Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Around the Campfire => Topic started by: Marks on August 29, 2013, 01:31:53 pm

Title: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Marks on August 29, 2013, 01:31:53 pm
Looking for some funny, embarrassing, self esteem draining, Lucy picking up the football and Charlie Brown landing on his back kind of miss stories. The kind you don't like to talk about.

I haven't gotten far enough in the primitive world to have primitive miss stories but I've missed plenty of animals with other weapons. This past season I missed a 150# Boar standing still at less than 10 yds. with my scoped .270 rifle from my tree stand. He had no clue I existed and I got fancy and went for the head shot. My nerves got the best of me and I flinched hard. There were some squirrel dogs on the neighboring property giving the pigs heck. I shot every bullet I had that day. I missed another group of pigs at 15 yds running but go figure I killed another pig running at 150 yds across the field on my way back to the truck. They were everywhere.

Monday I missed another hog from 20 yds broadside with my .44 mag. Again, he was clueless and I choked.

Back in High school I had a big 5 pt feeding in a corn field with 5 does around 100 yds or so. I shot 4 times and 4 misses. The poor buck didn't know what to do. he kept running in circles. The 5th and final round in my gun hit but it was pretty embarrassing.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: lostarrow on August 29, 2013, 01:57:28 pm
Last fall, shooting at a grouse on the ground through a hole in some Spruce boughs. misjudged the trajectory and the arrow hit the branch squarely at the top of the hole , stopped dead and promtly fell to the ground.about 5 feet in front of me. The bird was as confused as I was and offered a second shot.
 

    15 years old ,hunting Deer with a Savage lever action. Doe and fawn quietly came past ,offering a shot at the Fawn.  Took the fawn with the first shot, but in my exitement , cycled a round through without firing  ,............ took a second finishing shot and missed ,as it dropped just as I pulled the trigger.  I then ejected another unspent round  before walikg up to finish the job with shell #5.  Glad none of my cousins were there to see that, or they'd still be ribbin" me.

  Hunting snowshoe hare  in the late fall is pretty easy. They turn white ,the leaves are off and if you're lucky , the snow isn't on the ground yet. This makes them easy targets to spot. ........... unless you are in thick Balsams,...........with the occasional  White Birch. All I'm saying is that a pice of Birch bark with a small black hole  from a branch,(right about where an eye should be, if it were a rabbit) at 20 yards in the din of the evergreens will not even flinch when  confronted with a well placed shot from the 22.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: sleek on August 29, 2013, 05:11:01 pm
I never missed a shot.... but boy do my arrows do their own thing sometimes.....  ;D
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Pat B on August 29, 2013, 05:46:25 pm
Shortly after I started hunting with trad gear in the late 1980s I was sitting on a stand in a WMA near my home in Bluffton, SC. I cought movement and when I looked there were 5 bucks following a doe in heat;  large 6pt, a small 6pt, 2 four, a spike, and a nubbin. As the train approached I got ready for the shot. The first shot was over the big 6pt back so I pulled another arrow and missed the smaller 6 point and then the spike. All I had was 3 arrows with me so when they walked off I climbed down and retrieved my arrows. Within a minute of getting back up in my stand the train returned and I missed 3 more shots.
 My buddy was sitting in a tree about 50 yards away. He was laughing so hard he had to hang on the tree to keep from falling out. 
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Fred Arnold on August 29, 2013, 06:34:34 pm
Probably back about 12-15 years ago after storing away my compounds and shooting recurves/longbows only I recieved a u-finish 68" longbow from Dan Quillian. Dan set all of his u-finish bows up with a twisted artificial sinew string w/ no serving. At the time I was shooting 2117's out of my other 55-60# bows and they seemed to shoot and group just fine with my new longbow but I'd decided I had to have a new string right before hunting season.

Well I ordered a nice string from ol'nobul ?sp off of ebay because I'd had great luck with them before and he was a great guy to deal with. Both these old boys knew their stuff and were always quick to respond to any questions. If you sent them an email with your phone # they would take the time to call and discuss it on their dime. Can't say enough good about either one of these guys.

