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09-12-2019, 01:15 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Sylvan Lake
Posts: 233
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Making the mistake of passing on a Buck
Tonight I made the biggest mistake in hunting. I passed on a deer I should have shot.
At about 8pm with lots of light left, I’m sitting in my tree stand, coming from the left in the field is a nice buck at about 40 yards. He got right in front of me when I realized he was just gonna run away so I made the “meh” sound everyone on TV makes and sure enough he stopped broadside, in the perfect position. This was the moment I’ve been waiting for. But looking at him he was a decent 4x4 buck. Probably 110” give or take. However we have several bigger deer on the property but they are hard to ever see in the flesh, usually only on camera. This is a pic of the one I’m after.
So for what seems like eternity he just stands there broadside while I ranged him several times (50yards), and contemplate what to do. I think about “do I want me season over already? And maybe there is a bigger buck following him. After about 30 seconds I decide “snap out of it, he’s a nice buck, shoot him.” And with that notion, he snorts and trots off.
Poof the moment is gone and you can never redo it. Instantly my heart sunk. I regretted not being aggressive and making the shot. I had tons of time. No excuses. I should not have hesitated.
I’m sure lots of other guys done this and come to regret it. I hope I’m not sitting in a tree stand in late November in -30 cursing myslef haha.
A pic of the buck I’m after. Any of you pros able to rough score him?
Anyways just a reminder that sometimes you need to take your opportunity without hesitation.
Last edited by 501s; 09-12-2019 at 01:41 AM.
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09-12-2019, 02:20 AM
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Banned
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Join Date: May 2009
Location: Communist state
Posts: 13,245
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If that’s the biggest mistake you’ve made in you’re hunting career then you’re doing good! It’s only week 2 of a 12 week Hunting season, plenty of time left to enjoy the outdoors. I personally think it would have been a bigger mistake to take the young buck. I find it hard to score deer in velvet but it looks like the one in the pic is in the 160 range.
If it's meat you’re after you might have passed up an opportunity at some tasty steaks, but if it’s a mature buck you’re after then you made the right decision. Lots of time left to fill your freezer.
Good luck!
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09-12-2019, 03:23 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 1,331
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I agree with you, if you would have been happy with the harvest then you should have let er fly! Harvesting a whitetail with a bow isn't easy. When is the last pic you have of the attached deer? If it's quite awhile ago he may have left his summer pattern and you might not see him all winter.
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09-12-2019, 03:28 AM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Blackfalds
Posts: 6,951
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go back and kill him. he wouldnt have gone far
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09-12-2019, 05:37 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: At the end of the Thirsty Beaver Trail, Pinsky lake, Alberta.
Posts: 24,620
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Choices.....it's nice to have the a ability to make'em......good luck.
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Be careful when you follow the masses, sometimes the "M" is silent...
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09-12-2019, 05:58 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Lamont
Posts: 862
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I never regret a pass on a buck. I like the hunt too much and you just extended your season, plus a young deer gets a chance to mature. Everyone wins.
Craig
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09-12-2019, 06:44 AM
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: McBride/Prince George
Posts: 14,580
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Go with your gut. Which told you to pass. Deep down you are actually wanting a special buck. Which will never happen by taking the first 110” that presents itself. Now your over thinking it.
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09-12-2019, 06:54 AM
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Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Stony Plain
Posts: 1,144
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There is no way that shot was a gimme anyway. At 50 yds a whitey has an eternity to jump the string even if you’re proficient at that distance. One things for sure, the more time you spend on stand, the more you learn about deer behaviour and movement. I’m calling that encounter a good one to pass on.
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09-12-2019, 07:13 AM
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Ft. McMurray
Posts: 38,585
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I don't believe it was a mistake you made, just a choice.
As was stated, the season is still very young and you have lots of time to get the deer you want.
Cat
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Anytime I figure I've got this long range thing figured out, I just strap into the sling and irons and remind myself that I don't!
