I just have to tell on myself, and will probably regret it. I was out deer hunting today and have a tag I want to fill so a fat doe would be nice.  I am out with my T/C Hawken with a roundball. Walking into the woods I first encounter 2 does at about 15 yards, and I am kneeling in the open. T/C have got to have the noisiest locks of anyone. So that blows that as I wasn't prepared. Upon returning out a I hear something running, so this nimrod gets prepare this time and put a cap on and hammer back. Doe shows up perfect broadside at about 20 yards with 2 smaller does. I got this in the bag! Pull up and pull trigger and it doesn't move. CRAP! What the _____! Hammer is back. Ahhhh! Set trigger. pull it and she still doesnt know I am around. Bead down on her and fill the air with sulfer. She standing there looking at me like what is that? She runs (walks more like it to insult me more)about 20 yards and turn around and look back and I can tell she ain't hit. I am beside myself! Finally see thou problem!!! Them trees sprout up very quick. A 1" tree about 20 feet tall was toothpicks at about  5 1/2 feet up about 10 yards from me and it was still standing. I believe my T/C shoot curve balls. God I did not see that tree there. Still have a tag.

It does the same with bows .I know .

Geez, that has never happened to me, oops my nose just got a foot longer.

I hope you still have season left to try again next week-end

jack

All gun seasons are done, hopefully with bow or crossbow.

Well at least your honest and a little humbled! Now when you shoot that "Thirty pointer" and tell the story, NO ONE will question you! LOL

It is crazy how a tree no matter how big or little can remain rooted in the ground and only sway a little in the wind till you try to shoot anywhere near it and it jumps right into the bullet path. There is a blown apart sapling that I pass regularly that is a very real reminder of this phenom. Just after I shot I thought I had encountered an armor plated deer but it was just one of those jumping saplings.

Darned suicidal trees always gotta do it when you've got the perfect shot lined up. They don't care about your feelings they just jump out in front of you.

Had that happen last year with my flint lock , deer spun and ran down hill into thick stuff . No sign at the spot and still no blood in the snow 80 yds. down where she came to the field and ran across it . Went back up to figure out what happened and found a small kamikaze tree . Why do they like deer anyways ? Deer eat them .

Yep, trimmed a tree just like that down in Ga. once . Tree was bit further off but same result nicely trimmed oak! ( my T/C prefers conicals though)

Yep, trimmed a tree just like that down in Ga. once . Tree was bit further off but same result nicely trimmed oak! ( my T/C prefers conicals though)

I had the same thing happen to me. And I know the feeling that goes through your mind.

Also when I was very young, my father purchased a used Ben Pearson recurve bow and some Ben Pearson Cedar arrows with the old Bear two blade broadheads. He must of got tired of me begging. So I was off to bow hunt. And I practiced and practiced with that set up. And have to admit, for a young kid, no arm guard, black and blue forearm, and shooting fingers, I was pretty good. Moment of truth was opening day. I hid in the brush and a nice fat doe came walking past about about 15 yards is all. I drew back and let fly and she just stood there. And when I looked my arrow was sticking dead center in a Balsam tree. Now how i did not see that tree is beyond me.

I had a very puzzling hunting trip. I was out in early muzzleloader season and a group of does came down the side of a ridge right to me, about 30yds. I cocked the hammer and took careful aim and fired. A big wiff of blackpowder in the air and when it cleared no doe? There were no obstacles and no blood trail. I walked in the direction they ran and could not find any blood whatsoever. I took the inline home and shot it and it was shooting fine. The only thing I could figure that I had somehow forgotten to load a bulllet!