Misses that eat at your soul

DVXDUDE

DVXDUDE

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North of toronto,ontario
Anyone who has done a bit of hunting has had a miss or two, But there's always one that will stick with you and you cant let go. I have a few myself but the latest one I cant stop thinking about it.

Long story so I'll summarize a bit.

I was coyote hunting last weekend with a few friends and had 3 walker hounds. Hounds were chasing a coyote around a large swamp/cedar bush for hours and no one could get in there for a shot as either dogs too close or too thick of brush.

30minutes before dark I'm getting worried we arent going to get this coyote and I do not want to be trying to catch dogs in the dark. It's now or never so I crawled in the cedars enough for the coyote to wind me and make him leave that thick brush. He goes south about 600 yards then circles back north on his old tracks trying to lose the dogs.

I'm kneeling trying to look under the snow covered branches into the bit of opening, I see the coyote walking slowly coming my way. He stops at 75 yards and I take the shot with my .22 250. He jumps sideways and disappears. I can hear dogs coming so I run over hoping coyote is laying there dead so I can catch the 3 dogs and get out of here. All 3 dogs come and dont slow down, Run past me and head south again. I missed, Would have been perfect end to the hunt but nope.

Now I put the gun on my back and ran 400 yards to the truck. Now it's dark and I drive 3 farms to the south and finally at 7:00pm I caught the last dog in the standing corn field. I'm completely wore out, dogs are frustrated they lost it in the corn field. Trying to walk 3 pissed off hounds out of a standing corn field with 2 feet of snow is insanely hard and I could have saved myself a lot of work if I didnt miss. Coyote made it to the next bush, Bet hes tired too. Went and fired my gun the next day, dead on at 100 yards. Haha


What is your biggest miss/screw up hunting?
 
First double I ever called in. Watched them come in from over a kilometer away, to less than 100 yards. And then screwed it up.
 
I missed a nice buck at about 20 yards with the bow. I had a small branch that got in the way, and the shot went low. When I went to retrieve my arrow you could see a metre long strip of white belly fur laying on the ground behind my arrow.
 
I spent a week hunting moose with the father-in-law about 10 yrs ago. He is a hard core, died-in-the-wool manly man. He wasnt my biggest fan because he thought no man should be a nurse......therefore, I must be a Nancy boy poof. He also thought I am probably a bad shooter as he never saw a Nancy that could shoot.
After 2 days listening to him, I said " pull over the fackin truck". I grabbed a 5 gallon bucket lid out of the back of the truck and walked out to about 250yds up a hillside and layed it against a stump. I returned and grabbed his rifle. I had never shot his gun before. (7mm Rem mag 1976 Rem 700) I fired off 3 quick shots (being very mad and steamed) and put them in a 1.5" group. Told him to shut him cakehole and got back in the truck.
We then spent 4 more days hard looking for an animal. On the last day, out walks a cow and calf. At about 30 yards, I was thinking "I'll show this prick how to shoot without wasting a cube of meat."
So I put the crosshairs right between her eyes and shot. When the recoil settled, all I saw was a tuft of hair hit the ground and the mooses hind legs escaping in the trees. I was so flustered, I forgot he had it hitting 3" high at 100 ( I never set my crosshairs higher as I have yet to see a shootable animal at more than 60 or so yards, never needed a long shot)
Then I had to listen to him tsk tsk tsk at my lousy shooting. To this day, he mentions sightings of the "scalped moose". Prick
 
Hunting over a bear bait in Ontario. I was in a makeshift ground blind, maybe 50 yards from the bait. The woods around the baitsite were fairly open...but nevertheless, the biggest bear I had ever seen up to that point in my life suddenly appeared right beside the bait as if by magic. I was shooting a .54-cal muzzleloader; had all the time in the world, rested carefully on crossed sticks, good light, good wind, stationary target, perfect trigger squeeze and sight picture...and somehow I managed to miss him clean. I couldn't believe it; searched everywhere for signs of a hit, came back the next day with a couple more guys and searched again, fanned out a long ways, and never found any reason to believe I even touched him. Checked carefully between blind and bait site for twigs or brush...nothing. On the way back to camp I stopped and fired the rifle a few times, hoping to find that the sights were off. Nope, perfectly sighted in, tiny little group right where it was supposed to be. I was almost 30 at the time, not a kid, had lots of shooting and hunting under my belt, didn't think I had buck fever...I had, and have, no idea what happened.

