Missed the shot

[jfs]

A deer hunt invitation from my friend Craig had me drive to his North Carolina home outside of the coastal town of New Bern. Since he said the shots could be from 10 to 240+ yards I brought my FA`s 41 and Contender in 6.5JDJ. The TC handload had a 120gr Sierra spitzer over 34.0grs of Rel 15 and WLR primer. This is the first time shooting this gun in a number of years and had it set to shoot about one inch high @100. Long story short, a large doe appeared at 243 yards and holding just about even with the back I fired and missed. I believe I shot over and was happy I did not wound the animal. I need a ton more range time with this caliber as its a more then adequate cartridge with all the game its taken over the years. Since it was late in the season and all of Craigs food plots eaten bare I had no other shot even though game cameras showed some terrific buck... Things did not end with my bad shooting and that Saturday had fellow handgun hunters David and his wife Jennifer along with Matt and his wife Heather stop over for short shooting session followed with a ride into New Bern for a fantastic Italian dinner. Things continued back at the ranch with a bull session around the fire with a nightcap. All in all I had a most wonderful time with Craig as my host.. Till next year..... follow the grass to the lone tree in the far clearing which is where the doe passed..

[Burnston]

I can get along with a guy whose enjoyment of the hunt isn't dependent upon a kill.

[bushog]

Great tale of a good time!

New Bern is one word....(if you're from Eastern NC)

[contender]

If we all made all our shots,,, and never missed,, it would not be as challenging. But it's called hunting for a reason,, and sometimes,, the critters just win.

Nice looking bunch of folks,, well,, maybe except for that weird guy in the red plaid shirt at the end of the table!

[2 Dogs]

I’ll take a clean miss over a bad hit any day.

[contender]

Excellent point 2 dogs!

[Ken O'Neill]

Dec 15, 2019 21:03:39 GMT -5 bushog said:

Great tale of a good time!

New Bern is one word....(if you're from Eastern NC)

Nuburn!

[magnumwheelman]

Say it ain't so... I thought you were one of those Jedi masters, that never misses...

glad to hear you're human, & that you run in good company, had a good time, & didn't wound an animal, that didn't get recovered

the force is still strong in this one...

[markhampton]

And I thought I was the only one that misses.......Well you had a great time with great folks and that is most important. 

[sheriff]

The 'kill' is only a small part of the whole hunting experience. The older I get the more I just enjoy 'getting out among 'em.

[sixshot]

Well written James! The only ones that don't miss are the ones that don't go. Many times a guy misses a easy shot just because he forgets the sights & "runs" the trigger.

Dick

[wildcatter]

Odds back in yer favor James, we all hate a miss, but all appreciate a clean miss when it happens, and it always humbles us to the point we work harder to keep it from happening again. Glad it ended up great time with good people!

[bula]

The above posters have said it so well, covered everything I might say, so... amen to their posts. 

[cubrock]

I had a 14" 6.5 JDJ SSK custom Contender at one time. At a gallon milk jug, it was dead center hold out to 300 yards and you were guaranteed to blow the jug up. I bet you are right that you shot over the doe. Wish I still had that gun. It was the most accurate Contender I've ever owned.

[foxtrapper]

One lucky deer being in the sights of James and walking away !