill of the hunt, the excitment you felt after first making contact when you knew this was a special bear. The stalk, closing the distance, the heart pounding deeper in your chest, the shortness of breath and the rush of adrenaline knowing your in range and you made the decission to shoot. As you move into position, you keep thinking...focus, pick a spot, but your mind is going blank, all you see is bear, where to hold...pick a spot dummy, just pick a spot then...BOOM!! OHhhh wow....the gun went off, you were momentairly caught off guard at the sound of the shot, didn't expect that, did I hold right, did I jerk the gun, is the bear down? Where's the bear? As you gather yourself and scan for the bear, doubt starts seeping in, no bear in sight. But you're still feeling confident as you head to where the bear was standing. As you arrive at what appears to be the spot, with a few clumps of torn up grass and claw marks in the dirt, you quickly scan for blood. Not noticing any blood, you quickly make some mental notes, alinging your position to a tree and a few rocks and take a few steps in the direction of the fleeting bear. No noticing any blood you scan ahead, into the tree line and back then start walking again still looking for blood. The tracks are harder to see now, no real visible signs of torn grass ro dirt to guide you and no blood. Your heart drops as doubts start entering you mind again. Did I miss? Was the gun steady....or did I jerk the gun up? As you try to replay the events in your head, you are still hoping a few more steps will yield some blood, at least some sign of a mortaly hit bear or even better, a dead bear! But as the events unfold, that is not to be. A sickening feeling starts swelling up inside you as you realize you can't recall what really happened as the gun sounded off. And without finding any trace of blood or hide, you know the bear has survived to live another day. And then you realize, your not entirely dissapointed. You found your quarry, you had an opportunity and you missed. But at least now you feel a sense of relief knowing the ardeous task of cutting up a bear and packing meat and hide out down steep slopes and over dead timber has been avoided.

As you start resuming your way back to your truck, you feel a sense of accomplishment knowing you were so close to success. As you breath in the mountain air that blows lightly against your skin, you suddenly feel alive, envigorated even without the bear. A smile slowly crosses your face as you realize you now have a story to share.

So even with the miss, it's not all bad, there will be other days. Learn from this and move on, parctice, prepare yourself mentaly and success will be yours.

And no, this has never happened to me. Honestly!!

Rusty · 06-02-2006, 07:53 PM

I'm stunned. I can't believe what I am reading because I've NEVER missed a shot in my life!!

Rusty

StevenB · 06-02-2006, 09:20 PM

Go to iFish and do just what you did. I'm just glad you didn't even mess up that bears spring hair-doo.

Better to miss clean than to have ever squeezed off a shot and found only hair or blood.

I won't bore you with the details of my lost opportunities. As for a total miss? Sounds great to me over following tracks of an animal that left two drops of blood or .8 grams of hair behind.

Thanks for coming to the iFish for help to forget.

SB

SandyRiverFisher · 06-02-2006, 09:55 PM

I dont have any missed shot stories, but last year I was elk hunting and had a bull bugling and coming towards me. I was working my way up a recently logged area along some thick reprod and I heard the bull bugle again, this time farther away. I put down my bow, thinking he was moving away from me, to mess with my gear or bugle or something when suddenly I hear a noise, CLOSE. Out from behind a tree, twenty yards directly in front of me steps a big bull, full 6x6 mature elk all rutted up. He doesnt even see me and turns in my direction coming several steps before he sees a funny thing squatting in the trail in front of him. He freezes. We stare. It seemed like five minutes, neither of us was moving, I could hear him breathing, my bow was sitting in the dirt next to me. I finally decided to move for the bow. I reached down slowly, picked it up, all the time able to hear this bull breathing as he towers over me ten to fifteen yards away. I nock an arrow, the bull hasn't flinched, I draw back, he still hasn't moved, then just as I start to aim, SNORT!, he turns and runs the other direction. I immediately got up and walked about twenty yards up the trail, got behind a tree, because I could still see his antlers moving through the brush. Suddenly I hear something off to my right, and I look down the hill. There's another 6x bull who has just busted me and is tearing of through the reprod. Turns out, the "distant" bugle that I thought was one bull moving away from me was actually a second bull coming in. This scenario will haunt me for the rest of my life. Ill never put my bow down when I have a bull bugling again, so dont feel to bad about your bear. These things happen to us all.

