Missed an Antelope

Zoer · Sep 18, 2017

I missed a 225 yard shot at an Antelope over the weekend and am sick about it. I was shooting a tikka 8mm mauser with 175 grain sierra bullets @ 2700 fps, very accurate off sand bags.. I glassed a group of antelope at about 400 yards ,, crept into what I thought was easy range ,, got a good rest from the edge of a ditch and let loose a complete shank... I have been hunting for about 20 years and will get in good streaks of one shot kills , then I will flub up an easy shot and wonder what the hell happened . I missed a couple of elk at point blank range a few years ago. a black bear at 90 yards last year,,, I am running out of excuses . I would love to hear about anyone else's missed shot stories or get some good advice

Mr. Hill · Sep 18, 2017

Man, it happens. Don't be too hard on yourself, that's hunting!

I've missed a deer at close range before. It happens. Now, if it happens a lot, that's a problem. But everyone can have a bad shooting day, on the range or on the hunt.

Zoer · Sep 18, 2017

I would guess I miss about 1 out of 6 ,,, I just wonder why ,,, thank you for your kind words

Mr. Hill said:
Man, it happens. Don't be too hard on yourself, that's hunting!

I've missed a deer at close range before. It happens. Now, if it happens a lot, that's a problem. But everyone can have a bad shooting day, on the range or on the hunt.

MachIVshooter · Sep 18, 2017

I missed a shot at about 60 yards on a deer. But it was partially behind a ridge, only exposing the head and about 3" of it's back. I went for a spine shot, not thinking about the +1.5" trajectory at that range.

After I fired, it took a couple steps, exposing more body. I did not miss twice.

Mr. Hill · Sep 18, 2017

Zoer, misses happen because it's a lot harder to shoot from a ditch, after stalking, having awakened early in the morning, and shooting at a live animal at 225 yards, compared to sitting behind a bench, using a rest, and shooting at a paper target at a range.

225 yards is a long shot. An antelope isn't the biggest target, either. Like I said, that's hunting! We do our best....

Zoer · Sep 18, 2017

I have been shooting too much from the bench is what this past weekend might have taught me

Orcon · Sep 18, 2017

It happens, man. My first shot on an antelope was a clean miss, I'd made a 3.5MOA windage adjustment in the wrong direction. 7 MOA at ~285 yards is nearly two feet. Antelope also mess with my spatial perception, seeming nearer or farther than they actually are and they like terrain that makes all but the best range finders useless.

Steve S. · Sep 18, 2017

When I started deer hunting, I missed several times with bow and rifle although I was proficient with both. When I shot at my first big buck, I missed. I would get so excited that I would just blow the shots. Now that I am much older and have many deer under my belt, the nerves have subsided - no more missing. Now I just enjoy sitting in the woods and filling my tag is longer a priority. If the animal doesn't get away at least once in a while, if I make the perfect shot every time then I don't want to hunt anymore - what is the point - it is fine for the animal to win sometimes (at least in my mind).

Captcurt · Sep 18, 2017

If you haven't flubbed a shot, you haven't hunted much. It happens. I had a friend who made the comment on a Colorado hunt that he had never missed a deer. He had only taken 4 or 5 at that time. The next morning he proceeded to miss a nice bull elk at about 200 yards. He was sighted in at 200 yards and guessed that the bull was 300. Held over it's back a foot and never touched it. Now 35 years later I can still remind him by sayings, " I've killed every deer that I have shot at, but missed the biggest bull elk that I have ever seen." In fact, I may call him in a minute and remind him.

CarJunkieLS1 · Sep 18, 2017

OP missed shots happen. If you haven't missed you haven't hunted enough. I'll be honest I've not missed any medium size game (deer) I've ever shot at, however that's only been 4 opportunities. I don't go bragging either because as soon as I do I'll miss a shot.

I do miss small game alot though. A iron sighted .22 at squirrels will make you miss, but it sure is fun. I also think that shooting at much smaller game helps alot when I have a much bigger target in front of me.

HB · Sep 18, 2017

It happens... But it will happen less frequently if you practice from weird positions. Especially with a bow.