This happened over 35 years ago and still gnaws at me from time to time.
 
sgt.rock said:
... I was so flustered, I forgot he had it hitting 3" high at 100...
Then I had to listen to him tsk tsk tsk at my lousy shooting. To this day, he mentions sightings of the "scalped moose". Prick
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Sorry Sarge, you were more than flustered. A 7mm Mag three inches high at 100 yards is almost dead on at thirty. I did the same thing using a 358 Norma Mag on a small Sitka Blacktail on Chichagof Island many years ago. The buck was no more than 40 yards away, and I missed it.... twice. :runaway:

Ted
 
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Oldest member of our deer camp is 73. He's been hunting forever and shot more deer than you could count. The last 5 years or so he's been more interested in photography and tends to hold the camera more than the crossbow or rifle. One thing he has never done is bag a buck more than 6 pts. This year during Michigan archery he had a huge buck popout on his off side and it winded him before he could shift around. Never saw it again. Later during rifle season a beautiful 8 point walked out into the lane 30 yards in front of his blind and stopped perfect broadside. Click no boom. Ruger American. He has a Browning at home in 243 he doesn't want to scratch the wood but I bet it comes next year.
 
I borrowed a friend of mines crossbow. Shot at a nice doe that came out of the swamp. Saw it was a good hit, maybe a little high. As it ran back into the swamp you could hear the bolt smacking against all the little brush. then quiet.
We tracked the deer to find some blood and eventually the bolt. No deer. We searched for a while and even later returned with a dog to try to locate it. No luck.

From the blood on the bolt I surmised that even though the hit was good, the old crossbow did not have enough oomph to push the broadhead through the ribs.
 
Hunting a second growth alfalfa field with my wife at the other end of the 1/2 mile long field using my pet rifle. I was using my Pa's sporter .303 LE which he used his entire life with great success. The largest mule deer buck I had ever seen walked out in front of me about 45 yards away. I was laying prone, excellent field of view, nothing between the buck and the rifle but air, all kinds of time to shoot. I estimated the distance at 45 yards, knew exactly how my Pa sighted in his rifle because it was how I sighted in my own rifles, no appreciable wind, slight gully between us but both of us at the same level.
Squeezed of the first round and the buck just stood there looking the other way. I thought he was dead on his feet and waited for a moment for him to tip over. Then he looked my way and stood there. I had already cranked another round so I lined up again and squeezed off another round. Then the buck started the famous mule deer bounce as I worked the bolt. Disbelief beginning to flood my brain. He slowed to a walk and a fired a third round after which he began to bounce again. I got up to my knees and fired the last two rounds without touching a hair.

Then my wife showed up eager to help me gut my deer. I told her to slap me hard because I wanted to know if this was a dream or a nightmare. It hurt and she laughed so it was real. I paced off the distance at 47 yards allowing for the slight gully. The next day my Pa and I both fired his rifle at paper and it was 1 1/2 inches high at 100 yards just like always. I had shot dozens of deer by that time of my life and there was no buck fever.
To this day I have no idea what happened????
 
DVXDUDE said:
What is your biggest miss/screw up hunting?
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I was out turkey hunting with a friend who'd never taken one before. Obviously I let him have the first shot, he took it and did great. His buddy called an audible and instead of dancing on his corpse and pretending he was responsible he just turned and booked. I raised my gun and promptly fired 3 rounds clear over his head. Realized afterward that I didn't even see the sights. Note to self: Don't shoot clays the day before a turkey hunt.
 
A few year ago I had spotted a couple 2 point bucks in a field at dusk. I don't get much time to hunt so I'll take a meat buck any time I can get one. The next day (Oct 1) those bucks were legal to shoot so I hiked to the top of the mountain where I was sure the would head after a night of feeding. Sure enough they come walking up a draw and within 200 yards of where I had sat down to watch for them. " I'm gonna get my shot" I remember thinking. As I positioned my pack to use as a rest they busted me and briskly walked over the next ridge. "No big deal" I thought. They will probably settle down over the ridge and I knew I could sneak in there fairly quickly. I didn't find them so I decided to pack it in for the morning.... I get to my truck and what do I see? 2 guys in flip flops and shorts gutting out the two deer I push onto the road right in front of them.
 
Few years back I was face to face with a 10 point buck. He was about 20 yards from me. I had my combo gun, 308 over 12 gauge slug. He turn broad side and I aim at the mid chest and fired. He jumped up came down on his hoofs and look at me than took off. I had the rifle barrel selected,Check the ground where he was standing. You can see where the bullet enter the ground and white deer hair (from the belly area I guess). I gave him a close shave. I should've selected the slug barrel instead at that range.

Made up for it next two years. I got a 11 point buck each year.
 
Not mine but my hunting partner. This guy is like a brother to me and has true ethical/personal rules that he will never break such as taking an iffy shot etc.
The guy can always shoot accurately, is always calm, and generally peeves me off. A couple of years ago a monster swamp buck walked out to him at 75yds with absolutely no obstructions in front, buddy shoots and buck disappears.
Five experienced hunters and many hours later not a sign, WTF?
He still beats himself up worrying that he did something wrong and only wounded the deer.
 
This past hunting season started pretty rough for me, I'd probably still be in bad shape if I hadn't have a change in luck. Opening evening of archery whitetail, I watched three bucks make their way towards me, the first two were about 120-130 inch and the third a solid 150 inch full velvet buck. Bucks number one and two slowly walked past my treestand at 30 yards and the third came in trotting at 40 right behind them. I had to stop him so I "mehhh'd", he stopped, stared straight at me up in my tree, I released my arrow and he completely jumped the string. My arrow flew right where the top of his right lung would've been, going in a perfectly downward angle into the ground...

