A Sportsman's Life- The Fixer

THE FIXER Here’s how to remedy everything you’re doing wrong in the deer woods

- Bill Heavy

We all make mistakes. It's what you do afterward that counts. If you keep a positive attitude, learn from your errors, and move on, you’ll be fine. Not that I’d know. What I generally do is lie on the floor and imagine dual-drum asphalt rollers of despair flattening me into the sort of rag rug your aunt makes. Then I dwell on the mistake until it seems like the only real thing in the world.

The curious thing is that other people’s problems don’t bother me at all. I can diagnose and remedy them instantly. It’s a gift, really. Here are some examples.

Mistake: You spot the biggest buck of your life, take careful aim, and shoot. But your bullet or arrow misses. Then the critter casually flicks its tail and either disappears or behaves as if nothing has happened.

Fix: We miss for many reasons. Check to see if your firearm is loaded. Did it go boom? Nothing increases the effectiveness of a firearm like loading it. If your gun was loaded, did you shoot when the animal was behind a tree? Even a solid performer—say the 150-grain Winchester Deer Season XP in .308—will not penetrate a 200-year-old oak. This might be one reason oaks are not a game species. Maybe you had a bow in hand when the trophy appeared and were seized by the urge to ditch your release and “do a Chuck Adams.” After all, shooting fingers would make your tale that much more epic. If you are guilty of such poor decision- making, there’s a simple fix. Stop it. Stop it right now and never do it again.