The day before deer opening I got my new endless loop string and braced the bow up. Perfect fit with very slight twisting. Man was I pumped. Everything was packed and ready to go up to the cabin which is now my home.

Anyway early next morning I woke up and had to go outdoors for an early morning whiz. You guessed it. A nice 8 pointer right outside my door not more than 30 yards away and he didn't even see me 2 hours before sunup. 

I snuck back inside and felt like I was getting married I was so damn nervous. I still had over an hour to wait and it was the slowest hour I've ever spent in my entire life. I knew there were at least deer wandering the property.

I didn't care whether I got a nice buck or doe as long as I could take a deer with my new longbow.
Anyway I checked all the windows and open doors so as not to spook anything before I finally left the cabin to go to the area I'd picked out for sit and wait hunting. It was now less than an hour before sunrise.

Not 15 more minutes went by after I reached my destination and it's getting light. Right on the edge of the alfalfa coming out of the creek bank walks a dandy doe and she has no clue that I'm no more than 15yards away waiting in a natural draw. I've got my spot picked and just waiting for her to start browsing again. Perfect setup!!

I knock my arrow and let loose. What the %^*&? My arrow perfectly tuned to my bow goes sailing 2' over the top of her head and about 3' dead ahead of her. I missed her by a mile.

_____to be continued
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Hillbilly on August 29, 2013, 06:49:54 pm
There's a story coming to a Primitive Archer magazine near you in the future that tells more than you need to know about some of my misses. :)
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: mullet on August 29, 2013, 06:57:35 pm
Pappy, last night, heh,heh, twice. It was only a practice run. It's for real tonite ;D
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: sweetpea on August 29, 2013, 06:59:53 pm
Oh, my! Maybe mullet needs to show Pappy how to it one of those lizards. Mullet can do it!
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: JW_Halverson on August 29, 2013, 09:49:35 pm
Before I got a flintlock, I was shooting a caplock 50 cal Great Plains sorta cobled together blackpowder gun.  I had taken a few deer with it already and was wonderfully confidant of it's ability to drop 'em good.  Well, that summer I got into shooting the 125 yd gong at the blackpowder range and replaced the regular backsight with a peep.  Since the peep was so much taller than my regular sight, I no longer had to hold over at all on the 14 inch 125 yarder.  I was Rocky Balboa at ringing that gong on offhand shots. 

Well, I was a little too cocky when deer season rolls around and I just figured I would hold under a little and do just fine.  Yeah, did I test that theory on the range shooting some paper?  Nope.

I missed 4 deer at under 30 yards.  I earned the nickname Mr. Clean.  When my hunting buddy would ask me how I did after hearing me shoot, I would answer grumpily, "I missed her clean."

Finally I missed one deer at 20 yds, reloaded, missed AGAIN!  I was nearly done reloading when she ran off and stood waaaay out broadside.  Waaaaaay out to......Oh Sweet Blessed Savior Mine..... 125 yards!  And naturally, I rang the gong.

I still get a bottle of Mr. Clean for my birthday every year from that buddy. 
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: tattoo dave on August 29, 2013, 09:53:53 pm
Pat, That's funny stuff!!! These stories make me feel better about my misses.

So a good ten years ago I missed a giant 8 point. Biggest deer I had ever seen in the michigan woods. There I am sittin in my stand, suddenly I hear all kinds of crashing heading in my direction. Out pops the head of this monster 8pt, there he sat for at least 30 minutes. All I could see was his head. Then he finally steps out, and walks by the stand at 12 yards, gives me a perfect broadside shot. I fling an arrow over his back with my glass recurve. He finds the arrow and bolts before I could get another nocked. Out of frustration, I declare it's lunch time and head for camp. While eating my sandwich, a grouse lands not 15 yards away. You guessed it...nailed him right to the tree.

