Tag Soupers

[raydog]

 I thought i would start a thread for us less fortunate hunters(missers) to tell about our season. Last Year i had many opptunities to take does but was trying to get my first blacktail buck. I only had one opportunity at a buck that was feeding towards my dad and i. Long story short my dad scrapped his foot when were crouched and the buck took of snorting, that was early season. Late Season i always make my tag a meat tag. I shot at a Doe at 45 yards but she jumped the string. That was my season for 2012. Cant win every season

[Southpole]

I have no excuse for having tag soup... I had several opportunities to shoot a buck last year. However, they were all whitetail spikes or 2 points. I passed on them because I wanted something more mature. So, my loss for not getting something to put in my freezer but hopefully I will be seeing 3 points or better this year for letting the little guys go.

[DoubleJ]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

[raydog]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

Very wise words

[Old Mule]

My work Partner was out on L and I and I couldn't get a day off work from June 1st to Nov 1st, by law someone has to be at the Water Plant every Day, and on call within a half Hour. Had a any season Elk tag and wiped myself with it, passed on Cows the late season looking for the 7x7 I saw before the opener, I did get a very Nice 7x5 Whitetail though. Oh yea, I was looking for the 7x7 but if I would have seen a spike it would have been hanging.

[vandeman17]

I had a buddy miss a nice 3x3 mulie three times in general season and then miss a nice 4x4 whitetail late season. I think he took a total of 6 shots and none of them were over 150 yards. 

[trophyhunt]

Passed on a 4x4 blacktail the last day of regular rifle season in hancock because he didn't have eyeguards, never did see him or anything bigger the rest of the season. That includes muzzy and archery season, I did see 3 legal bucks the last day but I'm not a fan of deer meat so they got to live another year. I don't mind not tagging out as long as I work my butt off looking for the big ones's. Someday...

[Odell]

An illness in the family kept me from hunting the family property in Goldendale. I spent 2 days in the high country and never saw a legal buck. Wanted more time up there but BIL had to get home. First time in a decade I havent tagged out.

[Bigshooter]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

Very wise words

Unless you want to kill something big.

[PolarBear]

I ate both my elk and deer tags last year and they tasted pretty good.  I had plenty of opportunities on okay bucks but nothing that I wanted to waste an arrow on and I am fine with it.

[Goldeneye]

I had a buddy miss a nice 3x3 mulie three times in general season and then miss a nice 4x4 whitetail late season. I think he took a total of 6 shots and none of them were over 150 yards. 

Sounds like he needs some more range time to get comfortable with his gun.  Something surely needs more work.

[Bean Counter]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

Very wise words

Unless you want to kill something big.

 

[D-Rock425]

This thread not apply to me

[steen]

I have no excuse for having tag soup... I had several opportunities to shoot a buck last year. However, they were all whitetail spikes or 2 points. I passed on them because I wanted something more mature. So, my loss for not getting something to put in my freezer but hopefully I will be seeing 3 points or better this year for letting the little guys go.

That's what happened to me in "03 I passed on a spike and the next year I took a nice 23 in 4X4 with eye guards.

[Southpole]

I have no excuse for having tag soup... I had several opportunities to shoot a buck last year. However, they were all whitetail spikes or 2 points. I passed on them because I wanted something more mature. So, my loss for not getting something to put in my freezer but hopefully I will be seeing 3 points or better this year for letting the little guys go.

That's what happened to me in "03 I passed on a spike and the next year I took a nice 23 in 4X4 with eye guards.

Now that's worth the wait!

[TheFewTheProud]

If you haven't missed one then you haven't shot at very many... with that said, I went one for two last year.

[vandeman17]

I had a buddy miss a nice 3x3 mulie three times in general season and then miss a nice 4x4 whitetail late season. I think he took a total of 6 shots and none of them were over 150 yards. 

Sounds like he needs some more range time to get comfortable with his gun.  Something surely needs more work.

Tell me about it. It was his dad's gone that guaranteed that it was dead on! He hasn't shot a deer in a while so I was thinking that buck fever, along with a strong wind might have got him on the mulie miss but after the whitetail miss, I told him to carry my gun. haha

[Kowsrule30]

I passed on a few legal bucks in general season.... Mainly cause I'd like to see the herd recover more in that area and I just love hunting over there... Late season was game on... Passed a spike opening am for no good reason... He just walked right up to me while starring right at me... Just didn't feel right... The rut makes them so stupid...    I then missed a BT that would've probably been the biggest of my life two days later.... My estamate was above the 140" .... I've made shots like that and more difficult without even thinking about it.... Hadn't missed a big game animal in 14 years.... I was sick to my stomach and totally upset with myself.... The next day I shot a little forky in the same spot within 5 minutes of my Dad shooting a little bigger forky about a mile away... I was very happy to tag out but that miss haunts me... I've had nightmares of the big mainframe 4x with chocolate antlers and several kickers including a dropper....    I'm going to crack a beer now and go crawl in a hole again... Thanks....

[Dbax129]

Last year was my first year hunting and I found this cool little patch of state land in Coyle that was small, but had 4 clearcuts of different age, and was about a half mile behind a golf course.  The only entrance took you across private timber that was closed, or you could bushwack in through some really dense stuff about a mile.
Well, i scouted a few times, even missed a black bear in august there, then during season, invited a new friend to go with me.  He shot a beautiful 3x3 within his first hour of hunting in his life, with my borrowed rifle.  It was awesome. We looked up how to field dress, and how to skin, on youtube right there in the field and did what the video said.  I'll never forget it.  Never saw another buck in that area.  Heard one once, tried to stalk him, but he ran off grunting and snorting. 
I'm really excited about my buddy tagging out though.  It was really a blast, and I wasn't really worried about it. I got to practice some stalking on does later, and had a great time ever day that I went out.  Can't wait for this year!

[pope]

We looked up how to field dress, and how to skin, on youtube right there in the field and did what the video said.  I'll never forget it.

Now that is awesome! Way to get it done.

[WAcoueshunter]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

Very wise words

Unless you want to kill something big.

Or unless you enjoy your time in the woods and would like to hunt for more than one day. 

[Blacklab]

Dad always told me, never pass on the first day what you will shoot on the last day.

Very wise words

Hear that!