Well, today I went out an froze my ass off. It was mid 20s when I went out to stake out my trail. This trail is baited with wildlife mix, mineral blocks and even old apples I get from a store nearby. Nothing!
So, I start still hunting about 8 am. I see squirrels everywhere - and lo and behold I jump a doe and fawn - they run up to the top of a hill and stop. Although firing offhand and uphill a bit, I estimated it at 50 yds (I train dogs on this area all the time) and put the front sight on the front shoulder square in the notch of the rear sight.
I pull the trigger the cock drops and I get the dreaded - fsssst, boom! Deer runs off, in a half circle around me, crosses the creek and I see it across the field going into a meadow. Thinking that must be a different deer I reload and walk the top of the hill (49 paces -less than 50 yds) no blood, no hair nothing - I tracked it about 75 yds - no blood - I follow another 50 yds and lose the trail in the meadow.
My follow through is usually great - I still manage to hit the target somewhere even with bad hang fires. I am thinking there is no way that doe got away unscathed. 50 yds is nothing! But, I will be damned if I could find any sign of a hit.
So, I think well, maybe the sight got banged around and knocked off. So, after backtrailing myself and making a deligent effort and search to satisfy myself I had missed. I went out after feeding my horses and dogs and got a target and put it up at the spot the doe was standing - walked back to where I shot offhand and fired 3 shots - The 10 ring was torn to pieces - dead center 1/4 to 3/4" high. Course I didn't have a hang fire on any of the shots either. But, based on where I was aiming at her - unless I really jerked - the ball should have hit her somewhere!
Convinced the deer gods are angry with me and want me to live without deer meat for a year. :shake:
Dan'l
So, I start still hunting about 8 am. I see squirrels everywhere - and lo and behold I jump a doe and fawn - they run up to the top of a hill and stop. Although firing offhand and uphill a bit, I estimated it at 50 yds (I train dogs on this area all the time) and put the front sight on the front shoulder square in the notch of the rear sight.
I pull the trigger the cock drops and I get the dreaded - fsssst, boom! Deer runs off, in a half circle around me, crosses the creek and I see it across the field going into a meadow. Thinking that must be a different deer I reload and walk the top of the hill (49 paces -less than 50 yds) no blood, no hair nothing - I tracked it about 75 yds - no blood - I follow another 50 yds and lose the trail in the meadow.
My follow through is usually great - I still manage to hit the target somewhere even with bad hang fires. I am thinking there is no way that doe got away unscathed. 50 yds is nothing! But, I will be damned if I could find any sign of a hit.
So, I think well, maybe the sight got banged around and knocked off. So, after backtrailing myself and making a deligent effort and search to satisfy myself I had missed. I went out after feeding my horses and dogs and got a target and put it up at the spot the doe was standing - walked back to where I shot offhand and fired 3 shots - The 10 ring was torn to pieces - dead center 1/4 to 3/4" high. Course I didn't have a hang fire on any of the shots either. But, based on where I was aiming at her - unless I really jerked - the ball should have hit her somewhere!
Convinced the deer gods are angry with me and want me to live without deer meat for a year. :shake:
Dan'l
