Welcome to TheOhioOutdoors
Wanting to join the rest of our members? Login or sign up today!
Login / Join

After a bad shot...

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Then what? You do what you can to recover the deer, beat yourself up mentally and then what?

How long do you wait to "get back in the saddle"?

I think it's been 5 days and I haven't even had the hedge to hunt again. Today was the first day I even looked at the "live from the stand" thread... still kicking rocks and can't decide if going back out will help or make it worse. I just feel like total shit...
 

Quantum673

Black Hat Cajun
Supporting Member
Get back in the saddle. It happens man. We hate it. We beat ourselves up. We do everything we can to not let it happen but it happens. Been there. Know how you feel. Get out in the stand.

 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Just gettin back at ya from earlier, asshole! Wounding a deer sucks ass, but you ain't doing yourself any good by not wanting to get back out.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
I'm good with it Chad, no worries.

Honestly, the worst part was when my kids asked me on Sunday if I got anything...telling them was one of the hardest things I've ever told them. It was like telling them about Santa, only way I can explain it. I felt like a disappointment as my one boy said "ohhhh" in that voice and tone all parents hate.
 

Gordo

Senior Member
5,515
121
Athens County
Either give up on hunting all together, or get back after it and do everything in your power to keep it from happening again. You ain't the quitting type. None of us are or we wouldn't be deer hunters. Unfortunately, there's times when 'doing everything in your power' still isn't enough to keep that shit from happening. We all been there. It's amazing how tough they are


 

Wmiller07

Member
1,132
30
Not trying to hijack the thread but does wounding a deer feel worse to you than other animals? I lost a goose this year and I've lost a dove before and I didn't feel like Giles does. It sucked and I was disappointed it happened but i didnt beat myself up about it or lose my drive to hunt
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Not trying to hijack the thread but does wounding a deer feel worse to you than other animals? I lost a goose this year and I've lost a dove before and I didn't feel like Giles does. It sucked and I was disappointed it happened but i didnt beat myself up about it or lose my drive to hunt
Idk, I've never lost an animal other than a deer.
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
You need to figure out what happened and why. Once you know that, its easier to move forward. With an "seasoned" hunter, there is usually an explanation to explain the circumstances that led to a bad shot. Something you can reasonably use to understand how it happened. I would believe you are a seasoned hunter. Knowing what happened will usually prevent you from making the same mistake again. All my mistakes ring loud in my head the moment I am put in a situation that could allow them to happen a second time.

If the only explanation is in-experience, such as a newbie walking out of Walmart with a bow and going hunting with for the first time that weekend or never sighting in a gun... stuff like that, then shame on you for shooting and loosing that animal due to lack of practice. You have absolutely no business being in the woods...

Its a tuff thing to deal with but one that I'm sure you (as a seasoned hunter) will work through in time. Hang in there.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
You need to figure out what happened and why. Once you know that, its easier to move forward. With an "seasoned" hunter, there is usually an explanation to explain the circumstances that led to a bad shot. Something you can reasonably use to understand how it happened. I would believe you are a seasoned hunter. Knowing what happened will usually prevent you from making the same mistake again. All my mistakes ring loud in my head the moment I am put in a situation that could allow them to happen a second time.

If the only explanation is in-experience, such as a newbie walking out of Walmart with a bow and going hunting with for the first time that weekend or never sighting in a gun... stuff like that, then shame on you for shooting and loosing that animal due to lack of practice. You have absolutely no business being in the woods...

Its a tuff thing to deal with but one that I'm sure you (as a seasoned hunter) will work through in time. Hang in there.

I clipped a strand of barb wire that I didn't realize was there. I should've seen it, but it was closer to me than the deer (deer was 8 yards!) and was below the scope/out of the range of view. Had I just taken a half of second to pull my head back and look, it wouldn't of happened!
 