Other thing to consider is you shot a tuft of grass or brush a few yards down range. I think a lot of the "where the hell did that go" shots can be attributed to that. And also people perform better in practice than in the field. 300 yards is a pretty long shot for somebody that doesn't shoot weekly

Kingcreek · Sep 18, 2017

I never hunted pronghorn when the wind wasn't blowing. Its interesting just how much wind can move a bullet past 200 yards.
Longest shot I ever made on a pronghorn was 285 yards. It was the biggest goat I ever had a shot at. It was a one shot kill but I didn't have him mounted because I hit him right at the hinge of the jaw and blew his skull apart!

Sunray · Sep 18, 2017

Everybody misses easy shots. Still laugh about one day I was out hunting ground hogs with a .22 and missed every shot(10). Including the one where I was standing literally on top of the chuck hole. Rifle made a really loud click on an empty chamber. However, have you ever practiced with your hunting load, off hand, at 100 until you can hit a 9" pie plate every time?

Zoer · Sep 18, 2017

Sunray said:
Everybody misses easy shots. Still laugh about one day I was out hunting ground hogs with a .22 and missed every shot(10). Including the one where I was standing literally on top of the chuck hole. Rifle made a really loud click on an empty chamber. However, have you ever practiced with your hunting load, off hand, at 100 until you can hit a 9" pie plate every time?

I will try that next time at the range

Skylerbone · Sep 18, 2017

My biggest flub to date was whitetail hunting back in college. Walked in on the fire trail and had just enough morning light to make out my surroundings. Heard a noise, I paused, looked around, turned back and watched a monster lay down not 10 yards in front of me and just off the trail.

I shouldered my New Englander and took aim. I was squeamish seeing all that antler and actually dropped to a knee for better support. Cocked the hammer back and fired. A puff of smoke and he was still lying there staring. I started reloading to "finish him off" when he stood up and promptly sauntered off unscathed.

No clue what happened but that memory still hurts and I've killed some good size deer since but nothing, at least by my memory as big as the one that walked away. The little feller below was at 155 yds (checked post mortem) on a quartering shot with a few minutes light left. One shot and he flopped. Go figure.

eastbank · Sep 18, 2017

I have found a good range finder, scope and a harris bipod helps cutting down on the longer range misses and practice,practice and practice. I shot two prong horns last year in Wyoming, one at 280 yards and the second one at 310 yards with a 7mmo8 and a 120gr nosler at 3000fps with a 2.5x8 leupold, I dialed in 10 clicks and held right on and killed them both with one shot each, shooting prone with the bipod. eastbank.

DBWY · Sep 18, 2017

I had quite a lucky miss 2016 elk season. Was set up in a tight little draw between timber on opposing ridge tops. Heard him coming down the hillside opposite me. Got a good look at him in the trees and was all set up as he came out, hopped over a small creek and slowed to a walk. 185 yards away, my scope down to a comfortable 4x , solid rest on a log, and an accurate rifle in 30-06 with 180s. Took the shot. Didn't see impact, but he stopped and appeared to stutter step. He was looking around and showed no signs of going down. Fired again and saw him flinch with impact. Took five steps and dropped. When I went to dress him, turns out my first shot was a swing and a miss. Only one wound. Lungs gelatinized and bullet in offside shoulder. If he'd run hell for leather on the first shot, he would have survived another day.

Zoer · Sep 18, 2017

DBWY said:
I had quite a lucky miss 2016 elk season. Was set up in a tight little draw between timber on opposing ridge tops. Heard him coming down the hillside opposite me. Got a good look at him in the trees and was all set up as he came out, hopped over a small creek and slowed to a walk. 185 yards away, my scope down to a comfortable 4x , solid rest on a log, and an accurate rifle in 30-06 with 180s. Took the shot. Didn't see impact, but he stopped and appeared to stutter step. He was looking around and showed no signs of going down. Fired again and saw him flinch with impact. Took five steps and dropped. When I went to dress him, turns out my first shot was a swing and a miss. Only one wound. Lungs gelatinized and bullet in offside shoulder. If he'd run hell for leather on the first shot, he would have survived another day.

