How in the world...

SCOTT: As you know, we went in this past weekend for a getaway trip to Craig. (VA) The weather was a bit chilly but great for hunting. I decided on Saturday evening to go up onto mom’s land and fix my stand for deer season. After scouting around for a bit and found a spot that I felt would be the most prone for deer traffic. Three leads come together at a point and at the head of the hollers is a bench with a good number of white oaks. I scraped out a spot in between 3 red oaks and stacked my two milk crates together. It was still early yet so I decided to sit it out ‘til dark with my bow and see what kind of things might wander by.
About 6:30 I caught movement below me at about 30 yards. It was a lone doe headed up the ridge to my right. I picked a shooting lane figuring she’d pass by at about 25 yards. But to my surprise with a quick hop she changed direction and jumped onto a deer path which leads within 5 yards of my stand. I began to think, I might actually get a shot at this deer. She was scrounging around the ground for fallen acorns and had no idea I was anywhere in the country. My Fresh Earth cover sent was doin’ the trick. With one more bound she hopped a log and was at about 11 yards. I eased the bow up and slowly began to pull it back as smooth as possible. I got to full draw and she stopped quartering me at about 9 yards. I laid the 10, 20, 30 and 40 yard pins on her shoulder and touched the release. As soon as the arrow left I had that gut sinking feeling. Sure enough, the arrow passed about 6in above her back and she quickly bounded three times down the ridge. My mouth hung wide open as I stood there in disbelief asking myself. How in the world do you miss a deer at 10 yards? I tried to regroup knowing that she was standing below me at 20 yards wondering what that weird sound was that just went whizzing by her. I pulled another arrow from my quiver and snapped it on the string. Unfortunately, about the time I attached my release she decided that she’d seen and heard enough so she headed back down the mountain and out of sight. As I looked back at where she stood when I shot I asked myself again, How in the world do you miss a deer at 10 yards?
I started my walk of shame to pick up my arrow and decided to step off the yardage. Nine steps. I’ve missed several deer in my life, but none I can recall that was close enough that I could have probably spit my gum at and hit. And as is the case with most arrows that miss the mark, they never stick in the ground or land softly on the leaves. No, they always seem to find a tree, stump or in this case a log to bury themselves into. So not only was my pride’s knees taken out from under me by missing one of the easiest shots in deer hunting but to add insult to injury, I lost a broadhead as well.
As I headed out of the woods back home I ran all of the equations through my mind. Did she jump the string? Did my bow get bumped and knock the sights off? Did I just flat miss? The latter seemed to be the more likely answer. Then 1 Thessalonians 5:18 came to my mind. “give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.” I thanked God for the opportunity to see a deer because after all I wasn’t even expecting or going in the woods looking for a deer.
When I got home I grabbed my target and stepped off 9 paces. Drew an arrow and let it go. Dead center. Yep, I just flat missed. Ahh, the joys and sorrows of deer hunting. The stand shows promise and I hope to find redemption in the next two months as I’ll be hunting from there 3 days in Nov and 9 days in Dec.