how to cope after missing a buck of a lifetime?

[Mark251]

Just glad it was a clean miss.  Sometimes things like that just happen.  I think that's one of the reasons that the good Lord allowed us to discover the recipe for alcohol....

[bobdog86]

If it was the buck of a lifetime, unfortunately don't think you ever will. Best consolation is to get right back out and whack one. I still remember a couple I missed, that weren't all that big. But still haunted none the less. Crap just happens, you'll be okay.

[jackmaster]

I will tell you about a miss my cousin had on a raghorn5x5 on white pass, it was snowing and blowing, walks right up on the bull with his trusty ole musket, draws a fine bead at about 15 feet, bull is in the wide open except the tree he is ripping up,  cousin is shaking like a dog sh!!tn peach seeds, touches the ole musket off, the bull lifts his head up, looms at my cousin and trotts out of there, cousin is thinking he drilled it good, except the big musket lead is lodged in the tree the bull was ripping up I make sure I remind him of it often its easier to laugh sometimes..

[huntnphool]

 I've been fortunate not to be in those shoes but helped a buddy get on a 190"+ buck a couple years ago. I spotted the buck from about 1 mile and got him to about 400 yards but he didn't feel good about the shot so we waited until the buck fed away and over a hill. We took off after him but when we got to the edge we couldn't find him.

 It took some doing but I managed to find him bedded and watching his does from about 50 yards. We worked into position and sat down at about 220 yards. I gave him my spotter and tripod to use as a rest and he set up. When the buck stood up he took the shot and the buck just stood there. He jacked in another shell and fired again, the buck spun and bolted. We walked up to where the buck was and found no blood or buck, so we followed his tracks until we lost them, the buck was gone and I sat there wondering what had just happened. Truly a buck of a lifetime had just evaded us.

 The next day we went back in looking for the same buck or a flock of crows and magpie. As luck would have it we spotted the buck at first light. Again we worked for a shot but could not get within comfortable range for him to take a shot. The buck eventually gave us the slip and vanished.

 After about a hour of looking, I was able to pick up his tracks pushing a doe. About 11:00 am I spotted the Bucks rack in some bitter brush, bedded down, and no clue we were there. We got down and worked to about 220 again, where we stopped in a great spot to take a shot when the buck got up.

 We got him situated and ready to shoot then had lunch and waited. When the buck stood, I grabbed my camera and got behind my buddy to get some pics, the buck was clueless about us and I wanted my buddy to take his time. I clicked off a couple pics of him aiming at the buck and then he pulled. I moved forward and grabbed my binos to take a look, no buck standing or anywhere in sight, so we packed up and walked down. When we got there, once again there was no buck to be found.

 We looked for about a hour, no buck, no blood.......nothing.

 I had to head home but told him to check back and again look for birds, since I could not believe he could miss the entire deer, two days in a row, from less than 250 yards.

 He called me a few days later, never did find that buck again, dead or alive. He still had 3 days left in the hunt so I told him we could make a redeye run to hunt the last day and at least get him a buck, he agreed.

 We hit the same area and right after first light spotted a nice tall 3 point. We had the entire day but he said that buck would do. Again I ranged the buck at less than 250 yards and he set up. I noticed how badly he was shaking, buck fever for sure. This time one shot and the buck dropped without so much as a twitch. Why couldn't that have happened a few days earlier.

 While he was busy dressing the buck I spotted another buck about 600 yards away and watched him bed down, facing us on a steep hill in the middle of some tall sage. I walked over and grabbed my spotter, zooming in to find that same big *censored* laying there. I told my buddy to come have a look and he had a look of horror on his face as he walked over. The expletives coming out of his mouth would have made most people's ears bleed!

 So I do have that one to wonder about and contribute to this thread.

 You can see the buck in the middle of the bench.

[2MANY]

My advice is to dwell on it.

It will help keep you from screwing up in the future and drive you harder to succeed.

[Jonathan_S]

My advice is to dwell on it.

It will help keep you from screwing up in the future and drive you harder to succeed.

Or put a monkey on your back 

I had a 6 point bull at 57 yards in the NE muzzleloading season, 2012.  Percussion cap went off but powder didn't ignite.  I've never used anything but musket caps ever since.  I cannot think about it without feeling down.

I had a 4 point bull at 32 yards in the SE early archery season, 2013.  He winded me and jumped into the brush and never presented a shot.  This one hurts...physically.  I can still see his horse body standing so easily within range.

Last year I killed a small, spike-ish bull in the NE early archery season.  Does it help ease the pain of the blown opportunities.  Not really 

[huntingbaldguy]

I agree with those that said you don't.  I missed probably the biggest rosie i may ever see in my lifetime last year on a rifle shot i could make in my sleep.  Not only will my buddy not let me forget it, i typically beat him to the punch when i know he's going to make a joke about it.  I think it might be to the point where it's not even fun for him to rib me about it anymore.  It wasn't fun for me from day one but you gotta take your licks when something like that happens lol. 

I laugh like i'm over it... i'll never be over it.

[Jonathan_S]

I laugh like i'm over it... i'll never be over it.

Well, at least you got close









   joking of course.  Getting close to closing the deal only makes it more painful.  This is true in other popular pursuits also.

[Miles]

I missed a 4x4 blacktail with my bow opening morning.  Shot about two inches over his back, then got to watch him feed for another 30 minutes on the other hillside.  It sucks but I just remind myself that there will be more bucks that i connect on in the future, and you can't change the past.

[cbond3318]

What's funny is the one I missed gets bigger in my head every year! 

I pulled the trigger with the safety on at a 50yd broadside Mule Deer Buck 7 years ago, in reality he was probably a 160" class buck but now when my mind wanders back to that very vivid replay, he is a 200" Monster...

[birddogdad]

you will re-live the encounter over and over.. never goes away.. be excited for the chance... had similar event many years back on an elk with my son in tow... he was 12... we still talk about it to this day.. he is 27...   

[jjhunter]

I left a couple of mid 190" bucks on the mountain last week.   

There will be more opportunities, just keep after it.

[2MANY]

Sounds like most here dwell on it.

[gaddy]

I remember mine like it was this morning, couldn't believe i missed at that range. Went and shot it again on ten power and it was still on. what i found out was that when i moved from ten to four power for the thicker, closer stuff, the rear of the scope wobbled 1/8". That buck would have been the biggest of my life. There are nights (especially wit the season coming) that i cant sleep thinking about it.

[tgomez]

Missed a MONSTER MULIE BUCK last year. Got over it by shooting a 4×4 whitetail 2 hours later. , It won't be the last good buck you will get a shot at. We all miss once in awhile, we just try not to make it a habit. Get him this year!!!