Tattoo Dave
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Danzn Bar on August 29, 2013, 10:10:21 pm
A little buck fever there, Dave  ???
DBar
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: sleek on August 29, 2013, 10:43:26 pm
I learned last season that if you lead a running buck at 30 yards by his head, you may come home with his tail. I missed his tail by about an inch. I actually looked for fur and blood on the arrow. He never knew I was there either.  Also, at 30 yards on a hill, you will overshoot a very nice 6 point if you calculate for drop. DOH! And finally, even a doe with her nose to the ground can duck a perfectly placed shot at 40 yards. all this inside of 20 min. I didnt go home with meat but boy what fun!
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: wildman on August 29, 2013, 11:16:10 pm
I never miss ;D >:D        I have a stand 100yds behind my house that is 95% sucess rate. A few years ago I was in said stand a few does strolled by at 12yards I sailed an arrow right over the back of the last in line. Ten minutes later a Pope and Young fox treerat comes hippty hopping down said trail same spot SHWACK!!! right to his furry lil brainpan. That being said I quote the Patriot "Aim small miss small" A fella I hunted with a few years ago missed a dandy . We were on my place early filming a small buck and a probably 140" 10 pt came within 10 yds. He was tore up like a bread sandwich in the rain I was filming and muttering under my breath DO NOT LOOK AT THE RACK! AT about 15yds he stopped broadside and zing 2'' over his back , the buck looked around walked about 40 yds and spent the rest of the afternoon in plain sight munching honeysuckle. He was so disgusted he wouldnt hardly watch the film,no string ducking just a flat out miss.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Dalton Knapper on August 29, 2013, 11:54:26 pm
That's an easy one. I was deer hunting with an ancient Chilean Mauser  (7X57) in an old tree stand. A buck wandered up and I leaned forward to take the shot. The stand gave way when I leaned and I fell some 15 or so feet to the ground, miraculously missing branches on the way down. I didn't quite gain my composure as the deer stared at me. The dumbfounded deer just stood there - WTF? I raised the rifle (iron sights) after moving my cap out from over my eyes and missed from about 20 yards. The deer trotted off thinking, "What the heck was that noise and commotion?"

Either that or missing a big buck with my bow right under my stand when I could have dropped on its back with a Bowie knife and killed it easy. I didn't have any pins set that close.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: PEARL DRUMS on August 30, 2013, 07:50:00 am
I have hunted for two years on a friends farm in Madison, In. When Im down there we sit and sit and sit, so the hours pile up. Anywho, last year I finally get a shot at a buck after many hours of sitting. It was a grand 2-3 old 8 point. I hit my lower limb on my leg and stuck him clean through the neck roast. Found nearly no blood and watched him trot for a mile out of sight. Im quite certain I didn't hurt him much, but it did hurt me! I hunted so hard for that shot over a two year period, and I muffed it.............the stand wasn't set up for a good shot at all. All the same I dropped the string, not the poorly placed stand.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Roy on August 30, 2013, 10:31:03 am
LOL Pat, I did the very same thing but the three only came by once:) Closest shot I ever missed was on a spike at 5 yards from the ground. We had a stare down for a minute and as he turned to walk away, I shot right under him at 5 yards. He walked 5 yards and stopped and I shot right under him, he walked 5 yards and stopped and I shot over him, then I said out loud, get the heck out of here:) LOL
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Marks on August 30, 2013, 10:50:37 am

Either that or missing a big buck with my bow right under my stand when I could have dropped on its back with a Bowie knife and killed it easy. I didn't have any pins set that close.

I had a coyote give me a SUPER close quartering away shot like that once. I canted the bow and lined all my pins down her back. Dead yote. I mouth called the whole pack in when they started howling a little ways down the ridge. In the spirit of this thread, I missed one of the other ones at 20 yds.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Olanigw (Pekane) on August 30, 2013, 04:07:19 pm
Got caught with my pants down by a pair of doe inside of 30 yards at the end of blackpowder season and decided to get my rifle up when they passed behind a rise and nail one when they came out the other side.  Waited patiently for 10 minutes before I realized the trail they were on took a turn away from me and I should have taken a snap shot.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: uncleduck on August 31, 2013, 03:38:04 am
First time out with my first bow that I made....cut in a ground blind two weeks earlier in a clump of junipers about 7-8 yards off of a nice deer trail in WY....first morning after about 35 minutes of sitting, here comes a nice plump muley doe down the trail, "this is just too easy"...Quartering away at 8 yards, a "gimmie" shot...I hit a branch deflecting the arrow in front of the deer by about 7" as I sat there in awe as she bounced off to about 50 yards and stood there looking for what happened....turns out the branch I hit was one that I actually put there myself when I built the blind. I was too focused on "the spot" to even notice it
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarrassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Eric Krewson on August 31, 2013, 10:48:16 am
Back in the early 70s, when I took up bow hunting, I would shoot my Kodiak Hunter at a bale of hay in the yard, never varied the distance, just pumped arrow after arrow into the same place. I could hit really well in the wide open yard.

