[Matty]

JRhunts thread about average bow shot was a good one, so I figured why not talk about the shortest shot, afterall, thats usually the most exciting kind. Oh and you have to talk about your most memorable miss...I know I have a few comical screw-ups.

To start off, my closest shot ever was my first deer. It was a 90 pound doe (field dressed) that came in about 5 minutes after I made a ruckuss with my climber. She came into my left and worked her way behind a blow-down, which is when I drew. I picked an opening ahead of the blow-down where I anticipated she would go. Well she decides to turn and come right at me. When she got directly left of me at about a yard she was broadside, so I let the string go and heard the hollow thud that I am now much more familiar with. It seemed to happen in slow motion, and then double speed as the arrow passed through her lungs and I sat there shaking so badly I couldnt climb down. It looked like all the videos I had watched, and I couldnt believe it was happening to me. I was just a little kid, so I had to go and use a pay-phone (cell-phones, what were they?) to call my mom and my neighbor. We found the doe about 40 yards past where I had shot her, and it was one of the most memorable events in my entire life.

One of my most memorable misses includea the biggest bucks I had ever seen. He was a monster 10 point that probably would have gone about 145". I had sat high in my treestand for way too many cold hours. As it turned noon, I said one more look around, and I will get down. Well that look around produced the biggest buck I had ever seen at the time, and I slowly stood and drew, quivering from nerves and cold, I tried to settle the pin for the 30 yard shot but was having difficulties. As I was nearing the moment of truth the wind blew, the tree shook, and my cold numb fingers let that arrow fly over that bucks back by a good 10 feet. My heart sank, and I sat there in disbelief, the shivers went away as I realized what had just happened. Luckily though, it was a clean miss. I never heard of anyone getting that deep-woods brute, so I imagine he passed away years ago from old age. I cant say I didnt have my chance though.

Hope you like the stories, and I cant wait to read yours!

 

[nightstalker911]

Closest shot 6':
Sitting in a brush pile in a gillie suit with the wind in my face. Lucky I cocked my Encore musket when I first saw the deer ( a nice 8PT ). He just kept coming ! Stood broadside at 6'.I don't think I even took a breath for his last 10yds. There was unburned powder in his hide.
Memorable miss:
15yds
14pt.
7" drop tine
Turned his head and the arrow glanced off the d*m drop tine[sad]
But he did make a great mount, for the guy who got him 2 months later

 

[jrhunt]

November 1 of 2004 I was on stand in Green county Illinois. The outfitter put me near a creek crossing where 4-5 runs came together. One run was 5 Feet from my stand. I was on stand about 2 hours and had just looked all around. I turned my Primos can over 2x and before I had it back in my pocket a huge buck was standing 3 yards to my right just slightly in front of me. I did not have time to count points but knew he was a shooter. When I drew my bow I realized I had to turn slightly to my right. As I turned he heard me and took 2 - 3 steps back the way he came.I was at full draw and when I let the arrow fly It went right past his shoulder. Clean miss. He walked away looking in my direction,but not spooked. The next day I killed a 11 point 141PY buck from the same stand.17 yards broadside. He fell in 35 yards.I estmate the one I missed at about 165PY.I will be back in that same stand From Oct 30 - Nov 3. Can't wait.

 

[jrhunt]

The shortest time I was ever on stand was Opening day archery 2003. I hunted till 11AM and saw nothing. I went back on stand at 3PM. I climed into my stand, put my safety belt on and knocked an arrow. I looked to my right into a field and saw nothing .I looked left and a nice doe was walking by at 20 yards. I was done in about 2 minutes.

 

[tommy]

My most memorable well I have two the first was about 15 years ago sitting with my father in a old wooden tree stand . My first time out hunting with him and he put me on a nice 8 point 20 yards from us .I remember every thing he told me that day.He has a nice place in my parents home..Also in 2000 I got a mule deer tag in Arizona .Drove to a town called Pason with a friend . We went off road for 2 hours ,we were lost ,set up a tent in the snow and scouted the next day found toons of sign .The following day a nice 5 by 5 gave me a 30 yard shot with my bow and to see a deer that big made me shake like I was 15 years old again I did not get a chance to get him mounted but I still have his antlers ,someday I will do something with them..MY worst miss was two yeas ago in Ostego New York . First morning 10 minutes in my stand I rattle in a nice 8 he came running down the trail right to me drewling , snorting he was mad . He stoped 10 yards from me was making a scrape I drew ,shot and twigged the arrow. I was heart broken .Saw nothing but spikes and forks the rest of the week..

 

[mysticguido]

5 Yards with a bow droped the DOE in Her trax.
5 yards also with my smokepole.

I like short shots because you have a better chance of a clean & Humane Kill.

In My way of Thinking this is the best way to Harvest any Game Animal. In Feet not Yards

 

[BROWNING 10 GA]

My closest shot was a doe that was under my platform of my treestand.I had to lean out as far as my safety belt would allow and shoot under my platform.The shot I guess was -1 yards??
That was over 20 years ago shortly after I started bowhunting - I don't recomend those types of shots,I would not attempt that kind of shot nowadays.

 

[Guest]

The cloest shot for me was back in 2003 on a large doe with the muzzleloader, she cam thru an area I didn't think a deer would come thru but she did, she was 7 yds.

All my hunts are memorable, even the one when I arrowed a huge 8 pointer with a spread over 22" well over 200lbs. on November 17, 2000, I watched this buck run 30 yds. and fall, 20 mins later he's up and walked away, we looked for him for over 2 days with no luck. Also my 1st Canada archery bear hunt, I got a 300lb bear, and my NJ bear. The best shot was back on October 11th 2003 I arrowed a nice doe while she was on the run at 30 yds. in the spine, how I did that I have no idea, and even almost 2 yrs later I'm still not sure and I will never be ever to make a shot like that.