2 questions - Did I rattle him in? - How did I miss?

[skeeterluver]

Last night I was in my stand - sat for about 1/2 hour then did a rattle sequence along with a few grunts. About 20 minutes or so later, a six pointer showed up. Did i rattle this buck in? he didn't come in running just walked in - hit a few scrapes & rubbed a tree for about a minute or so. He then stood broadside 12 yards & I missed. I have my bow set at 20, 30 & 40 yards. I believe I shot over him- There was a tiny bit of hair - no blood. This was the first deer I have ever shot at with a bow. Should I have my bow set at 10 -20 & 30 yards instead? Any info from an experienced bow hunter would be appreciated.

[96trigger]

Your rattling may have brought him into the area, but it didn't bring him in directly. My experience with rattling is that they usually come in shortly after the sequence and they are looking for something. He may have come in looking and then not found anything so just stayed to eat.

As for your pins, the deer probably ducked the arrow, it happens alot. It happens more the farther out you go. From my experience there if very little difference between the 10 yard adn 20 yard pin. I used to go 10-20-30, now its 20-30-40. I use the 20 yard pin on anything close and adjust accordingly.

[Buckcountry]

Good possibility you called him in although he should be a little more curious.

You should not have missed at 12 yards if you used your 20 yard site. Your arrow should be flying pretty flat in the first 20 yards, what pounds is your bow set at?

Good chance you flinched or arrow was deflected by a branch, no way should you miss at 12 yards.

[Chef]

Have you practiced shooting at the angle you shot at this Deer? If you're new to this and haven't practiced from the height your stand is right now, you may have just mis-calculated the angle.

[Bear55]

I was just going to say that Chef. Remember when shoot a bow from an elevated position you have to bend at the waist and hold your form, not just lower your arm. I would practice a few shots from an elevated position to try and figure out what went wrong. Your 20 yard pin should have worked fine at 12.

[DonBo]

If the angle was steep, at that range if you place your 20 pin where you want to hit you will shoot high every time. Like already stated, you need to practice from an elevated position and bend at the waist.

[archerystud]

The real question is the angle...

I have a stand on a hillside, I shot a buck at 12 yards with my slug gun a couple years back and I'm sighted in for 60 yards. I had my cross hairs below the deer when I shot but it was a VERY steep angle.

[DonBo]

The real question is the angle...

I have a stand on a hillside, I shot a buck at 12 yards with my slug gun a couple years back and I'm sighted in for 60 yards. I had my cross hairs below the deer when I shot but it was a VERY steep angle.

Yep, on a very steep angle your 20 pin should probably be on the very bottom, or maybe off the deer completely. Without practicing that shot you'll never know for sure.

[BobT]

Shooting down at an angle would require that you hit lower anyway or you'll miss the vitals.

Deer are amazingly fast. I've shot at deer from less than 20 yards and watched them leap over my arrow or sideways enough to miss. Of course, when this happened they knew I was there and were poised to take action. Nevertheless, it's hard to believe they can move that fast.

[Musky Buck]

What time of the day did you rattle ? My guess is he likely would've come by regardless, not necessarily but likely since you mentioned he visited a scrape and likely some of his rub line, he was already working the area. At least you know the rattling didn't do an anti thing for ya, 36 feet away, the bow experts on here can help ya with that. You may get another crack at him again especially if he's a 1st year buck. Good Luck

[bigbucks]

I'd say you dropped your arm instead of bending at the waist as suggested. I've done that. I can remember looking at the nock of an arrow winking back at me from just about does back line while she still stood there. If you have to drop your arm to shoot at a steep close range angle then you have to aim low to compensate. If you bend at the waist keeping your top half shaped like a T as I learned several years ago on this site, you don't have to aim low.

I've rattled many times & had small bucks come in quite cautiously about 15-20 minutes later. I believe they come to the rattling, but they're not about to come running in & get their butts kicked by a big guy. Obviously they were somewhat in the area or they wouldn't have heard you.

[DonBo]

Shooting down at an angle would require that you hit lower anyway or you'll miss the vitals.

Ummm...actually from a high vantage point, your point of impact needs to be higher on the deer to reach the vitals.

[skeeterluver]

WOW , Thanks for all the info. To answer some of your questions I shoot a Fred Bear lights out bow - 70lbs & I did my rattle sequence at around 5:30. Yes, I am fairly new to bowhunting but have shot my bow quite a bit and am very accurate up to 40+ yards, however, I have not practiced much shooting from an elevation as high as my stand & usually practice with my field tips, not the rage broadheads I use when in the field. I think I can use this as a learning experience - start practicing more from higher elevations & using my broadheads. At least I did not but a bad hit on him & I am confident that I will see him & others in the area I am hunting. Thank you to all who have given me your advice & good luck to all this hunting season....

[Buckcountry]

Umm, at 12 yards you should aim right at your intended target, no need to aim high or low, your angle does not matter when your that close.

[BobT]

Originally Posted By: BobT

Shooting down at an angle would require that you hit lower anyway or you'll miss the vitals.

Ummm...actually from a high vantage point, your point of impact needs to be higher on the deer to reach the vitals.

I guess you're right. I did say that backwards, didn't I?

[bigbucks]

I agree with your comment as well, meant to include that in my other post as well. If you hit above the vitals with your arrow going down at a steep angle you still have a decent chance to hit them. If you hit below them that arrow's not going to turn around & come back up.

Well maybe if you could get them to stand on a big flat rock when you shoot them & your arrow's really fast, richochet...