eagle_eye · 06-03-2006, 01:29 PM

Hookset-

It's like you were there with me. Made me relive it all over again and put a smile on my face. Fortunately, there will be many more hunts in my future, and for that I truly am blessed

sandman · 06-03-2006, 03:54 PM

Missing happends!I've been there 2

scottishsetter · 06-03-2006, 08:52 PM

Post a target; drag out your fav. 22lr; light a cigar; have a small scotch and soda. Remember the hunt and be thankful you still can...

stilly bum · 06-04-2006, 02:38 AM

One day while I was still too young to hunt, my dad and uncle were hunting in a heavy rain. My dad saw a nice 4 point very close in just looking at them. He still says it was no more than 20 yards from them. In a whisper he told my uncle that he saw one. My uncle whispered back for him to shoot. My dad raised up and, at that range, could only see hair in his scope. No deer, no blood, just fresh tracks leading into the timber. That was probably 20 years ago but my dad still gets razzed about the ghost deer and he always responds with "all I could see was hair!"

younggun20 · 06-06-2006, 09:28 AM

Well in my short hunting life I have already experienced a couple of heart breakers.

First year ever hunting I missed what is still the biggest blacktail I have ever seen. I was kneeling over a stump with a perfect rest, 50 yards broadside, and jerked the trigger. He still stood there long enough for me to be able to jack in another shell and take a shot, but I had such bad buck fever I couldn't jack in another shell.

A few years ago I was rifle hunting elk over east. I came into a herd that did not see me and was working my way. In the back was a nice 5-point bull. They were walking slow, and I could have easily taken a good shot on the bull, but because they were headed my way I opted not to. They got within about 50 yards and the lead cow spotted me. Single file they ran by me at about 50 yards, and as the bull got right in front of me I pulled the trigger, missed again!

One or two years ago, I decided to go bow hunting for elk for my first time. I was walking up an old gated logging road when I heard a twig snap. All week long I had been trying to bugle and cow call something in, but had not heard a single response. More as a joke then nothing else, I let out a sexy little cow call, and sure enough about 60 yards up the road a REALLY nice five or six point bull comes screaming down the road. I was trapped. Like a rookie I had not stepped off the road and set up first, because I really didn't think the sound I heard was an elk anyway. After what seemed like a 10 minute stair down, he turned broadside at 40 yards to look back at his cows. I released what looked to be a great shot, and my arrow hit a twig the size of a pencil and it kicked right below his belly, between hit legs. This one really made me sick because he was one of those really dark racks with ivory tips.

I got more, but these should make you feel better for the time being.

BigSkyHunter · 06-06-2006, 09:51 AM

Well, three years later I am still blue over missing a cougar at 10 yards with four shots from a 300 RUM. Dang thang snuck up on me while I was sitting on some rim rock glassing a canyon for bears. Looking back, it sure was 4 seconds I will never forget. That is why it is called hunting!

beardbuster · 06-06-2006, 07:35 PM

There is one way to look at a missed opporunity.. at least you had one! Some times it makes you stomach twist into knots. I have missed lots of animals and one day I actually counted how many elk I had missed with my bow - 16!!

Twigs, branches, jumped the string, shot too low, shot too high, hit a tree... Anyway you can miss an animal with a bow I have done it.

But, I have managed to nail 6 of them with archery equipment.

If your missing, your doing something right to get into them. You can't get them all, but like someone posted earlier, be glad that you have the opportunity to hunt and can physically do so.

Keep shooting and you'll eventually make it happen.