Lucky never hurts

Nature Boy · Sep 18, 2017

I clean missed a really nice 8 point 3 years ago at 140 yards.

Still trying to figure it out

someguy2800 · Sep 18, 2017

The first 10 deer or so I shot were all one shot kills in the heart and I really thought I was the greatest shooter to ever pick up a gun. My first miss was a doe at 200 yards which was the longest shot I had ever taken. I guessed a holdover at the level of her back. Later when I actually ran the ballistics of my rifle and the way it was zero'd I would still be high at 200 so I shot over her back.

Next one was a small doe at 50 yards right in front of the stand. Took off a .25" oak branch on the way there and wounded her. Tracked for a mile onto the neighbors property and couldn't get another shot.

Next one was another doe I shot with a 357 magnum revolver at 45 yards or so. I think I hit her in the leg. I tracked her a whole morning and never got anywhere near her and then lost the blood.

Forth was a big 8 pt buck I had dead to rights at 100 yards. He was sneaking through a really tough thicket and I waited for several minutes for him to reach a shooting lane through it we cut. Touched it off think for sure he was freezer meat and never saw him again. I never saw him run off and I searched for 4 hours for any sign of blood or hair or anything. No explanation for what happened there.

doubleh · Sep 18, 2017

Misses happen. Many years a go I was deer hunting and standing right on the edge of a small clearing. I could hear something running and coming my way. It was an eight point buck that busted out the opposite of the clearing and stopped facing me. I put the cross hairs in the center of his chest and squeezed off my shot. Instead of dropping in his tracks like I expected he just stood there and looked at me and I looked back. It seems like a long time but doubt it was more than a second or two. I followed his tracks for quite a way and found no blood and he was was making long jumps. There was a barb wire fence between us and I was sure I was shooting over the fence but I went back and walked down the fence just to check. Lo and behold, I had shot the top wire in two. That miss had a reason

Not too long ago I got a shot at a coyote at about 75 yards and had a good rest. Clean miss. I was shooting a G2 Contender rifle. By the time I reloaded he was a long way off. Later that day I passed by a caliche pit and picked out a rock about the size of a coyote's chest at a slightly longer distance. put the crosshairs in the center of it and that's where I hit it. Absolutely no reason for me to miss the coyote but I did. Misses just happen. There is always a reason but sometimes we can find the why and some times not.

horsey300 · Sep 18, 2017

Zoer said:
I missed a 225 yard shot at an Antelope over the weekend and am sick about it. I was shooting a tikka 8mm mauser with 175 grain sierra bullets @ 2700 fps, very accurate off sand bags.. I glassed a group of antelope at about 400 yards ,, crept into what I thought was easy range ,, got a good rest from the edge of a ditch and let loose a complete shank... I have been hunting for about 20 years and will get in good streaks of one shot kills , then I will flub up an easy shot and wonder what the hell happened . I missed a couple of elk at point blank range a few years ago. a black bear at 90 yards last year,,, I am running out of excuses . I would love to hear about anyone else's missed shot stories or get some good advice

I only bring up the obvious because even the most practiced hunter can get bitten in the butt by the gnat he didn't think of, if you sight in on 6x and shoot on 14x, you're probably gonna miss unless you're not like most hunters and use an ffp scope.

Skylerbone · Sep 18, 2017

horsey300 said:
if you sight in on 6x and shoot on 14x, you're probably gonna miss unless you're not like most hunters and use an ffp scope.

Center of the crosshairs doesn't move with magnification.

Coyote44 · Sep 18, 2017

I'm sure we ALL have missed one of those "dumb-head" shots. I did it two years ago on a 95 yard shot on a mulie with my .270...scope was on about 3 power, and I went and OVER shot the darn thing! We both stared at each other...he ran...and I used foul language for an hour!!! LOL

horsey300 · Sep 18, 2017

Skylerbone said:
Center of the crosshairs doesn't move with magnification.

No it sure don't.......and the sun don't rise in the west, and if you zero on 3x and shoot on 9x with a sfp your bullet still ain't going where you thought, and water usually runs down hill and gasoline liquid don't burn.

Missed an Antelope

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