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hunting vs target shooting what am I doing wrong.

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Archeryrocks:
If you've read my posts before you may know that I'm new to hunting... yes I'm almost 30 and have not yet taken a large game animal. My wife and I have muzzle loader buck tags for later this season. And I was given a mitigation doe tag any legal weapon. I'm attempting to fill this tag with traditional archery equipment. I've gone to the property twice and I've seen deer and gotten within 20 yards multiple times. I've attempted 4 shots one I shot low. Second I hit a little dry branch about 3inches in front of my arrow that I didn't see.which directed the arrow over the deers back. 3rd was a 10 yard shot from a blind shot high, same deer went around a thicket of hawthorn into my second shooting lane at 20 yards and I shot and she stepped forward two quick steps and my arrow went behind her. I know that on a target at 7 yards I can put 3 arrows touching on the target. And at 20 yards I can put 3 arrows within a 6 inch group consistently. Am I just experiencing "buck fever" and therefore messing up my shots? I feel like there's a lot more to pay attention to when hunting vs target shooting. Any experience or tips would be appreciated.

Pat B:
Forget everything else and just concentrate where the arrow WILL go. Don't think about your form, don't think about your draw and anchor and release, just concentrate on the spot and let your brain direct your muscles. When I first see my quarry I take a deep breath, calm myself then concentrate on the spot. If you have practiced good form, draw, anchor and release your brain will take over so all you have to do is concentrate on where the arrow WILL go.   :OK
Best of luck on your hunt.

Archeryrocks:
Thanks Pat, I was feeling kind of deflated as I feel like I've put the work in and the fruits of that labor were less than expected.

bjrogg:
I made a poor shoot at a poor angle on my first attempt. It was a doe right under me, I had to lean out to see her. When I shot I was splitting my attention between trying to watch what the deer was going to do and the spot I wanted to hit. That's where my arrow went right in between.
      The second attempt I was standing on the ground. I had very little cover . I stood perfectly still, three finger on the notched arrow and watched my buck walk towards me down the path. When he got to about 30 yards I quit looking at him and just burned a hole in that spot. Just like Pat says, just concentrate on that spot. There comes a time you just have to switch from watching everything around you to just watching that spot.
       It's different shooting at a deer shape than a target to. You also want to get the best angle shots you can to. Facing quartering away really helps.
      Today I put up a tree stand and my buddy came out with me. I'm hoping I know right where I want to shoot a deer in four different spots from this stand. Three are about 12 yards and nice angles, one is about 21 yards. I had my buddy move my target around and pass my arrows back up to me. I really liked the way the practice shots felt, very comfortable.
      Lots of things you can do to help. Practice shooting from different positions, standing, sitting leaning around trees. If your hunting from a stand practice from it. I think the most important is what Pat said, watch that spot. It's the only thing in the whole world that matters at that moment.
Good Luck, and Happy Hunting.
Bjrogg

Chief RID:
Aim small - miss small. No truer words ever spoken when it comes to hunting.

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