I let this guy go... and now I'm not so sure

[tbrady]

I found this guy 6 miles out a fairly tough motorcycle trail and then about 1.5 miles down the side of the mountain from the trail.  When I spotted him he was 1000 yards away on a ridge running perpendicular to the one I was on.  I projected a waypoint where he was bedded and then made my way several hundred feet down, then about another 1000 feet up and about 1.5 miles out to the ridge he was on.  As I started down his ridge I immediately ran into deep deadfall and 8-10ft tall trees that were spaced about a 2-3 ft apart.  This lasted for at least 200 yards and the slope was probably about 40 degrees.  By the time I fought my way through all the deadfall (it was the type that is stacked about 4-6ft deep) I had decided there was no way I would ever get the deer out of there if I shot it.  I was basically going to be on my own getting that deer back to the trail.  Even though I'm in good shape and absolutely not afraid of hiking thousands of feet up/down the deadfall was just too friggin treacherous.  Once I was through it I decided the only way I would shoot him is if he looked like a once in a lifetime deer.

Once through the deadfall I had about 500 more vertical feet down and I had a really good idea where he would be laying.  Wind was in my favor.  I put in my earplugs, scope at 4x, covers open and starting creeping that last 100 yards.  I knew the way he was laying just below the bench I would only have a second once he came into view.  I got to the shelf and he stood up and looked at me broadside.  In that split second I decided not to shoot and then he bounded away.  I immediately starting questioning my decision.  Once I started climbing back out of the hell hole I felt great relief that I had not shot him as it took every bit of strength I had to climb over 4ft deep deadfall on the side of a 40 degree ridge for 200 yards.

Every time I look at the picture though I question myself and wonder if I'll get a chance at one like this again.

I know it's not the best pic but any guess on the width or score?

And most importantly, what would you have done??

[KFhunter]

Bucks like that separate the men from the boys... 

Looks like a good buck when I zoom in on the pic, hard to see for sure but I think I'd have done all I could to get on it rather than make a "shoulda coulda woulda" post.

 Then again we need to know our limitations, what was the temperature?  I would take that deadfall over chest deep brush you can't see the bottom of.

The more I look the smaller that buck gets, I might have talked myself out of that too 

[_TONY_]

I probably would have dropped him, but I'm a sucker for punishment.

[dreamunelk]

Just proves you are a hunter not a killer.  That is one hunt you will remember.  As time goes buy you will realize not to question your decision.
I am not sure what I would have done since I was not standing in your shoes.  Over time I have learned to respect anyone's decision not to shoot.

[fishnfur]

I'd have shot him if he was easier to get out of there.  Looks like a really nice buck.  Good choice in my book though.  Choose your paths in life - don't look back and second guess.

[Timberstalker]

So hard to tell from that picture on score. His frame supports a 150-160 deer. I can't make out the other details. With all of that said, he's a dead deer if it's a general Washington deer tag. Period.

[Shank]

What motorcycle trail were you on? Looks like lower half of the mad river area, or devils backbone....?
I would of shot, then dealt with the repercussions. Where's there's a will there's a way

Sent from my XT1254 using Tapatalk

[NOCK NOCK]

There is a reason they name that trail what they do   

I would have shot it,

[USMC86]

Some of our best memories hunting are from we don't kill.  I have a few that aren't on the wall that I think about more than ones that are.  Sounds like you made the right call given the circumstances, but that is one heck of a nice deer.  Neat encounter- thanks for sharing.

[duckslayer]

Dirt nap in this state!!!!!

There are other factors that could play into the scenario as well......ie, opening day, half way through your trip, you experience in the area and what it "normally" can produce. Only you were there and can make those decisions. Kudos to you for thinking it over and not just killing, that comes with a few notches under your belt.

I can say this, in 2013 I watched a 22" 4 pt walk through my crosshairs only then to realize that I'm in WA and not out of state. I've always looked back and just figured it wasn't meant to be.....

Bone him out and make two trips if he's huge bodied, but then again I pack elk over eight miles (with the right head gear) so a deer is "easy" in my book. It's a labor of love no matter how you look at it!

[fishngamereaper]

I shoot first, ask questions(how do I get it out) later....

They all cant be shot next to a road....my most memorable hunts are the ones a left a gallon of sweat and a pint of blood on the mountain.

[huntandjeep]

I would have pulled the trigger.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

From what I can tell from the picture, I would not shoot that buck.  Looks like a 3 year old deer to me with a 20ish frame.  I would have moved closer to look for antler character and confirm my first impressions.   

[jackelope]

I would have killed that buck assuming you had the means to get him out on your bike.

[tbrady]

Thanks for the thoughts guys.  To answer a few questions...  not in Mad River but similar country, the temps were around 60-65 during the day, mid 30s at night.

I could have gotten the deer out fine on the bike.  It really just came down to getting the deer to the bike.  I was prepared to go to any lengths but man, I just can't describe how difficult the deadfall was, especially with the brush and new tree growth.  I think I stepped on the actual ground only a few times as I crawled my way through it.

And then ultimately my litmus test was if he looks bigger than my last "big" muley I'll take him, if not it's just not worth it.

If I had had a buddy back there I would have pulled the trigger for sure!

[kentrek]

I probably would have shot...but i Really appreciate your thought process...i see people constantly hunt "the backcountry" and not consider how they get the animal out...unfortunately the birds eat well in some of the areas I hunt...it's to the point the law is getting involved next year

I think you did well

[beaslayer6]

that's a really nice mule deer. It would be super hard to not shot that buck.. I have shot bears in place you wish you never have to go. but its fun so I keep doing it. know your abilities is the key thing.. be save and have a good time.

[HardCorpsHuntr]

Your last years buck is a much better buck than the one in the photo.  I think you made the right decision.