Well I'm bummed out today!!!

[Stonegod]

Well I read the thread that SeekBp started about hunting during certain barometer readings.....my brother hunts this way but I have followed this method only off and on. Well yesterday I had S/SE winds which are perfect for the blind I've been hunting and the barometer was reading 30.42 and slowly falling...so I said to myself....this is going to be my lucky day! As I was walking the 1/3 mile or so long gravel drive that runs from the house along 8+ acres of lawn then past the back lake, a rabbit shoots out from under a spruce tree at about 60yds and acrosses the gravel drive and into the old apple orchard. I slip a field point in to my xbow...get it in my crosshairs at 60yds and slowly start stalking, at what I guessed was 40yds (turned out to laser at 43yrds) he starts to hop away so I let my arrow fly. I was trying for a high rib/spine shot to save the meat....BAM....perfect hit. Well know I'm really feeling that this is going to be my lucky day and pretty confident in my shooting skills....clean/skin the bunny and head to my blind. I settle in and within 15-20mins I catch the sight of deer weaving through the trees a about 80yds. A yearling comes to 22yds....I put my crosshairs on her....then mom comes in right behind her, so I swing the crooshairs on to mom but she's only offering me a head on shot. The second yearling comes in and crosses behind mom and stops at 20yds broadside.....20yds broadside!!!.....it look just like our 3D target!!lol I'm not nervous....no shakes....zip....just want to end this long deerless nightmare!! I let my arrow fly......my first.....serious "can't miss" chance at a deer. All 3 jump and move off to about 50yds and stare back at me. I'm confused and think my target should be going down ......but no they all just wonder around looking at where the noise came from, but not looking all the concerned ( no white flags waiving). It's then that I notices that my arrow had clipped the top part of my half unzipped blind flap. The arrow ended up out where the deer were but no blood/hair...a clean miss. So guys here's my first kill pic!LOL.....a 2lb cottontail rabbit taken at 43yds......the 100lb+ deer at 20yds.....I miss!!!.....just my luck!!LOL if I had checked for window clearance....I'd be eating venison!.......so how long do you guys think it will take for these 3 to calm down and return to this area?........I'm running out of time.....again!LOL

[Big_Holla]

Nice job Stonegod! BIG lesson learned on watching for the clearance for your bolt!! Even vertical bowhunters have that happen now and then!!

[Stonegod]

Chuck, do you think it'll take them long to return to the area? As I said they just slowly but alertly walked (no running) away.....acted nothing like when I would actually bust a group of bedded dear.

[Big_Holla]

I would say if they didn't come back at all they got buggered a bit. Would say a day or two but you don't have much time now so hunt them if you can, esp. after this warm up passes and it gets cold again.

[Seeker Bp]

Hey Stonegod, Nice shot on the bunny..They eat good too! Hate to hear about your second shot, but it happens. So are you going to start watching the barometer a little closer now? I know I have since hearing about it. If momma didnt bust out of there with a bunch of concern, I would be right back in there if the wind is right, Time is clicking off this week quickly. I wish you the best of luck! I too am pressing the issue this week, hunting my house where the odds are better...would like one more doe for wintercamp Backstrap....

[mrbb]

well its a guess on if or when a deer will come back
but I have shot at and missed a deer 2 evenings in a row, and had him come out again on day 3 too, juts never offered a good shot
so, I say if winds are right , hunt, odds are theer are more then these 3 deer in your area, and since they didn't really see you, or guessing they didn't, they could be back next day
Hunt, thats the best way to up your odds! and time is ticking!

[PlayTheWindMike]

Well Stone that is the largest k-nines I have ever seen on a rabbit. What did it score? sike....outstanding shot though, with only a couple days left of deer season I would be in blind if I didn't have to work. Go getem

[Whitetail Freak]

Stone, hey least ya didnt go hungry that nite lol with only a couple days left of deer season I would be in blind if I didn't have to work.
ill be out for sure while at the campout trying my luck ya never know could be 4th down n 2 mins left and BAM touchdown deer down that would be sweet

[blackbeard]

Get back out there, time is running out. I'm surprised they spooked that bad from a crossbow unless they are much louder than a compound. I've killed a few deer over the years that I missed first and they didn't go anywhere because they thought it was a nut falling or something. But I was in a treestand too and that makes a difference.

[Lord ToneKing]

I'd be happier with that bunny than what I shot tonite. I shot a mature doe that had 3 fully devloped babies in her....ALL bucks :(

I passed on a button buck and went for momma, Im kinda sick about it


Very impressive shot on the rabbit though, good job