Most of us have heard the old saying five shots in the wind. It refers to missing all five shots taken, likely under a high stress situation.

Deer hunters understand the stress or high level of excitement after their first close encounter. Many have a hard enough time making a good first shot, so you can forget about the next four. It never ceases to amaze me how many hunters out there empty their guns as fast as they can pull the trigger. I remember the first time I heard a rapid fire yahoo. I couldn't understand how someone would think it was a safe and effective way to shoot. I have never met one of these trigger-happy hunters, but if I did, these are the questions I would ask: What would possess a person to shoot this way? In their mind is there actually a right or wrong way to shoot? How often do you hit the animal with all five shots, and if you actually do what is left of the animal to eat? I'm going to do my best to channel the thoughts of rapid-fire Ralph, the deer hunter. This is in an attempt to rationalize why someone would shoot this way. I will also offer a few hints to the Ralphs of the world on how to make a one-shot kill.

It doesn't take a person long to realize that shooting a deer is a heck of a lot harder than punching a few holes in a target. Add to that the nerves and a possible uncomfortable shooting position, and hunting a live animal becomes nothing like target shooting. Even the most experienced shooter can have troubl making the first shot count under such conditions. After connecting on the first shot, nerves and the deer’s instinct to escape would most likely cause them to miss the following four. This leads me to believe that most Ralphs are inexperienced hunters. The remainder must be experts that enjoy burger.