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Instead of dwelling on a loss, shoot more and more so it doesn’t happen again! Reason I say this….. I was invited to hunt a farm back in 07 that was known for producing huge bucks (Jackson Mich). I went and at 11:07 I missed a huge 12point and was sick to my stomach for weeks. And instead of sulking I shot the whole summer from elevated positions. Swore off the Demons and moved on. Fast forward to next season I bagged a nice 10 with no problem! Since then I have harvested several animals. Practice and more practice is key. No different that 3d or indoor. It’s all time invested to become a good archer and even more to be great!
 

· Huntoholic
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I am taking the post as somewhat of a joke and somewhat truth, It is good to reflect and learn from a loss, but don't let it dominate your thinking process or as the post depicts send you into a state of depression.

In hunting, and especially bowhunting, animals are going to get lost on occasion and even the best hunters and shooters have a sad story or two and it really boils down to two choices, quit or carry on.

Grandpa always said killing a deer with a bow is easy, finding them is the hard part.
 

· The Impartial Archer
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instead of sulking I shot the whole summer from elevated positions. Swore off the Demons and moved on. Fast forward to next season I bagged a nice 10 with no problem!
I think it would amaze people how many archers that hunt from treestands never practice from one. There are many factors to be considered but it is a great thing to try. If you hunt really low and have a fast bow then things get less critical for sure but if you hunt high, take really close shots and your bows isn't super fast you can see why people miss often because of lack of practice or knowledge of the situation.

It's not like shooting 10 yards on flat ground when you are 20+ ft up. Many will say you don't need to be that high and you don't.........but if you hunt at 20 - 25 ft it offers you a lot more advantages you don't get a 12 ft I don't care what your back drop is. Plus in late season many of those back drops kinda' end up under yer' feet when you walk in.........lol

So it's an easy fix to make these shots if you practice from a treestand before season starts. I have never met anyone that did that regretted it....most are happy they did an learn a lot....but it's pretty common to find people that regretted not doing it after they whiff or wound a deer.
 

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I think it would amaze people how many archers that hunt from treestands never practice from one. There are many factors to be considered but it is a great thing to try. If you hunt really low and have a fast bow then things get less critical for sure but if you hunt high, take really close shots and your bows isn't super fast you can see why people miss often because of lack of practice or knowledge of the situation.

It's not like shooting 10 yards on flat ground when you are 20+ ft up. Many will say you don't need to be that high and you don't.........but if you hunt at 20 - 25 ft it offers you a lot more advantages you don't get a 12 ft I don't care what your back drop is. Plus in late season many of those back drops kinda' end up under yer' feet when you walk in.........lol

So it's an easy fix to make these shots if you practice from a treestand before season starts. I have never met anyone that did that regretted it....most are happy they did an learn a lot....but it's pretty common to find people that regretted not doing it after they whiff or wound a deer.
Well said, I don’t over think or question my aim from doing so, and continue to do this in off season every yr! Plus it’s just dam fun! I also agree with the advantages of being up higher! Which there are several. 20-25 is perfect but have been higher due to areas hunting in!
 
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· Huntoholic
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I think it would amaze people how many archers that hunt from treestands never practice from one. There are many factors to be considered but it is a great thing to try. If you hunt really low and have a fast bow then things get less critical for sure but if you hunt high, take really close shots and your bows isn't super fast you can see why people miss often because of lack of practice or knowledge of the situation.

It's not like shooting 10 yards on flat ground when you are 20+ ft up. Many will say you don't need to be that high and you don't.........but if you hunt at 20 - 25 ft it offers you a lot more advantages you don't get a 12 ft I don't care what your back drop is. Plus in late season many of those back drops kinda' end up under yer' feet when you walk in.........lol

So it's an easy fix to make these shots if you practice from a treestand before season starts. I have never met anyone that did that regretted it....most are happy they did an learn a lot....but it's pretty common to find people that regretted not doing it after they whiff or wound a deer.
Spot on for sure, another benefit that I get from practicing from a stand like I hunt is by the time the season rolls around I am well versed with my safety harness connection, climbing and stepping on and off the platform, and just more comfortable with being elevated.
 

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A lot don’t hunt above 12’ most ladder stands are this way! I love climbers pick height set up proper seat height and go! Even sticks are 15’max unless using more. The main thing is just practice from elevated stand
 
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Those pics could all be me and more than once. Shooting a deer with a bow is an extremely complex undertaking. They rarely stand still in the open. Add in the human element of heart rate, etc, and angles and contortion and lots can go wrong. Practice surely helps but the moment of truth rarely mimics our practice conditions. So we take our responsibility to the animal and its creator seriously and do the best we can. Mostly we succeed and sometimes not. Face it, fix it, forget it.
 
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