Tennessee opened an area for hunting (Carter Mt Management Area) that hadn't had a hunter on it many years. The deer were really thick, had never seen a hunter and offered very easy shot opportunities.

Tree stands hadn't come out yet so we stalked around on the ground, I carried 6 arrows. One morning I shot out of arrows and then some, never touched a deer. Buck fever, failure to pick a spot and my inexperience made every deer in the woods safe.

My worst miss happened when I was sitting on a log resting when a spike walked by at about 20 yards. Buck fever took over, I yanked my bow string back and sent an arrow in the direction of the deer. The arrow disappeared , went "thonk" and the deer ran off. I lost track of the arrow flight  and thought I had surely hit the deer. I looked for my arrow, I looked for blood, I looked for the deer all to no avail. I walked back to the log I was sitting on and replayed the shot. It was then that I noticed my arrow stuck in a tree 10 feet above where the deer was standing. A foot miss, OK perhaps, but ten feet, now that's a bad case of buck fever.

I probably shot at 25 or 30 deer that year, only killed one that came by at about 5 feet when I was hiding behind a boulder. I shot at it's chest and hit it in the middle of the neck.

You can see the wound in the neck about a foot below the head in the picture.

(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v181/ekrewson/Firstbowkill.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/ekrewson/media/Firstbowkill.jpg.html)

I don't remember when I killed another deer with my bow, pretty sure it was with wheels. When I went back to trad in 89, started shooting a lot of 3D tournaments and learned to pick a spot, the deer didn't stand a chance, no more ten foot misses or any misses for the most part.   
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Badly Bent on September 01, 2013, 08:14:13 pm
Two years ago I had a fine large mature doe just appear out of nowhere and stand broadside at 15 yds completely unaware of me 12' up in a treestand. It was opening day and I thought the gods had given me a gift. Never had a
deer allow me to take three shots before but this one did. All broadside between 13 to 15 yards. Shots were 12" high, then 6" high and the third one flew wildly by her head as the stone point had loosened when I yanked it out of my quiver and was apparently askew on the shaft. She finally ran off when the third one whizzed by her ears.

Heres another embarrassing one. Fast forward a few weeks and I'm in the woods at daybreak scanning the woods
with my eyes and see a coyote moving down a trail in the hardwoods in my direction. I take a knee, nock an arrow and he is quickly closing the distance. When he is 8 yds away, moving and unaware of my presence, I draw back, mouth squeak him to a stop and nail him right behind the font shoulder with a very well placed arrow. He runs 50yds, stops and looks back in my direction then trots off looking unharmed. I go to where I had hit him and find  my arrow laying on the ground with the leather sheath cover still on it. Seems I forgot to remove the sheath in all
the excitement of the hunt gods giving me another gift. ;D ;D  Arrow just bounced off the yote.

Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: sleek on September 01, 2013, 08:35:22 pm
Now that is funny. Way to play tag with the animals there bud! Good way to practice on animals you dont really wanna kill and take home, shoot em with wide point blunts. At least you didnt hit the deer with the sheath still on. Stumping for yotes.....  Hilarious!
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Danzn Bar on September 01, 2013, 09:03:49 pm
I really don't have any embarrassing moments with a bow an arrow ...yet...well maybe this post is it.......I've been hunting with tradition equipment for about three years now, This will be the first year with a self bow that I feel confident enough with letting an arrow fly at a deer.  I have never released an arrow at a deer in the last three years.  :embarassed:  I have a lot of respect for those critters.  But after many years of gun (muzzleloading) hunting I know sh#! happens.  Once a big old doe surprised me and came up from behind, I shot at her at about 15 yds away with my 54 cal Hawkens  and completely missed.  She just looked around like noting happened, it was very windy and noisy that morning.  I stayed very still for it seamed like forever.  and she went about eating acorns under the tree that I set up on.   I waited long enough until I thought she was comfortable and I got a chance to re-load.  I couldn't believe it!  She never gave me a chance for another shot and ended up walking away.  Busted that morning.... but that's hunting.
DBar
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: crooketarrow on September 01, 2013, 09:48:28 pm
  There's been lots of miss's but 3 have stuck out though the years.
 
 When I was 11 or 12 in the early 70's I was hunting with a BEAR BOW off the ground. I'd already killedc a buck and a doe the last year. So I was a bow hunter I thought. I set up and had 5 does come down my trail at 12,13 yards. I shot 3 times at the second doe as she looked me over. Twice at her fawn and 2 times at there tails as they left.

  Switch to my last year with a compound. Almost 30 years ago. I was up in a 20 foot in a homemade latter stand. I had a eagle bow. A 9 point came by following a doe. I missed him a 30 yards. They ran to almost straight downunder me, I was setting down. The bottem limb hit my knee as I shot at him hitting the doe in the between the eyes. Sending me to he DOC. 2 DAYS LATER.

  The next year I switched back to a recurve. I was in a climber 25 feet up. When I had a 6 point come 5 yards. I had 4 arrows when I finished shooting my 4 arrows. HE WAS STILL THERE. He ran off as I climbed down. A few mintes later my friend missed him also, running him back. I shot 2 more arrows at less than 20 yards. If he's stayed I'd shot the other 2 again.
  SEAMS FUNNY OW BUT I STARTED CARRYING 6 ARROWS AND DID FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR.

   I guess I should tell you all this one. I'd been hunting with a self bow for 15 years at least. I'd killed at least 20 bucks with a self bow by then. I had a stone points and dog wood shafts.  I had a decoy set up 20 yards faceing me in a wide open cut bean field. The biggest buck I've even shot at with a self bow, a heavy 10 point,6,7 year old, 140. A 140's not unreard but a true pig for my part of WV.
   HE WALKED ALL STIFF LEGGED 6,7 YARDS AWAY BETWEEN ME AND THE DECOY. STANDIND STILL, BROAD SIDE ,LOOKING AWAY.  Just like he's read the scrip. I missed him clean shot over him 5 or 6 inchs.
  It took me salking around the rest of the season to get over that one.
  If I had'nt aready arrowed and killed a 4 year old 7 point I'd likely cried.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: lesken2011 on September 02, 2013, 09:57:05 am
I good buddy of mine and I were sitting around the camp house after a big lunch one weekend. We were the only ones left at the camp that weekend of bow season since we had taken an extra day off work. After trying to decide whether to take a quick nap or head to the woods, we decided it would be better to be in the woods and if we got sleepy we could always catch a few winks with nature.

While riding the 4 wheelers several miles from the camp, we came across a huge white oak on the 4-wheeler trail that was dropping acorns bigger than your thumb like a candy machine. It was a very active feeding area and there were deer droppings everywhere. The spot was where the trail skirted a large cut over. Still full from lunch, and wanting to catch up since we were both from different towns and didn't get to visit often, we came up with a plan. There was a logging road leading straight from the cut over to the white oak tree that was covered with tracks. There was a bend in the road about 30 yards from the white oak tree with a small row of bushes along  the road next to a couple of large trees and a pushed up dirt and debris pile. The perfect ambush spot!

We decided to team hunt 'em so we could shoot the breeze and weren't really taking the whole thing too seriously so we sat our camping chairs right along the edge of the logging road behind the bushes. After whispering for while I thought I heard something to my left (my partner was on my right and responsible for anything on that side). I looked over at him to "give him the nod" and he was sound asleep. I twisted myself around to the edge of my seat to prepare for a shot and could see legs coming around the bend just before the debris pile. A huge doe around 175 to 200 lbs rounded the corner making a bee line for the white oak. She walked by so close I could have held one end of my bow and touched her with the other end. I was so freaked out, I drew and fired and shot right over her back. (my windage was perfect though! ::) ). She spooked and ran off down the hill through the woods.

