Misses
Michael T Hahn
November 13, 2025
I recently experienced a missing streak. Missing shots happens, especially to hunters taking wing shots at game birds. I'm not as quick as I once was, and even when my reactions were faster, I wasn't a world-class wing shot. My success has always been due to perseverance rather than innate skill. So I'm no stranger to missing, but this missing streak persisted beyond reason.
My hunting season began well. Britt, our bird-crazed Brittany spaniel, flushed a pheasant to me and I downed it. I joked to my wife that I should quit for the year, so I could brag about a 100 percent success rate. Just kidding! I harvested another pheasant, but then my woes began. I had an opportunity to take a whitetail buck with my crossbow. He walked within 32 yards of my shooter shack and stood broadside. An easy chance, but when I squeezed the trigger and the limbs of my crossbow whipped forward, one of the limbs hit a window near my left shoulder, shattering the plexiglass and causing a miss. Thus began my series of blown shots.
During the next month, I missed a few grouse. I blamed some of the misses on limited visibility due to thick foliage, until the leaves fell down. Then I had to switch to my old reliable excuse: the world was turning. I wasn't too upset about missing a few grouse, because those feathered rockets are adept at dodging behind trees and often difficult to bring home for dinner. What really irked me was when I failed to harvest a turkey during both the Vermont and New Hampshire fall seasons. I had five or six chances to get the job done. My gun malfunctioned twice, due to insufficient cleaning, and I malfunctioned on the other occasions. iss-ery!nd woe!
As my Dad often said, tàa long road that never turns. A few days ago, I took Britt on a short jaunt across our field onto my brother's property, where wild apple trees, high-bush cranberries and thick brush create excellent bird habitat. As I emerged from the brush onto the edge of an opening, Britt flushed a grouse 20 yards to my left. By the time I shouldered the gun, the darting bird was 45 yards away. Somehow, I hit it, then Britt found it. Streak over! A miss is a mystery, but a hit is history.
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.JUpcoming Gigs:
First Night in St. Johnsbury on New YearàEve, time TBD
Bull Wheel at Jay Peak on Saturday, January 31 from 4 to 7
https://www.thebridgeweekly.com/rural-matters
My hunting season began well. Britt, our bird-crazed Brittany spaniel, flushed a pheasant to me and I downed it. I joked to my wife that I should quit for the year, so I could brag about a 100 percent success rate. Just kidding! I harvested another pheasant, but then my woes began. I had an opportunity to take a whitetail buck with my crossbow. He walked within 32 yards of my shooter shack and stood broadside. An easy chance, but when I squeezed the trigger and the limbs of my crossbow whipped forward, one of the limbs hit a window near my left shoulder, shattering the plexiglass and causing a miss. Thus began my series of blown shots.
During the next month, I missed a few grouse. I blamed some of the misses on limited visibility due to thick foliage, until the leaves fell down. Then I had to switch to my old reliable excuse: the world was turning. I wasn't too upset about missing a few grouse, because those feathered rockets are adept at dodging behind trees and often difficult to bring home for dinner. What really irked me was when I failed to harvest a turkey during both the Vermont and New Hampshire fall seasons. I had five or six chances to get the job done. My gun malfunctioned twice, due to insufficient cleaning, and I malfunctioned on the other occasions. iss-ery!nd woe!
As my Dad often said, tàa long road that never turns. A few days ago, I took Britt on a short jaunt across our field onto my brother's property, where wild apple trees, high-bush cranberries and thick brush create excellent bird habitat. As I emerged from the brush onto the edge of an opening, Britt flushed a grouse 20 yards to my left. By the time I shouldered the gun, the darting bird was 45 yards away. Somehow, I hit it, then Britt found it. Streak over! A miss is a mystery, but a hit is history.
Michael Hahn Band varies in size from a duo to a six-piece band, depending upon the size and budget of the venue. They love to make music for any occasion. For bookings call 802-754-8889.JUpcoming Gigs:
First Night in St. Johnsbury on New YearàEve, time TBD
Bull Wheel at Jay Peak on Saturday, January 31 from 4 to 7
https://www.thebridgeweekly.com/rural-matters
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