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Arrows at dusk

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 1:38 am
by Vonz90
So I missed a deer today with my crossbow. Kind of a bummer, but it has me thinking.

In the last three years I have taken a couple deer with my bow and missed now three (including one miss with my compound bow). Is that a typical average or do I just suck, or take shots I shouldn't or what?) In my entire life I have missed exactly one deer with my rifle and that was an iffy shot I probably should not have taken, so I don't think it is "buck fever" or whatever - this was a doe anyway. Maybe this is just a typical archery average and I have to adjust my expectations, but it does not seem right.

The thing I have noticed today thinking about it, the two I took were fairly much full light and the three I missed were either right at first light or towards dusk. So is there something about dusk / low light that is throwing me off or is it just a statistical anomaly? The scope on my crossbow is nothing special package scope, but I thought I had a decent sight picture taking the shot this evening, it was not a gimmie shot, but I think if I set a target there I would get it 9/10 times in the black.

Any thoughts from the peanut gallery?

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Sun Nov 05, 2017 2:15 am
by McClarkus
I archery hunted white tails with a guy who was the state archery champ in Iowa back in the 1960's His rule was I had to be able to reliably hit a paper plate at whaterver distance I was shooting from. That was long bow or compound, up, level, down, in a tree or on the gound, and in light or dusk, with or without sights. His advise has served me well.

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Mon Nov 06, 2017 2:41 pm
by Vonz90
I think I figured it out at least in this case.

The deer was on the extreme right of where I have a view from my blind, tried lining up to the same sight picture and the right arm of my cross bow was pressed up almost touching the wall of the blind while drawn, so when I released it, the bow (and the cam wheel) would expand out -pushing on the wall of the blind and thereby pushing my point aim left.

Drat, I should have noticed that but did not while I was lining up the shot. It is something I will have to consider in the future.

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Wed Nov 08, 2017 2:19 pm
by Precision
Vonz90 wrote:I think I figured it out at least in this case.

The deer was on the extreme right of where I have a view from my blind, tried lining up to the same sight picture and the right arm of my cross bow was pressed up almost touching the wall of the blind while drawn, so when I released it, the bow (and the cam wheel) would expand out -pushing on the wall of the blind and thereby pushing my point aim left.

Drat, I should have noticed that but did not while I was lining up the shot. It is something I will have to consider in the future.
glad to hear you figured it out.

For those taking shots within 30-40 yards from a poling of my friends who bow hunt, roughly 25% of shots are misses and another 15% are hits but poor hits. I don't think you are batting too far off of that, especially considering people will lie to look better / miss remember the percent of misses in their favor.

Archery is an even more perishable skill than rifle, more akin to pistol at the given ranges.

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Sun Nov 12, 2017 4:58 am
by Vonz90
So I dropped a 4 pointer this afternoon that was standing maybe 6 feet to the left of the one I missed last weekend.

I think I am going with the theory that I am a dipshit on every other shot.

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 2:51 pm
by blackeagle603
Nice. Memories of vension hanging in the woodshed.

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Wed Nov 22, 2017 3:29 pm
by First Shirt
Hey, look at the bright side! You're batting .500, and in baseball that would be a great average!

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Sun Nov 26, 2017 1:23 am
by McClarkus
Glad to hear you got one. Now the fun begins. Do you grind your own sausage? Burgers, steaks and roasts?

Re: Arrows at dusk

Posted: Thu Nov 30, 2017 3:09 am
by Vonz90
McClarkus wrote:Glad to hear you got one. Now the fun begins. Do you grind your own sausage? Burgers, steaks and roasts?
If I have time I butcher them out myself. As I am strapped for time, I had this one processed by a butcher shop I use that does a good job with them. I get the saddle, tenderloin, steaks and chops, and then get the rest ground (straight, I do not like it mixed with anything else).