Missed my first bow shot... Need opinions

I missed my first bow shot on a deer ever.. It was really disappointing she seemed to have ducked the arrow I've heard about aiming lower but I didn't know how true that is. Also I was wondering if missing her will keep her from coming back or how long would you wait to hunt that stand again and tips or suggestions would be greatly appriciated thanks.

Hard to tell if she'll come back or not; I had a ugly buck last year when I was gun hunting that I shot at three days in a row trying to run it off.... The fourth day I realized it wasn't just ugly it was stupid so I still have some of him in the freezer.

Ducking the string does happen to many; Something I do and don't know if anyone else does this but when I whistle to stop them or make that Baaa sound, I'll also let the arrow fly just as they are raising there heads. To me this has them locked at that first sound.

I think we've all missed or had them jump the string, that's just part of bow hunting.

Practice more, shoot closer, don't shoot at an alarmed deer. I shot at a spike with a bow, muzzleloader, and finally a rifle one year.

Possible that she will return, but will probably be looking for you.

Hard to say what went wrong. Did you pick a spot or just aim in the general area behind the shoulder? How far was she? Was she on edge when you shot?

She was a little timid but not ready to run, and yeah I just need to pick a spot and aim small. Thanks for the help I approcate it

The one thing that is predictable about deer they are un-unpredictable.

Not each one is going to be the same as the rest. I have one double little fork horn that comes in to my feeder and he's always on edge, I don't know how he ever eats with his head popping up all the time and looking around.

There's another
one that comes to my feeder and last week for almost an hour, I was in my Double Bull blind 20 yards away. I was moving making noise and he never looked up, I was seeing how much I could get away with without getting busted; but I don't think he was the one to experiment with.

Many times they will come back, and you also have the option of different deer coming. I wouldn't wait to hunt there again.

How far away was she? I would keep your shots 20 yards and in until you get one under your belt. The shakes you get from your nerves can cause erratic shots, once you get a few kills under your belt you will calm down.

Were you in an elevated stand when you shot? If you haven't practiced from an elevated stand it's different. You have a tendency to shoot high when you're elevated. Just a thought. If you haven't practiced from an elevated position, I would recommend that.

Were you in a ground blind or elevated? That may make a difference depending on how you are practicing vs. how you are hunting.

Get back out there and get it done.

I agree with making your shots as close as possible until you feel comfortable with those shots. I ended up moving my feeder in from 30 down to 20 yards just to make it less things to think about. At that distance I know what pin and it is automatic. When I had it at 30 I missed a shot at a group of pigs because I didn't use the correct pin. I was so excited I just raised and picked a spot then shot but didn't use the 30 yard pin.

It happens. Good luck in the future.

^^^ that.. the higher you are, the longer your shot 'appears' to be. think back to 7th grade math and the pythagorean theorem. The 'hypotenuse' would be your arrow trajectory (the longest side of the triangle). while it is the longest path of the triangle, gravity only affects the distance from the bottom of the tree you are sitting in to the target. So what looks like a 35 yard shot could actually be a 20 yard shot, depending on how high you're sitting.

You'll get another chance! I shot a cull buck once (had a gross curly-q horn on the left side), had a complete pass through but didn't hit any vitals. two days later my buddy was after an axis buck at the same spot and sent me a pic of my buck back at the same feeder like nothing happened!

I have a lazer range finder that tells me angle but it doesn't adjust the distance. What I have done in the past is take my target with me and practice how I will be hunting.

For instance my ladder stand is a 17ft model. Set target under feeder and practice those shots. It also helps you in your form. Bending the corret knee instead of at the hip or lowering you arm to get lined up.

Food for thought.

even if you have the range and angle correct from your elevated position, you have to remember to hold your proper form but bend at your hips to take aim. Many people simply lower their lead hand and keep the same anchor point with the release. You'll shot high every time. That's why you see a lot of spine shots from elevation. Watch this kid lean forward after he draws. You can really see it on the first 5 yd shot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0UlbBNZC28

It happens to the best of us, this girl didn't jump the string, this is what happens when you put the 30m pin on a deer 30m away!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhwR1Tow47s&list=UUX_q8lGytlOHspljC7H6_AA