By then my buddy was awake and we were laughing about it when I heard something again. I don't know if it was the same doe or her twin, but she came around the corner again. I told my self this time don't shoot over her...don't shoot over her....aim low. Then this little voice in my head said don't shoot under her either. Then I promptly shot over her again in the exact same spot! It was a good hour before dark and we were laughing so hard we didn't get a bit of hunting done the rest of the day.

Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: lostarrow on September 02, 2013, 10:11:21 am
Two years ago I had a fine large mature doe just appear out of nowhere and stand broadside at 15 yds completely unaware of me 12' up in a treestand. It was opening day and I thought the gods had given me a gift. Never had a
deer allow me to take three shots before but this one did. All broadside between 13 to 15 yards. Shots were 12" high, then 6" high and the third one flew wildly by her head as the stone point had loosened when I yanked it out of my quiver and was apparently askew on the shaft. She finally ran off when the third one whizzed by her ears.

Heres another embarrassing one. Fast forward a few weeks and I'm in the woods at daybreak scanning the woods
with my eyes and see a coyote moving down a trail in the hardwoods in my direction. I take a knee, nock an arrow and he is quickly closing the distance. When he is 8 yds away, moving and unaware of my presence, I draw back, mouth squeak him to a stop and nail him right behind the font shoulder with a very well placed arrow. He runs 50yds, stops and looks back in my direction then trots off looking unharmed. I go to where I had hit him and find  my arrow laying on the ground with the leather sheath cover still on it. Seems I forgot to remove the sheath in all
the excitement of the hunt gods giving me another gift. ;D ;D  Arrow just bounced off the yote.

 We're not allowed to practice catch and release hunting up here, but it sounds like good practice for the deer you really want to shoot. ;D
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Roy on September 02, 2013, 10:58:01 am
LMAO, Kenny:)
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 02, 2013, 04:33:55 pm
Then I promptly shot over her again in the exact same spot! It was a good hour before dark and we were laughing so hard we didn't get a bit of hunting done the rest of the day.

You shoulda moved your chair over a foot or so, your second arrow followed the last arrow's trail thru the air!
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: 4dog on September 04, 2013, 12:46:21 am
Coupla friends of mine took me to a spot to look for pig wallows for a hunt , all of us packin our bows,, we start lookin around and cottontails are everywhere..for those of you that never took a shot at a bunny they have invisible shields around em...anyway we all emptied our quivers at the bunnies it was hilarious, take a shot at 20 yrds bunny moves two feet..then it all starts over..gonna invent a foolproof bunnie shield buster, oh wait..too late..its called practice. Heh
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Marks on September 04, 2013, 10:23:30 am
Coupla friends of mine took me to a spot to look for pig wallows for a hunt , all of us packin our bows,, we start lookin around and cottontails are everywhere..for those of you that never took a shot at a bunny they have invisible shields around em...anyway we all emptied our quivers at the bunnies it was hilarious, take a shot at 20 yrds bunny moves two feet..then it all starts over..gonna invent a foolproof bunnie shield buster, oh wait..too late..its called practice. Heh

shotgun. not primitive but you didn't say primitive shield buster ;)
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 04, 2013, 09:42:39 pm
I am breaking at least three Bro Rules doing this, but I gotta tell this one on someone that lurks in here from time to time but does not post.  We'll call him, uh, let's see...oh! Wee Willy!  *snicker*

Me and Wee Willy (WW from here out) went turkey hunting.  I was not feeling particularly good about my archery accuracy, so i loaded the dbl bbl 10 ga. black powder caplock and he packed up his bow.  WW had been practicing all winter on a second hand foam turkey target.  He practiced from every angle, sitting against a tree, kneeling, standing, to the left, to the right, uphill and down.  He was getting amazingly good with his first self bow, Old Mexican Propeller. 

