I missed

[Flbt]

I flat out missed a good buck yesterday afternoon.
I waited till today to post because I wanted to check everything.
Deer came out still had good light. Cross hair on the shoulder. Less than 100 yds.
Ran out of the woods stopped in the field.
No blood hair or bone.
Got the dog out he did not find anything they came back this morning nothing.
Check the rifle 2 in high at 100
Shot it at 50 to make double sure.
It might have been a bit higher than 2 in but no more than 1/4 higher.
It’s a new bullet that I am trying a 6mm 100gr hot core
I have used hot core in other cal. Never had a problem.
The way the dog acted I honestly don’t think I touched the deer.
It was as hot enough last night by this afternoon buzzards should have been in the air if it would have died.

I think I just missed and don’t have excuses or explanation.
The reason I am posting this. The youngest nephew was with me looking over the sight while we were hunting.
Uncle I have never seen you miss. Told him it does happen.
He asked would I post my mistake here.
Told him I would. So I did.

I spent my day looking around saw no sign.
Took him this afternoon we saw a doe but the rut is starting here so he just watched it.

 

[jduckhunter]

Sorry to hear that, but don't feel too alone. The 100 gr. hot cores are dynamite on deer; I have used it on a bunch of them.

 

[Flbt]

Sorry to hear that, but don't feel too alone. The 100 gr. hot cores are dynamite on deer; I have used it on a bunch of them.

I told him I would post. The little ones can keep you on your toes.
Probably said some stuff I should not have yesterday. Probably will hear about it from his mom.
I don’t believe I hit it. And am glad I didn’t
I would rather a clean miss than a wounded one.

Thanks for support.

 

[BryceM]

It happens…….. even to really great people and really great hunters. I wish more people were upfront about it.

 

[K-man]

Sorry to hear that. The worst part of a miss is all the uncertainty and the second guessing as "why?" Without any clear answers it affects your confidence.
My best way to clear my head is just go practice with same gun and loads until confidence returns

 

[Flbt]

Sorry to hear that. The worst part of a miss is all the uncertainty and the second guessing as "why?" Without any clear answers it affects your confidence.
My best way to clear my head is just go practice with same gun and loads until confidence returns

Yea I know that’s the worst part.
There was nothing wrong with the rifle.
We ran a box of those loads through it.
Me my brother and even the kids.
Even put a deer target with the different organs. 3 shots in the should just like it should do.

There was no twig or anything that a bullet could have hit the Rey, oats,Reygrass and clover are less than 5in up right now.

The only thing I can think of is I might have pulled to hard on the trigger.
I don’t remember doing that.
But the rifle I had been shooting a lot lately has a very very light and Chrisp trigger.
And this one is a standard ruger m2 77 one.

 

[SCHUNTER73]

Sometimes it just happens. A flinch, slap the trigger, etc. guaranteed to make you be more methodical next time. The biggest buck I killed, I missed him 2x across a bean filed a month prior. I was so shaken by him I lost my cool.

 

[Badjer]

It is unnerving for sure. Respect for owning up to it

 

[Flbt]

It is unnerving for sure. Respect for owning up to it

I thought about changing rifles.
But if I do not sure I would ever use it again for anything serious.
And I keeping the rifle no matter what. Was a second anniversary present.

 

[1dirthawker]

i was on kodiak island hunting deer after guiding brown bear on the peninsula. killed my first deer a doe at 150 yards. one shot, slap, down (shooting my 458 win)

couple days later, had a shot on another doe, (175 yards) felt good, squeezed, the gun went off, and the deer ran forward 3 steps and stopped to look around. hmmm, ran the bolt ( while it was moving the 3 steps) put the cross hairs back on the deer, touched off again and bang, down it went. how did i miss??

still not sure, but, obviously it was a me thing. i put a lot of value in the sight picture in the scope when i stroke the trigger, still not sure how i missed, but i got a do over and it worked out. so.....i get it, sometimes we just miss. dang it!!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

It happens. I've had some shots that I made that I thought to myself, "Wow I can't believe I did that!" And I've had some misses where I thought the exact same thing. In reliving those misses, I'm all but 100% certain I was a bit excited and pulled my head at the shot instead of staying down on the gun. Perhaps that's what's happened here?