Then, archery mule deer came along, 45 min into the opening morning, I have the world's easiest stalk fall on my lap. I finally stood 42 yards from a gorgeous wide and tall 5x6 feeding unaware that I was there. I drew my bow, released and watched my arrow fly through the hair on top of its back. He gave me enough time to draw for a second shot but couldn't release in time, he was gone. I retrieved my arrow, one blade/vane covered in deer fat, it must've barely broke the skin off it's back...

My 2019 season started horribly and I came extremely close to hanging my bow up for the year but I made up for it shortly after with a nice 4x3 mulie, two Wyoming Pronghorn bucks, a 9pt whitetail in late October and finally two mulie does early December! I'd be lying if I said I no longer had those two misses on my mind (as well as the other ones from past years).
 
I can’t remember a miss that causes me pain, though I’ve certainly missed. I do remember times the line broke on fish that I would love to have laid hands on that still cause me to roll at night. And unfortunately I do remember wounding, and that causes me pain. I made a poor shot in Africa once, and it still pains me, we tracked for a full day and finally got it down. It was on an add on plains game to the main hunt, after the dangerous game fun and high spirits were quickly tempered by one ####ty shot in bush. In those few moments I’ve honestly considered giving up hunting, I’ve seen the same gut shot look on clients’ faces a couple times. The one good thing to come of it is I know how they feel.
 
Ardent said:
I can’t remember a miss that causes me pain, though I’ve certainly missed. I do remember times the line broke on fish that I would love to have laid hands on that still cause me to roll at night. And unfortunately I do remember wounding, and that causes me pain. I made a poor shot in Africa once, and it still pains me, we tracked for a full day and finally got it down. It was on an add on plains game to the main hunt, after the dangerous game fun and high spirits were quickly tempered by one ####ty shot in bush. In those few moments I’ve honestly considered giving up hunting, I’ve seen the same gut shot look on clients’ faces a couple times. The one good thing to come of it is I know how they feel.
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Yeah, a wounded animal, especially if it is lost, is a whole 'nother dimension of bad; much, much worse than any clean miss. It is inevitable if you hunt enough, and definitely difficult to come back from.

The absolute worst for me resulted from a shot that I didn't take. On one of the last hunts that I shared with my father before he passed away, his shot hit a buck too far back and it ran across the field in front of us. He fired twice more at the moving deer but didn't connect a second time. Here's the thing: I was sitting right next to him with my gun, and could have fired...but I wanted so badly for him to make the kill that I just watched. The deer reached the end of the field and was almost into the trees; by this point I was watching it through my scope, but Dad was just raising the gun again after having inserted one last shell. I stayed my hand...and the buck disappeared just as the gun reached my father's shoulder, before he could fire. Long story short: blood petered out after a couple hundred yards; another hundred and the trail disappeared altogether. We never saw that deer again, despite a half day of tracking and another day and a half of less-hopeful searching.

If I had been sitting with any other person, I would have fired on that deer at the edge of the field before it vanished. But it wasn't any other person, and I didn't, and things went bad. No guarantee I would have killed the deer had I shot (although I am pretty sure I would have...), but I should at least have tried. Damn.
 
I guess I have a few over the years.....
Most recent was this year during the control hunt I missed one of the biggest bucks I got a chance to take...... He was chasing a doe that raced passed me by about 7 yds.. He came running a second or two behind her..... I yelled out a MEEEEEE sound and he stopped just behind a tree (about 7 yds away) as I lifted my muzzle loader (trying to get crosshairs on vitals -left side or right side of tree do I shoot at him) as I processed this, he started to move again. I followed him in my scope, taking the shot at about 20-25 yds broadside..... Only to have a delay firing from my muzzle loader.... With crosshairs on him, I pull the trigger and by the time it goes bang (maybe 1-2 second delay) the buck was beyond the crosshairs and a clean miss............. bummer......

Another memorable one is during a coyote hunt.... I hand call in a coyote from about 300 yds away as I am sitting in a fence line. This coyote is coming across the open field to me at a very easy pace, I have lots of time, gun is sitting on shooting sticks, crosshairs following the coyote right in.... Like I said, that coyote was coming in at an easy pace in the wide open, I had all the time in the world.... As he stopped at the 50yd mark, he was facing me, looking straight on at me..... I had the crosshairs on him... As he stood there looking at me at 50 yds he kept bobbing his head, up and down, just like deer do when they are trying to figure out what you are......Not wanting to hit his head, I remember waiting for him to lift his head again (exposing his chest) I go take the shot..... I guess things have been going well for me that year and I was over confident (already adding this coyote to my total count) I missed him cleanly..... nothing but tracks in the snow where left behind... I got to admit, has happened to me more than once.... :)
 
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