CJD3

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
14,630
201
NE Ohio
I clipped a strand of barb wire that I didn't realize was there. I should've seen it, but it was closer to me than the deer (deer was 8 yards!) and was below the scope/out of the range of view. Had I just taken a half of second to pull my head back and look, it wouldn't of happened!

As I suspected. An isolated situation. When you are ready and return to the woods again, your attention to shooting lanes will be much more in the front of your mental check list. One that you will think of every time you set up a nest, tree stand or generally raise up to take that shot. I don't mean to say the bad hit should be written off due the barb wire. Work through it and you will be a better hunter for it...

I will spare you my sad story for now but I did go back out after a time and have killed deer since but I have never forgotten what caused my "bad hit" years ago and always think of it when I raise up even today.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
As I suspected. An isolated situation. When you are ready and return to the woods again, your attention to shooting lanes will be much more in the front of your mental check list. One that you will think of every time you set up a nest, tree stand or generally raise up to take that shot. I don't mean to say the bad hit should be written off due the barb wire. Work through it and you will be a better hunter for it...

I will spare you my sad story for now but I did go back out after a time and have killed deer since but I have never forgotten what caused my "bad hit" years ago and always think of it when I raise up even today.

Thank you sir. Share away, I don't suspect I'm the only one with this issue.
 

giles

Cull buck specialist
Supporting Member
Not trying to hijack the thread but does wounding a deer feel worse to you than other animals? I lost a goose this year and I've lost a dove before and I didn't feel like Giles does. It sucked and I was disappointed it happened but i didnt beat myself up about it or lose my drive to hunt

I lost a tree rat a couple years ago that landed in the crotch of a tree. It bugged me, but not like deer do. I have a much higher respect for deer though and it's A LOT more meat to lose.
 

reo

Junior Member
484
68
N.E. Ohio
Then what? You do what you can to recover the deer, beat yourself up mentally and then what?

How long do you wait to "get back in the saddle"?

I think it's been 5 days and I haven't even had the hedge to hunt again. Today was the first day I even looked at the "live from the stand" thread... still kicking rocks and can't decide if going back out will help or make it worse. I just feel like total shit...

Soooo, not going back out does not seem to be helping.
This shit happens sooner or later. Only way to guarantee it won't is to quit.


How about this: Leave the bow at home but take a walk in the woods.
Maybe to an area you have wanted to check out but never have for whatever reason
or to an area you already know, don't really matter but just get out and take a walk,
clear your head. I bet it'll help. Might even get the juices going again. Either way being
in the October woods is good for the soul and what you been doing thus far ain't.
Good Luck
 

Bigslam51

Dignitary Member
Supporting Member
25,778
127
Stark County
Soooo, not going back out does not seem to be helping.
This shit happens sooner or later. Only way to guarantee it won't is to quit.


How about this: Leave the bow at home but take a walk in the woods.
Maybe to an area you have wanted to check out but never have for whatever reason
or to an area you already know, don't really matter but just get out and take a walk,
clear your head. I bet it'll help. Might even get the juices going again. Either way being
in the October woods is good for the soul and what you been doing thus far ain't.
Good Luck
Gotta take the bow, what if a giant appears?!
 

Carpn

*Supporting Member*
2,234
87
Wooster
Have you ever wounded and lost a deer before ? I have , more than one...more than two ...it sucks . I think a large portion of archery shot deer that are unrecovered survive and live . It sucks to wound em. But it happens . Take pride in the fact it doesn't happen often and move on. The next deer that gives ya a good slam dunk shot send one thru it's lungs .
 

Gordo

Senior Member
5,515
121
Athens County
Gotta take the bow, what if a giant appears?!

That'd be another kick to the junk! Like the time I went with my wife to the strip club. Ha.

I get what REO is saying though. If you aren't feeling them juices, pack it in. I'm pretty damn sure if you get your ass out there for a morning hunt and at MINIMUM be settled in the zone one hour before the sun rises up, you'll be just fine.....


Man, I gotta get my ass in the woods
 
Last edited: