by Wade Middleton
The Frustration of Missing
Handgun hunting is a thrilling but challenging pursuit, and even the most seasoned hunters experience their fair share of missed shots. One year, I was determined to take down a deer with a Smith & Wesson Model 610 10mm revolver, focusing on a specific two track ranch road that crossed a creek that held a lot of deer I was confident I could get either a doe or a buck in range. Despite my preparation and various attempts, including using different stands and ground blinds, the deer seemed to have me figured out. They’d come out and look right at me, they’d stomp in the brush, I hear them blowing at me. When I finally got a shot at a doe about 18 yards away , I was so amped up and my heart was racing so fast…..I missed by a mile—so much the deer wasn’t scared and the bullet hit harmlessy off in the brush.
This experience underscored the importance of practice and precision in handgun hunting. A slight miscalculation in trigger pull or sight alignment can send your shot far off target. It’s a reminder that with handguns, you need to take your time, settle your aim, and execute the shot with care. I know in hindsight I was so fast on the trigger pull that I had zero chance to
A Costly Mistake in Southwest Texas
Another memorable miss occurred in a box blind in Southwest Texas, where I had set up in prime big buck territory in the early stages of the rut. The conditions were perfect, deer were on their feet chasing does and I was confident as a big buck came into view and worked it’s way nose to the ground down a trail near a pipeline. But as I pulled the trigger, I jerked it, while at first I thought I’d made a good shot, the deer jumped and dirt was flying all over. Like I said at first, I thought I had made a solid hit, but after reviewing the footage and tracking the area extensively, it became clear that I had missed entirely.
This incident taught me a valuable lesson about overconfidence. My groups the past month had been tight and the shot was close—only about 14 yard and I’d been practicing at 20 to 30 yards. But I rushed the shot. leading to a poor trigger pull. The deer survived and was even spotted on trail cameras later and I plan to be back in that area in the coming season in hopes of another shot.
The Importance of Practice and Patience
Handgun hunting has given me many successes, but also many failures. Each missed shot has taught me something new. Over the years, I’ve realized that taking an extra second or two to settle in and aim properly can make all the difference. Whether using iron sights or a scoped handgun, the key is to know your limitations and practice regularly.
Embracing the Journey
Handgun hunting is one of my favorite ways to hunt, despite—or perhaps because of—the challenges it presents. As I’ve grown as a hunter, I’ve come to appreciate the importance of practice, patience, and understanding my limitations. Each hunt, whether successful or not, is part of the journey, and the lessons learned from missed shots are just as valuable as those learned from successful ones.
If you’re considering taking up handgun hunting, be prepared for an addictive and rewarding experience. Practice diligently, take your time with each shot, and embrace the challenges along the way.
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