Missed again! What am I doing wrong?

[steiny]

Well they say it only takes one big one, one time to show up and give you the opportunity of a lifetime.
With that said, I have had two chances in 3 weeks to arrow the monster I have been hunting since opening day.
Both opportunities came during a South wind, in which I hunt out of my ground blind (Double Bull Dark Horse).
The first time was right at dusk he came out chasing a doe and stopped 20yds away broadside.  My shot - clean miss right over him - may have given him a haircut.
The second time was last night early - he came in by himself again posing 20yds out - I had all the time in the world and again the shot just cleared his back.
I can honestly say I have never missed a deer with a bow.  I can honestly say that I have wounded deer and I like the clean miss obviously more. 
How do I miss the same trophy deer twice? 
My confidence is rock bottom right now.  The only thing keeping me going is, neither time did he run off scared - he just mearly walked away.
Am I lifting my head on the shot?  Any ideas?  Is it the ground blind and shooting off the ground vs out of a tree?  I doubt it - but I am at a loss!

[HD]

Are you shooting through the mesh window in the ground blind?

[whiteoakbuck]

well you could be peaking i have done it myself on monster deer your mind wants to see the arrow enter so you lift or move your head to the side to see the arrow but im gonna say its a good chance you are used to shooting from a stand try setting up at 20 yards with the target and sit or kneel however you shoot from the blind and see where your arrows hit if they hit good then your peaking just a thought i am far from a expert but maybe it will help good luck 

and don't let the misses get to your head or it will be  a long bumpy road to get back of track good luck man hope you get him

[steiny]

Hunterdown...
My first miss was threw the mesh.  The same mesh my wife shot her buck threw.  Same distance.  My buddy told me I was nuts shooting threw it.  So my second miss was not threw the mesh.  I actually had time to lower it before he came to close.
I know it's not a good idea to shoot threw mesh with mechanical - but I am shooting fixed G5 Montecs.

Whiteoakbuck...
I shot from my knees via my truck lights last night till my knees where frozen solid from kneeling in the snow.  I am dead on.

[HD]

Then....I'd say...your peaking....

[deadeye]

I guess you will have to invite me along to watch.  I will bring my bow and call dibs on seconds.
Sorry, couldn't resist.  It's just the way things go sometimes.  Just when you think you got it down, something wierd happens.  I once shot in the ground in front of a deer at 20 feet only to realize I forgot to look through the peep!

[steiny]

Yeah this is driving me nuts.
I am not affraid to admit there where tears shed.  That's called passion!

[HUNTER2]

Dog gone it deadeye you beat me to it. I was gonna say let me try.

[Mayfly]

Here is what you need to do.. and this will get your confidence back as well.

Go to one of the good outdoor ranges or your backyard and shoot at 50 and 60 yards. If you can't get that distance at your range at least shoot at 40 yards. Dial in at these long distance shots and build some confidence at that range. Once you are grouping well at 40 - 60 yards then go knock down a 20 yard X. You'll be able to shoot an apple off of your wives head at 20 yards no problem and she'll even trust you!

[Swany]

On either shot did the buck jump the string? If so, lower your aiming point to the bottom 1/3 of the vital. It didn't sound like that is the case, but I thought I would toss the idea out there.

I have found that if I am pulling away from the bow my shot will drift left and right, not up and down. Everyone is different on that note though.
 
With your trucklight practice, you are dead on with your broadheads and not field points, right?

[22lex]

Sucks to be in this position Steiny, but at least they were good misses.

Not sure on your problem, my opinion is you are peeking as well. Just one of those things a person does when "in the situation". I know first hand how this goes because I missed a monster years ago, and found out the next day I wasn't "following through" by watching the arrow through my sights and peeking before the arrow got there. It can make you miss.

Did you use the wrong pin? Mechanics at the time may have been off just slightly....Broadheads shooting slightly different than the practice tips?

Regardless, good luck at another chance!

[buknrut68]

First time poster to MNO. Just wanted to add and ask. Do you wear a face mask while hunting? if so could you anchor be the issue? typically a high or low shot would be not hinging at your wast if shooting from stand and anchor point. Then like previous posts, peeking. I would first start with equipment make sure you are nuts on at 20 30 40 or what ever yards, then if get a chance practise in an elevated place that is like your stand. Or shoot from a sitted position like you would in a blind on ground. Best of luck......been there done that. Like they said a clean miss is much much better than a wounded deer running around.

[deadeye]

buknrut68,
Welcome to MNO.  It looks like you have some bow experience.  Thanks for the advice.