 

[Newboomer]

It happens. I've had some shots that I made that I thought to myself, "Wow I can't believe I did that!" And I've had some misses where I thought the exact same thing. In reliving those misses, I'm all but 100% certain I was a bit excited and pulled my head at the shot instead of staying down on the gun. Perhaps that's what's happened here?

It happens. I've had some shots that I made that I thought to myself, "Wow I can't believe I did that!" And I've had some misses where I thought the exact same thing. In reliving those misses, I'm all but 100% certain I was a bit excited and pulled my head at the shot instead of staying down on the gun. Perhaps that's what's happened here?

Been there, done that. My second safari I sighted in the day of arrival, hit just where I wanted. Next day my PH and I went hunting. Spotted a nice springbok at about 100yds. Took the shot and saw dirt fly right under his belly. Clean miss. Two more misses that day at under 200 yds. Couldn't believe it. Next morning we sighted in again. Right on.
Every day after that I made every shot at varying ranges. Thinking about it later I blame my misses that first day on jet lag and travel stress. It took a good night's sleep to reset me.

 

[BryceM]

One thing I’ve surmised over the years is that when I miss, it’s 99% likely my fault and 1% likely the rifle. Sure, stuff can happen, but usually the problem is the loose nut behind the trigger. I really learned this while culling in Africa. Headshots only, on springbok, mostly around 200 yards, sometimes up to 300 yards. That isn’t necessarily easy, but completely, totally realistic if you concentrate. “Aim small, miss small.” After that, I started picking out not just the vitals, but a spot dead center in the vitals. It’s really odd how much that little mental shift made a difference.

That said, I go a little out of my mind when a really big mulie shows up. Seriously…… I go from college-educated guy with a head full of reloading and ballistics data to a twitchy 12 year-old imbecile hopped up on caffeine. I guess if that ever goes away completely, I think I’ll quit hunting.

 

[Badjer]

I thought about changing rifles.
But if I do not sure I would ever use it again for anything serious.
And I keeping the rifle no matter what. Was a second anniversary present.

I have multiple "I missed" stories myself. One actually WAS a busted scope. (it has since been replaced) The rest were the guy pulling the trigger....

 

[JES Adventures]

Good on you for keeping up a good example for your nephew.

I've often said, "if you haven't missed, you haven't hunted much"

 

[Sideshow]

I flat out missed a good buck yesterday afternoon.
I waited till today to post because I wanted to check everything.
Deer came out still had good light. Cross hair on the shoulder. Less than 100 yds.
Ran out of the woods stopped in the field.
No blood hair or bone.
Got the dog out he did not find anything they came back this morning nothing.
Check the rifle 2 in high at 100
Shot it at 50 to make double sure.
It might have been a bit higher than 2 in but no more than 1/4 higher.
It’s a new bullet that I am trying a 6mm 100gr hot core
I have used hot core in other cal. Never had a problem.
The way the dog acted I honestly don’t think I touched the deer.
It was as hot enough last night by this afternoon buzzards should have been in the air if it would have died.

I think I just missed and don’t have excuses or explanation.
The reason I am posting this. The youngest nephew was with me looking over the sight while we were hunting.
Uncle I have never seen you miss. Told him it does happen.
He asked would I post my mistake here.
Told him I would. So I did.

I spent my day looking around saw no sign.
Took him this afternoon we saw a doe but the rut is starting here so he just watched it.