I get him right up under the roost, no more than 30 yds from the main tree, and we are there at least 45 minutes before legal shooting hours.  Not a peep outa the birds, not a one knows we are here.  At dawn they start to pitch down out of the trees, about 20 hens and 5 mature gobblers.  They move uphill to us and we are literally surrounded by birds in high strut!  We got gobblers double and triple gobbling, hens on all sides purring their hearts out.  Finally they start up the hill to the left on the single track trail.  The last bird to go is the largest gobbler of the bunch, hooked spurs and a paintbrush for a beard.  He is in full strut and as he goes past WW he leaves himself wide open to being nailed.

WW slowly brings up his bow arm and being right handed, this is a perfect set up for him as the birds move to the left.  The gobbler is at 10 yds, full strut, every tailfeather is pointing at the point of aim....his butt, heart of the vitals.  WW hits full draw and I am slowly letting out my breath getting ready to take a giant lungful of fresh mountain air so I can yell my congratulations.  He hits anchor and his fingers relax that half a degree that allows the string to slip away.  His hand never leaves anchor, his bow arm does not waver, but the string catches his heavy camo jacket somewhere up near the left collar and slowly scrapes itself down the heavy sleeve to his wrist.  The encoumbered arrow lobs out at least 5, maybe 6 ft where the point makes a tiny puff of dust as it hits the ground moving slightly faster than a caterpillar with fallen arches.

The gobbler hears this odd sound and folds his fan, looking back over his shoulder.  WW is frozen, not even an eyeblink as he chants under his breath, "I am a tree, I am a rock, I am a bush, I am nothing dangerous to turkeys."  Time stands still.  Then a soft hen yelp and BAM! the fan is wide open as the trophy bird double gobbles in response...BUT STILL STANDS THERE UNMOVING!!!

I whisper, "Nock another arrow now, he can't see you".  To which, WW quietly whispers, "Only brought the one."

It wasn't until we were back to the vehicle when I remembered I was packing the double 10 loaded for grizz. 
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: Danzn Bar on September 04, 2013, 10:03:12 pm
Good story JW
DBar
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: autologus on September 05, 2013, 09:47:28 am
I was shooting a 3D tournament a couple years ago with a wheelie bow and using a T-handle release, I drew back and was taking aim and the release slipped out of my grip and ricocheted off the riser and whizzed by my head at an alarming rate of speed and nailed my buddy standing behind me in the groin.  It was not a good day, I folded him up and destroyed a $120.00 release.

Grady
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: koan on September 05, 2013, 10:06:47 am
I was shooting a 3D tournament a couple years ago with a wheelie bow and using a T-handle release, I drew back and was taking aim and the release slipped out of my grip and ricocheted off the riser and whizzed by my head at an alarming rate of speed and nailed my buddy standing behind me in the groin.  It was not a good day, I folded him up and destroyed a $120.00 release.

Grady
LMBO!! I just shot coffee outa my nose! Why are groin shots so funny to every one that dont get them? ;D... Hope your buddy recovered alright... Brian
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: sleek on September 05, 2013, 11:52:53 am
Good grief! I hope you bought him lunch after that...
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: JW_Halverson on September 05, 2013, 09:36:03 pm
I was shooting a 3D tournament a couple years ago with a wheelie bow and using a T-handle release, I drew back and was taking aim and the release slipped out of my grip and ricocheted off the riser and whizzed by my head at an alarming rate of speed and nailed my buddy standing behind me in the groin.  It was not a good day, I folded him up and destroyed a $120.00 release.

Grady
LMBO!! I just shot coffee outa my nose! Why are groin shots so funny to every one that dont get them? ;D... Hope your buddy recovered alright... Brian

Search for the song "Trauma To The Groin" by Heywood Banks for a laugh.
Title: Re: Lets hear about your Most Epic/Embarassing/Ridiculous Misses
Post by: autologus on September 06, 2013, 10:20:54 am
Good grief! I hope you bought him lunch after that...

I didn't buy him lunch but I did go back to a strap on wrist release for his peace of mind and bodily safety.

Grady