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09-12-2019, 07:50 AM
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Join Date: May 2011
Location: Camrose, Ab
Posts: 842
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You’ll never shoot a big deer always shooting the first 110” that gives an opportunity. I enjoy the hunt and am fine passing small bucks. I’ve went several years without shooting a whitetail because I didn’t see the right one. I think it would have been a mistake to shoot a small one and the year to be done.
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09-12-2019, 08:09 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2018
Location: USA
Posts: 386
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I think as you do. To early and that Big boys gotta come out sooner than later with rut comming . hopefully you have no pressure and he will pop up somewhere. Good Call!
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09-14-2019, 11:44 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Far Enough From The City, AB
Posts: 1,574
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Quote:
Originally Posted by waterhaulerhunter
You’ll never shoot a big deer always shooting the first 110” that gives an opportunity. I enjoy the hunt and am fine passing small bucks. I’ve went several years without shooting a whitetail because I didn’t see the right one. I think it would have been a mistake to shoot a small one and the year to be done.
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Agreed!!
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09-12-2019, 09:19 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Jasper
Posts: 836
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Making the mistake of passing on a Buck
I have always said with respect to pulling the trigger on an animal that it needs to feel right, and that leaving an animal to survive for another day is never a regrettable move. Who knows, you may run into him again in a year or two. Kudos to you. I believe that you will get the deer that you’re after.
As an aside: I didn’t catch whether you were archery or rifle hunting. Having the buck stop with a sound would likely alert him to your presence. If bowhunting, there is a pretty good chance he would have jumped the string in this scenario.
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09-12-2019, 09:48 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: Central Alberta
Posts: 21,399
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A Buck in the Truck is worth two in the Bush.
Grizz
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"Indeed, no human being has yet lived under conditions which, considering the prevailing climates of the past, can be regarded as normal."
John E. Pfeiffer The Emergence of Man
written in 1969
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09-12-2019, 10:07 AM
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Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Fort Saskatchewan
Posts: 3,698
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I’ve regretted shooting deer after I talked myself Into shooting them. I have yet to regret talking myself out of shooting one because they weren’t big enough or wasn’t 100% on the situation
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09-12-2019, 10:26 AM
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Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Medicine Hat
Posts: 4,250
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I passed on a beautiful 5 point white tail during rifle season years ago...I think about that deer every time I drive past the ridge where I saw him.. He was 25 yards away and I watched him for a couple hours trying to decide if I should fire or not...still one off my best hunting memories...Sometimes I second guess my choice...but I don't regret it.....
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Trades I would interested in:
- Sightron rifle scopes, 4.5x14x42mm or 4x16x42mm
especially! with the HHR reticle. (no duplex pls.)
- older 6x fixed scopes with fine X or target dot.
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09-12-2019, 10:44 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Sylvan Lake
Posts: 233
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Thank you everyone for all the comments. I appreciate the feedback. Someone asked earlier whether it was gun or bow, and yes it was archery. Last night I laid awake all night replaying it in my head. Thinking to myself, maybe he was actually a little bigger then 110". What was I thinking. Am I really that obsessed with getting a big WT? I guess it turns out I am lol.
Last year was my second year bow hunting, 3rd year hunting, and I managed to get a nice buck in the exact same spot (and I'm positive the same genetics as the one last night). I attached a pic. I said to myself at the time that I was totally satisfied with this deer and I wouldn't need to worry about getting a big deer again. Its funny the things you tell yourself lol.
By 5am I still hadn't fallen asleep, so I figured, I'm up already, might as well go sit in one of my stands. While watching the sunrise I thought to myself "well this ain't so bad". Honestly I've looked forward to hunting for the last 11 months, and the thought of being done for another year (minus a trip or 2 pretending to chase Elk) was hard to swallow. I guess I made the right choice.
I look forward to more feedback and stories on the ones that lived another day.
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