Missed two this year one was wounded which really sucks and I just hate that. But it happens when you start knocking over 50 to 80 animals a year with control work. The other was a buck that I think the bullet hit a branch on the way there heard the thwack of a hit but never found any sign or bloody hair etc. Neighbours never found him either. No carcass turned up in the brambles when they died off. Funny thing was two weeks ago I knocked over one with almost an identical shoot from the same position, with the deer standing in the same place 80y shoot threading it through the trees.
Sometimes you’re just not on. Too relaxed it usually the sitters that get away and your left with that WTF look on your face…well to me that’s what it feels like but I’ll need to ask the dog as I don’t carry a mirror

 

[Hunt anything]

We’ve all been there!
Last January 26th I missed a REALLY good buck at 40yds, I flat out rushed the shot. That afternoon I killed a 6pt at 150yds, on consecutive day’s in February on the 2nd and 3rd I killed a wide 18” wide 6pt and on the 3rd I killed a good 8pt at 287 and 150yds respectively. Shake it off and go get’um!!!

 

[HankBuck]

I flat out missed a good buck yesterday afternoon.
I waited till today to post because I wanted to check everything.
Deer came out still had good light. Cross hair on the shoulder. Less than 100 yds.
Ran out of the woods stopped in the field.
No blood hair or bone.
Got the dog out he did not find anything they came back this morning nothing.
Check the rifle 2 in high at 100
Shot it at 50 to make double sure.
It might have been a bit higher than 2 in but no more than 1/4 higher.
It’s a new bullet that I am trying a 6mm 100gr hot core
I have used hot core in other cal. Never had a problem.
The way the dog acted I honestly don’t think I touched the deer.
It was as hot enough last night by this afternoon buzzards should have been in the air if it would have died.

I think I just missed and don’t have excuses or explanation.
The reason I am posting this. The youngest nephew was with me looking over the sight while we were hunting.
Uncle I have never seen you miss. Told him it does happen.
He asked would I post my mistake here.
Told him I would. So I did.

I spent my day looking around saw no sign.
Took him this afternoon we saw a doe but the rut is starting here so he just watched it.

@Flbt - what a rare post - even though many (all) of us miss sometimes….damn few start a post about it. Your honesty, No excuses, is certainly a Quality many don’t have. As to why You (and many other) Good experianced shooters miss ? I don’t know but for ME - if I’m excited, heart pumping, then I know I’m not going to shoot as well as when I’m calm - I try to take an extra second and concentrate on Cross hairs steady-steady and Squeeze-squeeze-squeeze” that trigger. Another reason I’ve missed “rushed the shot”, worried the animal was about to leave, wind me, become obstructed by brush etc.. And lastly “flinch” which for me is also tied into excitement/adrenaline - was a problem earlier in my hunting career and has almost been eliminated as I became more experianced….but it’s directly proportionate to the size of the trophy, and If a 200” whitetail ever walked in front of me I am Certain a “flinch” would be possible again !!
But, if I NEVER missed then I don’t think hunting would be as exciting, I wouldn’t appreciate all the good shots if they became “routine”….unless there is always a chance of a “miss” —- a Hit just wouldn’t be as exciting.

 

[Wooster]

I once belly crawled over hot rocks toward a bedded mule deer buck on a scorching September day during Kansas muzzleloader season, got struck at by a rattlesnake, dodged it, kept crawling, sat on the buck at 20 yards for about 40 minutes, he stood, and I fumbled the shot and shaved a tuft of hairs off the bottom of his brisket. One of my best memories.

 

[Miletic]

Hi friend. It's nothing terrible, it happens to everyone, just that you have the courage to write. Misses are an integral part of hunting. If every bullet fired hit an animal, they would have long since disappeared from our hunting grounds. The most important thing is that you did not injure the deer. The reason for the miss: since you are an experienced hunter and your nephew says that he has never seen you miss, the following is possible: 1. that you shot without a rest 2. that you accidentally touched some part of the rest with the barrel of the weapon 3. that you had a lamp attached to the barrel 4. that the bullet touched something in flight and 5. that you drank at least one beer more than usual