First missed shot in a long time...

[JestersHK]

TLDR version:  Shot at deer and missed because I'm a bonehead.  

 

Was out last weekend on a friends property down by steelville.  Sat most of the day Saturday and didn't see a single deer.  One of our group did harvest a nice symetrical 10 pointer, but that was it for our group of 13.  Was wierd as the weather and everything felt right, and we usually see a ton of deer, but over half of us saw nothing.

Sunday we headed back out to a different section of the property, I got settled in and heard shooting early.  Another 10 pointer was down, almost the same size as the first.  The group was heading in at 11 but I decided to skip brunch and go on a walk about.  As I walked along the edge of a treeline I can only see 3 sets of legs from behind a big pine.  I'm around 30 yards away at this point, but can't tell buck from doe.  I crouch down slowly onto my knee and get busted by a big doe.  She flags and bolts into the woods followed closely by her twin that was next to her.  The little baby ran right instead of left and went about 10 yards into the field.  She stopped and would of been an easy take, but even I have limits on shooting deer that small LOL.  She finally figured it out and ran back into the woods.

I circled back around and cut them off at the bottom of the trail.  Brush was thick but they were all coming my way.  I'm playing the walk and stalk game which for me is way better than sitting in a stand.  I get to a point where I can shoot into a little clearing and get down on one knee into a decent shooting position.  I hear them coming down the hill when I hear crashing from the opposite direction.  A little basket 8 runs a Doe out right in front of me into the thicket.  Had a snap shot on the doe which I passed on, and the Buck gave me an opportunity, but we have a rule in the group I hunt with that unless its going on the wall we dont shoot.  I grunted at them and the buck came my way, but the doe met up with the other ones and took off...

With seeing soo much activity on this side of the property I drug my pop up blind out to the middle of the field and got setup around 1:00pm.  I had great views to about 4 different trails with shots in between 40-70 yards away.  I also had great views down hill to a little finger of trees at the bottom of the hill.  About 45 min in a big Doe pops out at the bottom of the hill.  At first she looked tiny, but watching her in my scope her ears looked small and I realized she would make great table fare.  I watched her for close to 30 minutes hoping something else may poke out, I was texting my buddy back and forth and told him it was a super long shot for me.

Last year I shot a small doe on a trot at 100 yards.  I'm not a dead eye, but I've been shooting this .270 for 25 years now and know its limits pretty well.  It's been shot out to 200, and is a great flat shooting rifle.  It's never missed a deer up until now...

Generally most of my deer have been taken around 50 yards or so.  I haven't shot one over 100 yards in a long time, with my longest shot being at 186.  I started my calculations and figured this doe was around 200 yards away, I got situated in my blind, got my rifle braced, and began watching her through the scope.  After a few minutes she finally broadsided, and I placed my crosshairs just below her spine.  Holding a bit high for my 100yrd zero.  Rifle barked deer jumped and took off.  Shot felt ok, but wasn't a sure bet by any means. My buddy text me and I relay what happened.  He then calls me and as I'm telling him the doe pops back out into the field.  I watch her for a minute and she goes back to eating, like nothing ever happened... No we are discussing if this is the same deer or not, but I have a bonus tag so he tells me to take the shot.  Worst case I'm tagged out on does.  Later on I'm certain it was the same deer.  So I get situated center crosshairs same spot and shoot again.  Deer flags me and runs off this time.  Almost a sure miss this time...  After a while I walk down to the field to look for sign.  I had nothing... No blood anywhere.  I had just shot and missed twice.  

I searched around for almost an hour.  It got dark and we used a blood light just to make triple sure.  I was pretty bummed out. I was beginning to piece together what went wrong.  I thought I did everything right, but I started to wonder if maybe scope was off, maybe I pulled the shot.  My Buddy said man thats pretty freakin far away.  He said at least 200... This would be my error.  After ranging it I found out I was at 286 yards minimum.  I did the math on my 150grn noslers and realized I shot about 2-3 inches underneath my quarry... Twice...  Luckily I missed legs, rifle is still shooting true, I just royally blew it with my range estimation.  I'll use it as a good lesson, and maybe will finally buy that range finder... 

Heres a few pics of 2 10 pointers and one showing my shots.

 

[JestersHK]

[Ketchup]

Nice story Jesters.  Very well worded.  Dont feel bad, i did the same Saturday on the buck ive posted here "notice i havent posted my misfortune, tho my story of hitting him differs from yours". 

I havent been back out since Sat. but taking off tomo. and friday and will hunt Sat. also if needed.  

Congrats to your buddies. I have that same rule on the place i hunt  Tho i havent taken anyone out with me yet, that changes tomorrow  My neighbor Walt is going. He likes to shoot anything that walks, so i hope he listens to my needs for growing bigger deer  

P.S.  Saturday for me, deer were very plentiful. I was waiting for that one deer. Actually passed a 140" 10 point at 25 yards at 6:44am.  Heres a pic of him leaving. 

[Johnsfolly]

JHK sorry about missing that doe. As you mentioned that if you hit her leg would have been a real problem. She must have heard something hit the ground around her. No worse for wear.  Good luck if you get out this weekend. With the expected wind I may go back to my blind where I shot my doe. It's tucked in enough for the wind such that the deer may not have a problem. It's also within city limits so no guns have gone off around these deer.

Hope to see one of your trophy shots soon☺!

[Gavin]

Bummer, sight in at battle sight zero (200M) like the Marine Corps does and you would have meat in the freezer. Can hold dead on mostly and kill shorter or a bit longer depending on the cartridge.

[Lancer09]

I only killed a doe during rifle this year and had the same thing happen. Granted I ended up getting her it, I missed twice before I finally hit her. I thought She was 250 ish out... I counted out to 330 ish when I stepped it off and found first blood. It's a good thing I was aiming high already. I was real lucky frankly because she had worked far enough to my right that I was shooting standing without a rest too.